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10,024 ft
133 ft
92.84 mi
Viewed 5158 times, downloaded 88 times
near Le Brûlé, Réunion (Réunion)
Distance
92.84 miElevation gain
33,917 ftTechnical difficulty
DifficultElevation loss
37,277 ftMax elevation
10,024 ftTrailrank
86
5
Min elevation
133 ftTrail type
One WayCoordinates
3835Uploaded
September 5, 2019lamorosangel All rights reserved
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| IMPORTANT NOTE: THE DIFFICULTY WITH WHICH I CATALOG MY ROUTES IS REFERRED TO MOUNTAINS USED TO WALK, WHO UNWIND THEMSELVES ON EVERY LAND, NOT FOR OCCASIONAL HIKERS. IF YOU HAVE LITTLE EXPERIENCE, ADD ONE MORE DEGREE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF MY ROUTES SO YOU WILL NOT GET SURPRISES.
Impressive, long and demanding Trek, basically following the GR R2, which crosses Reunion Island from north to south (or vice versa). For me it is one of the most beautiful treks that can be done autonomously in the world (and I have already done a few). You do not need any special permission, just want to kick and get to know a very steep island with a network of well-marked paths and many gites and refuges (remember that we are in France). It is important in high season (as was our case) to book well in advance, especially the most requested gites or refuges, which are the Caverne Dufour Refuge (at the foot of the Piton des Neiges, the highest point on the island) and the Gite du Volcán (at the foot of the Piton du Fournaise), since without these it would not be possible to complete the GR R2 trek. There are two other great routes, the GR R1 and the GR R3, which basically run through the 3 circuses on the island, Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie. In fact, on many occasions the GRs overlap. We opted to tour the entire island to see the evolution of the landscape. The first stages pass through a very jungle area, first we go up to Roche Ecrite, from which you get incredible views over the Cirque de Salazie. And then, after going down to Dos d´Ane, we went into the labyrinthine Circo de Mafate for several days to leave it, after passing the Col de Taibit, and briefly visit the Circo de Cilaos. From this town we go up to the Caverne Dufour Refuge, from which we go up to the Piton des Neiges. Then in a long stage we go down to Bourg Murat, before going up to the Gite du Volcan, from where we descend in a new long stage (first through lava landscape and then through lush jungle in free fall) to our last accommodation, before finishing the task in a short stage that will take us to Basse Vallée, where we finish our route. Below I make a much more detailed description of each stage.
The necessary equipment does not require special equipment. Some shoes or trekking boots that are already well worked, some flip-flops for some wading, the delicious baths in the rivers and rest in the shelters. Something warm, since in the heights it surprises the cool, if not cold. Also fresh clothes, since in the lower areas it can be quite hot (we are in the tropical zone). And already themes of canes to the taste of the consumer. The roads are sometimes quite leg-breaking and especially in the circuses there is a lot of unevenness although the stages are not very long. Sometimes in the more complex sections there are small sections equipped with stairs. There are also quite muddy areas where it can be a real hell to walk because there is very little spread and you have to be very careful not to have any mishap. The fording of rivers are very varied, the same you find a magnificent bridge or there are good stones that facilitate the passage a lot, or on the contrary there is a piece of river with good jumps between stone and stone and the fording is quite entertaining so it is better to take off your shoes so as not to give yourself an accidental soak. .
We carried about 9 kgs of weight in our backpack.
I comment on the stages one by one (if you click and copy the name you can find the stage in isolation and with more information than what appears here).
1st stage GR R2 Reunion Island. From Brulé to Gîte de la Plaine des Chicots.
First stage of this spectacular and demanding trek that crosses the entire Reunion Island from north to south, the GR R2. There is a whole network of gites and there are also some villages where the accommodation offer is broader, so the only thing to decide is the length of the stages to book the accommodation in advance.
We neutralize part of the first stage and take buses 12 and 12a (they are connected at the Bassin Couderc stop), which is taken in the capital, St Denis. Once at the Au Banc stop, we start walking on asphalt (it is a very pleasant stretch of road where there is no traffic at all and you get the first views over the horizon). We arrive comfortably at Mamode Camp, where the asphalt ends and the road marked GR R2 begins, which takes us through a lush and lonely forest where little by little we will become familiar with the dense vegetation (the giant ferns are impressive). The jungle barely allows us to get views in the distance.
