The Piton Maïdo and its famous viewpoint

The Piton Maïdo, located on the heights of Saint-Paul, is a natural site often described as the " balcony of Réunion ". At an altitude of 2,200 metres, it is an ideal vantage point. It offers one of the best viewpoints on the island, with a superb panorama of the Mafate cirque and the west coast of the island, lined with magnificent beaches. It's a must-see spot for capturing all Reunion's beauty in a single glance!

From Le Maïdo, you can admire the spectacular Mafate cirque and its unspoilt nature, home to islets (small villages) where the locals offer hikers a warm welcome. Mafate is the most difficult cirque on the island to access. You can only get there on foot or, in emergencies and exceptional cases, by helicopter. The Piton Maïdo gives those who are not lucky enough to get there the chance to admire its beauty from the heights of its ramparts.

The Piton Maïdo also overlooks Réunion's west coast, with its superb white sandy beaches and turquoise lagoon protected by the coral reef. To admire these natural wonders in the best possible conditions, we advise you to get to Maïdo early in the morning, before the clouds spoil the show...

Piton Maïdo is a must-see for all travellers, and is very easy to get to. You can get there by car via a beautiful road that passes through a tamarind forest, popular with picnickers.

By car, follow the signs for Le Guillaume in the heights of Saint-Paul. Then take the Route Forestière du Maïdo (RF8) to the viewpoint. You can also get there by bus, with route 61 de Kar Ouest, which leaves from the Saint-Paul bus station and takes you as far as Le Maïdo.

Admiring the sunrise from the Piton Maïdo is one of the most magical and unforgettable moments you can experience on Réunion Island. The rampart of the Piton Maïdo is a veritable balcony overlooking the cirque of Mafate, the surrounding peaks and the west coast. The beauty of this place is quite simply extraordinary at sunrise.

So we suggest you set off early, arriving around 30 minutes before sunrise, just before the sky begins to lighten. In the silence of the early morning, a moment of suspension awaits you, full of emotion, in front of one of those spectacles that only nature can offer.

While you're waiting for the curtain to rise, make sure you're warmly dressed, as it's quite chilly. But as soon as it rises, the sun will soon warm you up! If you can, don't hesitate to bring some coffee and breakfast so you can take your time to savour this moment, without rushing, while watching the landscape gradually take on its colours.

The Piton Maïdo is not just a viewpoint, it's also the starting point for a number of hikes into the cirque of Mafate, as well as to the Grand Bénare, the island's third highest peak at 2,898 metres. One of the most popular hikes is from the Piton Maïdo to Roche-Plate in Mafate.

The hike from Piton Maïdo to Roche-Plate

This hike takes you into the Mafate cirque from the start of the forest road at Maïdo. You can park your hire car near the start of the trail, or in the car park at Maïdo, but the latter option will add another 30 minutes to your walk. In either case, be sure not to leave anything in your car.

The walk begins at the start of the forest road leading to the ramparts of Le Maïdo. The path takes you over ancient lava flows, at an altitude of 2,000m! We advise you to wrap up warm, as it gets chilly at this altitude. Especially if you set off early, which is highly recommended.

The trail then descends for 2 hours, with an ascent of around 700 metres. The descent can be strenuous in places, but is punctuated by magnificent views of the cirque of Mafate and the villages. You may also come across Tec-tec birds, endemic to Réunion, along the way.

Once at the Brèche, take the path to Roche-Plate for about 45 minutes. That's it, you've reached Roche-Plate! Most hikers make the round trip in a day. This is highly recommended if you've left your car in the car park, as you don't want to leave it overnight. If you want to spend a night or more in the cirque, it's best to take the bus from Saint-Paul to the start of the trail.