Volcans · Sainte-Rose
Pas de Bellecombe → Formica Leo
The shortest volcanic hike on the island
Duration
20 min (one way)
Distance
~1 km
Elevation gain
+30 m
Route
Out-and-back
A short walk from the Pas de Bellecombe viewpoint to the small red volcanic cone of Formica Leo, at the bottom of the Enclos Fouqué (the volcano's main caldera).
The route
A short foray into the Enclos Fouqué from Pas de Bellecombe-Jacob to the Formica Léo volcanic cone, formed during the 1753 eruption. This small parasitic crater owes its name to its shape, reminiscent of an antlion's pit. The descent into the Enclos gives a striking first impression of the volcanic desert before you reach the cone's natural viewpoint.
Step by step
- D
Start · Pas de Bellecombe car park
Stage 1
Enclos Fouqué
Stage 2
Formica Léo cone (1753)
Stage 3
Panorama over the active caldera
Trailhead
Geology
A parasitic volcanic cone formed in 1753 during a flank eruption of the Piton de la Fournaise. Basaltic terrain of the Enclos Fouqué, minimum altitude ~2,213 m.
Photo: App photo library · Internal use
Sources (2)
- https://www.reunion.fr/offres/formica-leo-sainte-rose-fr-4233605/
- ONF — arrêté n°2026-1657 du 22 septembre 2026