The ascent is continuous but the path is quite good and it is climbed without great effort, despite being our first contact with the mountain and still not having the muscles in tune after several days without moving. As soon as we pass a junction that comes to our left from the Python Mavouse area, we arrive at a flatter area where the Gîte de la Plaine des Chicots is located, a somewhat cold refuge but located in a lonely and charming clearing in the forest. Here we will spend the first night of our route. It is also known as the Gite de la Roche Ecrite, due to the proximity of this promontory to which we will climb this afternoon and in the morning the next day, before continuing the route.
Ascension to the Roche Ecrite.
The previous afternoon we had climbed to the Roche Ecrite and we had already contemplated the impressive views that could be seen from the top. Well, if the morning is clear, the atmosphere is cleaner and the views will be even more spectacular ...... and it was. The first section of the route, just after leaving the Plaine that gives its name to the refuge, was still in the frost that fell at night and was receiving the first rays of sunlight that soon turned it into water. The ascent has a first almost flat section through this terrain until reaching the last part where it takes a little more unevenness through mixed terrain of stones and dirt (quite easy). The views from the top were indeed even more impressive than those in the afternoon. We were alone and the place is to recreate looking in all possible directions. Especially spectacular are the views towards the two cirques that we have immediately below, to the left that of Salazie (which is the one that is best seen) and to the right that of Mafate (where we will continue our itinerary around the island).
On the way down, we turn off to get closer to the Soldiers' Cave. It is not a big deal but it does not require much more walking than if you go down the main path. We also looked out (as we did the day before in the fog) at the head of Bras Detour.
After this short ascent we continue with our second stage of the Trek on the GR R2 to Dos d´Ane.
2nd stage GR R2 of Reunion Island. From Gîte de la Plaine des Chicots to Dos d'Âne
Short stage basically downhill, starting from the Gite de la Roche Ecrite or the Plaine des Chicots. As soon as we leave this accommodation, we make a short detour to look out and get the first impressive views of the Cirque de Mafate, which we will have the entire stage on our left. The very lushness of the forest through which we walk generally prevents us from getting too many views of this circus. Progressively more clouds were getting in which further complicated this limited visibility (we started the route relatively late since we had previously climbed to Roche Ecrite). Almost all day we are walking at the top of the immense caldera that closes the spectacular Mafate Circus to the north, through which we will travel in the next few days. We turn left before reaching Dos d´Ane to look at the Mirador de Cap Noire (a shame the clouds that greatly limit visibility in this section), facing a section equipped with stairs to facilitate the descent to this viewpoint (as it would be the general trend there is a somewhat muddy section in wooded areas where you have to be careful).
The last section within the town is along the street that runs through it (there is a supermarket where we buy some food).
3rd stage GR R2 Reunion Island. From Dos d'Âne to Ilet to Bourse
Long and demanding stage from the town of Dos d´Ane to the small village of Ilet a Bourse, following the GR R2 at all times, which crosses Reunion Island from north to south. The length is not excessive but the unevenness is considerable since as soon as we leave we face a long descent (with some section facilitated by stairs) to the Bras de Sainte Suzanne (which is quite entertaining to wade carrying with a backpack of travel like it was our case). Then you have to wade up to 4 times (in this case the rocks are placed in such a way that wading is not difficult) the Riviere des Galets, before facing a long but comfortable climb to the Bord Bazar, a hill at 953m, moment in which we enter a terrain of up and down, crossing different villages (Ilet Sud, Ilet a Malheur, Ilet a Malheur les Hauts ...) before arriving at our beautiful destination of the day, Ilet a Bourse, located presiding in a certain measure the heart of the impressive Cirque de Mafate, with the spectacular and sharp Piton Cabris right in front. We enjoyed these views at sunset with the python in front of us.
Stage 4 GR R2 Reunion Island. From Ilet à Bourse to the Nouvelle.
Long, hard and demanding stage of our trek through the island of Reunion. We really did not walk much on this day on the GR R2 as we took multiple variants to shorten as much as possible the road bump that awaited us and above all to remove some of the steep slope that this queen stage legbreaker required. Even so, the positive elevation gain was quite close to 2000m. We were psyched up for it and we endured without any problem and without paying it in later days.
