Top 6 Canyoning Spots on Reunion Island
In this article, you will discover the Top 5 Canyoning Spots on Reunion Island! This fabulous French island is located in the Indian Ocean, south of the British Seychelles Islands, West of Mauritius, and East of Madagascar. While La Reunion, as the French call it, boasts 17 miles of divine beach, it also offers some of the best canyoning on the planet.
Almost entirely mountainous, Reunion Island’s mountains were created by volcanos, including the very active Piton de la Fournaise. The highest mountain on the island is Piton des Neiges, towering over 3070 metres high.
The rocky terrain combined with heavy tropical rainfall has eroded the volcanoes and created deep gorges and canyons. These areas are called Calderas, or Cirques, named Salazie, Cilaos, and Mafate. These Cirques are known for their high water levels and depth and thus offer amazing canyoning experiences. There are even canyoning routes for all skill levels on Reunion Island. Read on to discover the top 5 canyoning spots on the Reunion Island, starting with the most beginner-friendly- Langevin River.
Langevin River
First up on the list of the top 6 canyoning spots on Reunion Island is Langevin River, located at Grand Galet. Canyoning activities on Langevin River are ideal for beginners, families and children ages 12 and up. Sometimes canyoning requires a bit of hiking to get to the starting point, as well as a walk back. However, Langevin River is only a two-minute walk in, and a five-minute walk back out.
The activity itself is a wet-and-wild 2-3 hour adventure for all fitness levels. Langevin river features a series of beautiful waterfalls, water slides and a jump of 8 metres. Alternate routes are offered for each jump in case you’re feeling a bit sheepish.
Part of the route also includes an abseil section of 12 metres and an exciting zip line. Every step of the way will be guided by a professional so you can relax and have fun.
Sainte Suzanne Canyon
Next on the list of the top 6 canyoning spots on Reunion Island is Sainte Suzanne Canyon, located on the northeast side of the island. The canyoning routes are near the town of Sainte Suzanne and follow the Sainte Suzanne River. One of the most well-known sights in the area is Niagra Falls, the French version of Canada’s Niagara. This 25-metre waterfall flows down into a large pool which you can swim in.
Canyoning excursions at Sainte Suzanne Reunion Island are divided into two sections. The first part of the canyon is known as “Classic Saint Suzanne”. This option is great for beginners and families with children ages 8 and up. The Classic option last approximately 3 hours, or around a half-day. This activity offers 1 abseil, 3 slides, 2 ziplines, and only a 20-minute walk back.
The second option, known as “Sainte Suzanne Integral”, is ideal for more athletic participants, and lasts around 5 hours. This full-day activity at Saint Suzanne canyon requires greater physical endurance. The integral adds an additional slide, optional 6-metre jump, a spider abseil, and a giant zipline into the last basin.
Fleur Jaune Canyon
Coming in next on the list is Fleur Jaune Canyon in the Cirque Ciloas. This is one of the most well-known canyons on Reunion Island particularly for its vertical walls and sparkling, sun-drenched pools.
As an intermediate level canyon, Canyoning in Fleur Jaune on Reunion Island is well suited to people who are generally in good physical condition. The activity begins with a 10-minute approach walk, followed by a few cliff jumps and abseils into pools of water.
Halfway through the route, you will enjoy panoramic views of the Cirque de Cilaos and the Piton des Neiges. After the break, you’ll tackle a 55-metre abseil, and end the activity with another 35-metre and 20-metre abseil. The whole excursion lasts around 3-4 hours and requires a little over an hour-long walk back.
Bras Rouge Canyon
The Bras Rouge canyon is the next amazing spot on this list. White spring water flows down the canyon from the old Piton des Neiges crater in the Cilaos cirque. Like Fleur Jaune, this canyon is considered appropriate for intermediate level adventurers.
Canyoning excursions at Bras Rouge on Reunion Island require a 45-minute approach walk and include a breathtaking view of the entire cirque from above. Bras Rouge Canyon is naturally splashed with stunning stripes of red and orange colours. You can also ride multiple waterslides into clear blue pools of water.
This activity will challenge you to 5 abseiling sections, which have optional routes if you’re feeling timid. There is a second excursion option which lasts about 3 hours longer. Either way, Bars Rouge offers a fun and challenging canyoning adventure.
Trou Blanc Canyon
The last stunning canyon in this article of the top 6 canyoning spots on Reunion Island is Trou Blanc Canyon.
Canyoning in Trou Blanc, Cirque de Salazie is an advanced endeavour, but worth the challenge! Trou Blanc canyon is packed-full of waterslides. You can choose to ride them on your back or even head first. You’ll also discover multiple cliff-jumps up to 8 metres high here. Luckily, there are alternative routes if one of the sections feels too intimidating.
Trou Blanc is considered to be very aquatic, meaning you will spend a lot of time sliding and swimming in gorgeous pools of water. The course will take you to the infamous mega water tube as well. It’s a must-do for water lovers!
This full-day challenge, which takes 6-8 hours to complete in total, includes a 40-metre zip line and only a 10-minute walk back out. You’ll also enjoy 3 abseils, 10 slides, and one finale zipline that ends with a splash in the water!
Takamaka Canyon
Takamaka Canyon is an expert-level, technical canyon which requires a very good physical condition to embark on. Participants need to be at least 16 years or older and have already completed two moderately difficult canyoning courses.
There are many steep, After the 5-minute walk-in you’ll begin with your first abseil- 70 metres high! You will then hike along the route, next reaching a 170-metre waterfall with gorgeous blue waters to abseil down into. You’ll have a cliff jump, and later cross a river basin and waterfall by zipline and abseil.
This is followed by another jump, lots of hiking and many waterslides. The walk back out is around 1 hour and 15 minutes. This is a long, and physically exhausting canyon, but boasts absolutely breathtaking scenery! It’s worth a go, if you’re fit enough, of course!
You can learn more about canyoning and discover more amazing destinations by reading all of our canyoning articles. You can also browse our catalogue of canyoning activities worldwide on our website, or check out Reunion Island Canyoning activities.