Natural pools · Saint-Paul
Bassin Vital
A small body of water at 140 m above sea level in the uplands (Hauts) of Saint-Paul. A 1 h 40 loop hike (3.1 km, 286 m elevation gain, moderate). Fine viewpoints along the way; the pool itself is often not very suitable for swimming.
Why go
An accessible hike with lovely views over Saint-Paul. Worth knowing before you come: the pool is often murky, so the main appeal is the walk and the views.
Access
Start at the Tour des Roches car park (GPS: -20.993683, 55.309334). From the N1, head for Savannah / D4 towards Bois de Nèfles; at the second roundabout follow Tour des Roches; car park 1.7 km on the left. Full loop: 3.1 km, 286 m elevation gain, ~1 h 40, moderate (steep, waymarked sections). Avoid in rainy weather.
Photo: Cédricazanove · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources (4)
- https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-le-bassin-vital/
- https://www.ouest-lareunion.com/randonnees/boucle-bassin-vital-saint-paul
- https://www.alltrails.com/trail/reunion/saint-paul/bassin-vital--2
- https://reserve-etangsaintpaul.fr/en/event/details/2564-la-boucle-du-bassin-vital