We left from the beautiful location where we had slept, in Ilet a Bourse, with spectacular views over the Python Cabris. As soon as we leave we begin with an up and down section to soon turn right and leave the GR R2 for a moment in my intention to remove the unevenness of the stage. Shortly after we return said GR to leave it again soon to divert to Cayenne. It is important to catch water before this town, as there is a fountain marked on the road. We did not do it and in Cayenne we did not find any source, so then we had to take water in several streams and make it drinkable. From Cayenne we take a path that goes halfway up the Riviere des Galets (without gaining or losing height for a long time) until we cross it to join another path that goes down from Grand Place. Here we face the first long ascent of the day (before we take a wonderful and short swim in the river) of about 800 or 900m (since it has some descent in between) to go up (with a good sunshine that recovers us well) to a hill at the foot of Le Brochard, a good grind tower that rises above the horizon, to which we desist from climbing. At the top we had a drink and now we face a long descent to the same river from which we came to, after repeatedly fording it (and taking another good refreshing bath) to go back up an incredibly carved path in the rock itself at the beginning (it starts with a staircase) and then plunging into a forest area before finally arriving (amid dense fog) at La Nouvelle, our well-deserved destination for the day, after a tough but rewarding stage. We have retaken the GR R2 again at the top of the pass at the foot of Le Brochard.
5th stage Trek GR R2 Reunion. From the Nouvelle to Cilaos (by Marla and the Col du Taibit)
Another demanding stage of almost 1500m of positive unevenness to finally change the circus and go from Mafate, in which we have already been a few days, to Cilaos, which unfortunately we are hardly going to spend time.
The day dawns beautifully and we begin to walk with the first lights that enhance the beauty of this high section of the Mafate Circus. At the beginning it is an up and down section (we used a small variant of the GR R2, the PR 25, which from my point of view optimizes the route better) before reaching Marla. There are sections in which we share the 3 GRs of the island. From Marla we begin to climb the Col du Taibit, a long and comfortable climb that will offer us spectacular views of the two circuses between which we are walking. There is a small detour along a somewhat slippery path, which offers us more extensive views, but we hardly go up it, since there are many people on the way and it loses much of the charm of solitude.
The descent from the hill is long but the path is quite good until the D 242 road. Shortly after crossing it there are two options to get to Cilaos. We choose the one that continues along the GR R2 (the other continues along the GR R1), which goes down a little further and brings us closer to the Bras Rouge Waterfall (near it we take a good swim). From here all that remains until the entrance to Cilaos is uphill. The last light of the afternoon makes us enjoy even more of these beautiful landscapes. Once in the town (the largest of the entire trek by far) we have to walk a bit on the asphalt until we reach the apartment where we will spend the night.
6th Stage Trek GR R2 Reunion. From Cilaos to Gîte Cavern Dufaur
From Cilaos it seems absolutely impossible to climb the walls that close its homonymous circus to the north to gain height on the hill at the foot of the great Pitón de las Nieves. But there really is a comfortable path that saves this unevenness of more than 1200m without any difficulty. And it is the GR R2, by which we are going to climb.
My girl had injured her knee a couple of days ago, wading the Riviere des Galets before going up to the Nouvelle. This circumstance caused that for several days I had a lot of discomfort, especially on the descents. Today was not going to be much the case since the stage was entirely uphill. But the beginning involved climbing a small promontory and then going down. To avoid this, we continued a section on the asphalt and neutralized this short section of GR R2 to prevent her from having discomfort on the way down. Once we reached where the GR deviates to the left and begins to climb in a continuous and smooth zigzag, there were no more alternatives to choose from. The day was beautiful and the views as we gained height were improving and expanding the horizons that dominated our eyes. At one point we reached a plain before continuing to climb through an incredibly lush forest until we reached the highest point of the day, once we gained the rope of the mountain in a pass at the foot of the volcano that marks the maximum height. of the island. Here we make a very long stop to enjoy such a wide horizon, having a few meters already the refuge where we are going to spend the night hiding among the clouds that enter from the other side of the island.
The stage is short but the positive unevenness saved has been great. The GPS fails before reaching the refuge and traces me a lap that is not real so you have to take a few meters of both mileage and unevenness.
Ascent to Python des Neiges from Gîte Cavern Dufour
Short ascent to the Piton des Neiges from the Cavern Dufour gite. The path is very simple and if the day is clear, as was our case, the views from the top are simply sublime.
The Pitón de las Nieves, with its 3070 meters is the highest peak on the island and that of all the archipelagos in the area. Once you are at the top, it is interesting to look at the broken walls that fall steeply in almost all directions, to the south the Circo de Cilaos (from which we come), to the west and to the north that of Mafate (which we have already traveled for several days) and towards the northeast and more blurred that of Cilaos (which we still do not know, but we will visit it when we finish the trekking).
