Sentier du littoral de Saint-Philippe

A coastal trail across the old lava flows of the Wild South (Sud sauvage), among screw pines (vacoas), casuarinas (filaos) and waves crashing on the black volcanic rock.

The route

The Saint-Philippe coastal trail follows Réunion's wildest coastline, in the commune of the same name in the south-east of the island. The main section, from Pointe de la Marine to Puits Arabe, covers 6 km and takes 1 h 30 to 2 h. It crosses recent lava flows that reached the sea, raw basalt formations and dense coastal vegetation of casuarinas (filaos) and pandanus.\n\nA few technical passages — a metal ladder, a section fitted with a rope — liven up the walk without making it difficult. The trail is little-used and unspoilt, with direct views of the ocean and the waves crashing on the black rock. Other sections can be linked depending on your stamina: the route from Le Tremblet to Pointe de la Table (13.4 km, 5 h) extends the experience northwards.