In Carosse, an outdoor sports facility and a transport hub provide specific reference points. Nearby Saint-Gilles-les-Bains also offers harbor activities and a walk. Across the island, the range extends from distinctive landforms to volcanic routes and an exhibition on volcanism.
Carosse: Sports Facility and Road Access
The Plateau EPS de Carosse is an outdoor sports facility with a 100 m² sports area and four running tracks, each 70 m long. The address is 52, rue des Capucins, 97434 Saint-Gilles-les-Bains. This is a precise reference point for finding your way locally; the measurements also give a concrete idea of the facility.
Another reference point is the Carosse transport hub on Route Nationale 1A, also known as the “route des plages.” When planning your trip, you can consider local orientation and the island-wide itinerary as two separate levels. If you are considering Carosse as a place to look for accommodation, you can first decide whether your planned activities will be mainly near Saint-Gilles-les-Bains or in other parts of Réunion.
Harbor Activities and a Walk near Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
Nearby, the harbor of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains lies between Roches Noires and Brisants beaches. Activities include catamaran trips, boat excursions, deep-sea fishing and scuba diving, as well as swimming with marine mammals, whale watching and dolphin safaris. This brings together different kinds of experiences on the water. If you are planning a specific tour, check its dates and availability.
Another option is a walk in Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, which takes you into a peaceful setting in the heart of the seaside resort. Allow two hours for the round trip; check local conditions before setting off. When choosing where to stay, you can consider harbor activities and the walk as separate plans rather than automatically combining them into a fixed itinerary.
Réunion: Landscape and Volcanism on an Island-Wide Scale
On Réunion, the World Heritage site “Pitons, cirques and remparts of Reunion Island” reveals a different dimension of the landscape. It encompasses two high volcanic peaks, three steep-sided cirques, forested ravines and basins, and rugged terrain with striking escarpments. The site also includes subtropical rainforests, cloud forests and heathland. It is home to diverse plant life with a high degree of endemism. These landscape features belong to the broader destination of Réunion and should be distinguished from Carosse’s specific local setting.
The roads also offer a view of the island in a broader context. Route des Plaines is the only road that crosses Réunion completely from one side to the other. The lava flows of Grand Brûlé can be reached via the RN2; check local conditions before driving. Route des Laves heads toward Saint-Philippe. Its original route had to be modified after lava flows crossed the road several times.
At Grand Brûlé, the ONF laid a trail parallel to the coast. It connects forest tracks that descend toward the sea and continues as far as Pointe du Tremblet. Caution is advised on this trail; check its condition before setting off. The island itinerary thus includes both roads and a coastal trail, which differ in their orientation and relationship to the lava flows.
Volcanism at the Cité du Volcan
The Cité du Volcan presents Réunion on three levels. These include a lava tunnel, a foyer, a panoramic film, a treasure chamber (lithothèque), a volcano observatory, a documentation center and an auditorium. The variety of these elements makes the exhibition a distinct way to explore the subject of volcanoes: it combines different forms of presentation rather than being limited to a single perspective. Along with Réunion’s landscapes and roads, it complements Carosse’s specific local reference points with an island-wide context.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Gilles, Saint-Leu, Saint-Paul, La Saline-Les-Bains, L'Ermitage-Les-Bains, L'étang-Salé Les Bains, Saint-Gilles Les Hauts.
Go to the broader travel overview: Saint-Paul.