Upstairs it can be quite cold if it is early and it is advisable to bring a good coat.
We go down the same way to the refuge where we have slept and where we have left the backpacks with all the load of the journey, since then we are going to go down to Bourg Murat, in a long stage basically downhill.
Only Maria and I went up. My girl had a knee injury and preferred to reserve herself to only make the descent to Bourg Murat.
7th Stage Trek GR R2 Reunion. From Gîte Cavern Dufaur to Bourg-Murat
After ascending the Piton des Neiges early in the morning, the island's highest altitude at 3070m, we faced the long descent to Bourg-Murat in one of the loosest stages in terms of scenery (it is also true that clouds got into us as the This day they limited our visibility a lot and it even rained some in the last part of the stage) and in terms of physical demand.
We start with a long stretch through a fairly flat area over a scrub area on the heights of the Piton des Neiges skirt. At one point we climbed an interesting ridge (facilitated by a ladder), which in normal conditions has to have interesting views, but which unfortunately we could not enjoy because of the clouds. From here we begin to descend gently (there are quite a few somewhat uncomfortable muddy sections) until we reach a track already in agricultural and livestock land, before leaving the main road, along which we walk longer than we want (already in the rain ) to get closer to the accommodation we have on the outskirts of Bourg Murat.
Stage 8 Trek GR R2 Reunion Island. From Bourg-Murat to Gîte du Volcán
Eighth stage of our trek through the GR R2 of this beautiful island.
We leave from the town of Bourg-Murat (we are staying in a large house on the outskirts of said village). At the beginning we walked a few km on the asphalt, and shortly after we turned right along paths between farmland. The day is sunny but as we walk at a certain height, the temperature is very pleasant. Little by little we are entering wilder terrain, crossing several small volcanoes and a small lake and some well muddy area, before reaching the asphalt road that goes up to the Gite del Volcán. We cross this road several times until we look at the edge of an immense crater from which we can already see in the distance the main crater (more bare of vegetation) in which the great Volcan de la Fournaise is located. This last section before reaching the gite where we will sleep, is more "Martian", with reddish lands barely covered by vegetation, with a special luminosity due to the height at which we find ourselves.
Stage 9 GR R2 Reunion. Gîte du Volcán a Gîte Theophane et Yoleane
Long stage through desolate places at the beginning of the day, that when we lose height they change and become much more leafy. We have a fairly closed day in the heights so we cannot contemplate in its splendor the great volcano that is the Pitón de la Fournase. This circumstance also makes us give up the possibility of approaching and going into the great crater at the foot of which we spend the night in the Volcano Refuge. However, we did approach the edge of said crater at the beginning of the day (unfortunately the clouds did not let us see much) before continuing along said edge until we said goodbye to it at Bert's Python, where we began to descend through the territory. volcanic until we get closer to the Puys Ramond, where the vertiginous descent through an increasingly jungle area begins along the southern slopes of this entire network of volcanoes that make up this area of Reunion Island. There is some section in which the terrain is quite muddy as the clouds let little light pass through this closed forest.
Stage 10 Trek GR R2 Reunion Island. From Gîte Theophane et Yoleane to Basse Vallée
Last stage of our Trek GR R2 from Reunion Island. We leave from the Gîte Theophane et Yoleane, a humble accommodation in the lush forest, already on the steep descent from the Piton de la Fournase. The stage could not be shorter and easier. It really could have been done the day before, but we prefer to do it isolated to get fresh and good time to the bus stop that there is just off the main road in Basse Vallée. There you can take different buses depending on where we go. As it was such a short and comfortable stage, it can be used to enjoy and relax contemplating the lushness and transition of the landscape, which gradually becomes more anthropogenic with sugar crops and other island products as we approach the coast.
I recommend this link to complement my descriptions. It is from María, our companion, and it is very complete and very practical:
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/gr-r2-gran-travesia-de-la-isla-reunion-44322550
Impressive, long and demanding Trek, basically following the GR R2, which crosses Reunion Island from north to south (or vice versa). For me it is one of the most beautiful treks that can be done autonomously in the world (and I have already done a few). You do not need any special permission, just want to kick and get to know a very steep island with a network of well-marked paths and many gites and refuges (remember that we are in France). It is important in high season (as was our case) to book well in advance, especially the most requested gites or refuges, which are the Caverne Dufour Refuge (at the foot of the Piton des Neiges, the highest point on the island) and the Gite du Volcán (at the foot of the Piton du Fournaise), since without these it would not be possible to complete the GR R2 trek. There are two other great routes, the GR R1 and the GR R3, which basically run through the 3 circuses on the island, Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie. In fact, on many occasions the GRs overlap. We opted to tour the entire island to see the evolution of the landscape. The first stages pass through a very jungle area, first we go up to Roche Ecrite, from which you get incredible views over the Cirque de Salazie. And then, after going down to Dos d´Ane, we went into the labyrinthine Circo de Mafate for several days to leave it, after passing the Col de Taibit, and briefly visit the Circo de Cilaos. From this town we go up to the Caverne Dufour Refuge, from which we go up to the Piton des Neiges. Then in a long stage we go down to Bourg Murat, before going up to the Gite du Volcan, from where we descend in a new long stage (first through lava landscape and then through lush jungle in free fall) to our last accommodation, before finishing the task in a short stage that will take us to Basse Vallée, where we finish our route. Below I make a much more detailed description of each stage.
The necessary equipment does not require special equipment. Some shoes or trekking boots that are already well worked, some flip-flops for some wading, the delicious baths in the rivers and rest in the shelters. Something warm, since in the heights it surprises the cool, if not cold. Also fresh clothes, since in the lower areas it can be quite hot (we are in the tropical zone). And already themes of canes to the taste of the consumer. The roads are sometimes quite leg-breaking and especially in the circuses there is a lot of unevenness although the stages are not very long. Sometimes in the more complex sections there are small sections equipped with stairs. There are also quite muddy areas where it can be a real hell to walk because there is very little spread and you have to be very careful not to have any mishap. The fording of rivers are very varied, the same you find a magnificent bridge or there are good stones that facilitate the passage a lot, or on the contrary there is a piece of river with good jumps between stone and stone and the fording is quite entertaining so it is better to take off your shoes so as not to give yourself an accidental soak. .
We carried about 9 kgs of weight in our backpack.
I comment on the stages one by one (if you click and copy the name you can find the stage in isolation and with more information than what appears here).
1st stage GR R2 Reunion Island. From Brulé to Gîte de la Plaine des Chicots.
First stage of this spectacular and demanding trek that crosses the entire Reunion Island from north to south, the GR R2. There is a whole network of gites and there are also some villages where the accommodation offer is broader, so the only thing to decide is the length of the stages to book the accommodation in advance.
We neutralize part of the first stage and take buses 12 and 12a (they are connected at the Bassin Couderc stop), which is taken in the capital, St Denis. Once at the Au Banc stop, we start walking on asphalt (it is a very pleasant stretch of road where there is no traffic at all and you get the first views over the horizon). We arrive comfortably at Mamode Camp, where the asphalt ends and the road marked GR R2 begins, which takes us through a lush and lonely forest where little by little we will become familiar with the dense vegetation (the giant ferns are impressive). The jungle barely allows us to get views in the distance.
The ascent is continuous but the path is quite good and it is climbed without great effort, despite being our first contact with the mountain and still not having the muscles in tune after several days without moving. As soon as we pass a junction that comes to our left from the Python Mavouse area, we arrive at a flatter area where the Gîte de la Plaine des Chicots is located, a somewhat cold refuge but located in a lonely and charming clearing in the forest. Here we will spend the first night of our route. It is also known as the Gite de la Roche Ecrite, due to the proximity of this promontory to which we will climb this afternoon and in the morning the next day, before continuing the route.
Ascension to the Roche Ecrite.
The previous afternoon we had climbed to the Roche Ecrite and we had already contemplated the impressive views that could be seen from the top. Well, if the morning is clear, the atmosphere is cleaner and the views will be even more spectacular ...... and it was. The first section of the route, just after leaving the Plaine that gives its name to the refuge, was still in the frost that fell at night and was receiving the first rays of sunlight that soon turned it into water. The ascent has a first almost flat section through this terrain until reaching the last part where it takes a little more unevenness through mixed terrain of stones and dirt (quite easy). The views from the top were indeed even more impressive than those in the afternoon. We were alone and the place is to recreate looking in all possible directions. Especially spectacular are the views towards the two cirques that we have immediately below, to the left that of Salazie (which is the one that is best seen) and to the right that of Mafate (where we will continue our itinerary around the island).
On the way down, we turn off to get closer to the Soldiers' Cave. It is not a big deal but it does not require much more walking than if you go down the main path. We also looked out (as we did the day before in the fog) at the head of Bras Detour.
After this short ascent we continue with our second stage of the Trek on the GR R2 to Dos d´Ane.
2nd stage GR R2 of Reunion Island. From Gîte de la Plaine des Chicots to Dos d'Âne
Short stage basically downhill, starting from the Gite de la Roche Ecrite or the Plaine des Chicots. As soon as we leave this accommodation, we make a short detour to look out and get the first impressive views of the Cirque de Mafate, which we will have the entire stage on our left. The very lushness of the forest through which we walk generally prevents us from getting too many views of this circus. Progressively more clouds were getting in which further complicated this limited visibility (we started the route relatively late since we had previously climbed to Roche Ecrite). Almost all day we are walking at the top of the immense caldera that closes the spectacular Mafate Circus to the north, through which we will travel in the next few days. We turn left before reaching Dos d´Ane to look at the Mirador de Cap Noire (a shame the clouds that greatly limit visibility in this section), facing a section equipped with stairs to facilitate the descent to this viewpoint (as it would be the general trend there is a somewhat muddy section in wooded areas where you have to be careful).
The last section within the town is along the street that runs through it (there is a supermarket where we buy some food).
3rd stage GR R2 Reunion Island. From Dos d'Âne to Ilet to Bourse
Long and demanding stage from the town of Dos d´Ane to the small village of Ilet a Bourse, following the GR R2 at all times, which crosses Reunion Island from north to south. The length is not excessive but the unevenness is considerable since as soon as we leave we face a long descent (with some section facilitated by stairs) to the Bras de Sainte Suzanne (which is quite entertaining to wade carrying with a backpack of travel like it was our case). Then you have to wade up to 4 times (in this case the rocks are placed in such a way that wading is not difficult) the Riviere des Galets, before facing a long but comfortable climb to the Bord Bazar, a hill at 953m, moment in which we enter a terrain of up and down, crossing different villages (Ilet Sud, Ilet a Malheur, Ilet a Malheur les Hauts ...) before arriving at our beautiful destination of the day, Ilet a Bourse, located presiding in a certain measure the heart of the impressive Cirque de Mafate, with the spectacular and sharp Piton Cabris right in front. We enjoyed these views at sunset with the python in front of us.
Stage 4 GR R2 Reunion Island. From Ilet à Bourse to the Nouvelle.
Long, hard and demanding stage of our trek through the island of Reunion. We really did not walk much on this day on the GR R2 as we took multiple variants to shorten as much as possible the road bump that awaited us and above all to remove some of the steep slope that this queen stage legbreaker required. Even so, the positive elevation gain was quite close to 2000m. We were psyched up for it and we endured without any problem and without paying it in later days.
We left from the beautiful location where we had slept, in Ilet a Bourse, with spectacular views over the Python Cabris. As soon as we leave we begin with an up and down section to soon turn right and leave the GR R2 for a moment in my intention to remove the unevenness of the stage. Shortly after we return said GR to leave it again soon to divert to Cayenne. It is important to catch water before this town, as there is a fountain marked on the road. We did not do it and in Cayenne we did not find any source, so then we had to take water in several streams and make it drinkable. From Cayenne we take a path that goes halfway up the Riviere des Galets (without gaining or losing height for a long time) until we cross it to join another path that goes down from Grand Place. Here we face the first long ascent of the day (before we take a wonderful and short swim in the river) of about 800 or 900m (since it has some descent in between) to go up (with a good sunshine that recovers us well) to a hill at the foot of Le Brochard, a good grind tower that rises above the horizon, to which we desist from climbing. At the top we had a drink and now we face a long descent to the same river from which we came to, after repeatedly fording it (and taking another good refreshing bath) to go back up an incredibly carved path in the rock itself at the beginning (it starts with a staircase) and then plunging into a forest area before finally arriving (amid dense fog) at La Nouvelle, our well-deserved destination for the day, after a tough but rewarding stage. We have retaken the GR R2 again at the top of the pass at the foot of Le Brochard.
5th stage Trek GR R2 Reunion. From the Nouvelle to Cilaos (by Marla and the Col du Taibit)
Another demanding stage of almost 1500m of positive unevenness to finally change the circus and go from Mafate, in which we have already been a few days, to Cilaos, which unfortunately we are hardly going to spend time.
The day dawns beautifully and we begin to walk with the first lights that enhance the beauty of this high section of the Mafate Circus. At the beginning it is an up and down section (we used a small variant of the GR R2, the PR 25, which from my point of view optimizes the route better) before reaching Marla. There are sections in which we share the 3 GRs of the island. From Marla we begin to climb the Col du Taibit, a long and comfortable climb that will offer us spectacular views of the two circuses between which we are walking. There is a small detour along a somewhat slippery path, which offers us more extensive views, but we hardly go up it, since there are many people on the way and it loses much of the charm of solitude.
The descent from the hill is long but the path is quite good until the D 242 road. Shortly after crossing it there are two options to get to Cilaos. We choose the one that continues along the GR R2 (the other continues along the GR R1), which goes down a little further and brings us closer to the Bras Rouge Waterfall (near it we take a good swim). From here all that remains until the entrance to Cilaos is uphill. The last light of the afternoon makes us enjoy even more of these beautiful landscapes. Once in the town (the largest of the entire trek by far) we have to walk a bit on the asphalt until we reach the apartment where we will spend the night.
6th Stage Trek GR R2 Reunion. From Cilaos to Gîte Cavern Dufaur
From Cilaos it seems absolutely impossible to climb the walls that close its homonymous circus to the north to gain height on the hill at the foot of the great Pitón de las Nieves. But there really is a comfortable path that saves this unevenness of more than 1200m without any difficulty. And it is the GR R2, by which we are going to climb.
My girl had injured her knee a couple of days ago, wading the Riviere des Galets before going up to the Nouvelle. This circumstance caused that for several days I had a lot of discomfort, especially on the descents. Today was not going to be much the case since the stage was entirely uphill. But the beginning involved climbing a small promontory and then going down. To avoid this, we continued a section on the asphalt and neutralized this short section of GR R2 to prevent her from having discomfort on the way down. Once we reached where the GR deviates to the left and begins to climb in a continuous and smooth zigzag, there were no more alternatives to choose from. The day was beautiful and the views as we gained height were improving and expanding the horizons that dominated our eyes. At one point we reached a plain before continuing to climb through an incredibly lush forest until we reached the highest point of the day, once we gained the rope of the mountain in a pass at the foot of the volcano that marks the maximum height. of the island. Here we make a very long stop to enjoy such a wide horizon, having a few meters already the refuge where we are going to spend the night hiding among the clouds that enter from the other side of the island.
The stage is short but the positive unevenness saved has been great. The GPS fails before reaching the refuge and traces me a lap that is not real so you have to take a few meters of both mileage and unevenness.
Ascent to Python des Neiges from Gîte Cavern Dufour
Short ascent to the Piton des Neiges from the Cavern Dufour gite. The path is very simple and if the day is clear, as was our case, the views from the top are simply sublime.
The Pitón de las Nieves, with its 3070 meters is the highest peak on the island and that of all the archipelagos in the area. Once you are at the top, it is interesting to look at the broken walls that fall steeply in almost all directions, to the south the Circo de Cilaos (from which we come), to the west and to the north that of Mafate (which we have already traveled for several days) and towards the northeast and more blurred that of Cilaos (which we still do not know, but we will visit it when we finish the trekking).
Upstairs it can be quite cold if it is early and it is advisable to bring a good coat.
We go down the same way to the refuge where we have slept and where we have left the backpacks with all the load of the journey, since then we are going to go down to Bourg Murat, in a long stage basically downhill.
Only Maria and I went up. My girl had a knee injury and preferred to reserve herself to only make the descent to Bourg Murat.
7th Stage Trek GR R2 Reunion. From Gîte Cavern Dufaur to Bourg-Murat
After ascending the Piton des Neiges early in the morning, the island's highest altitude at 3070m, we faced the long descent to Bourg-Murat in one of the loosest stages in terms of scenery (it is also true that clouds got into us as the This day they limited our visibility a lot and it even rained some in the last part of the stage) and in terms of physical demand.
We start with a long stretch through a fairly flat area over a scrub area on the heights of the Piton des Neiges skirt. At one point we climbed an interesting ridge (facilitated by a ladder), which in normal conditions has to have interesting views, but which unfortunately we could not enjoy because of the clouds. From here we begin to descend gently (there are quite a few somewhat uncomfortable muddy sections) until we reach a track already in agricultural and livestock land, before leaving the main road, along which we walk longer than we want (already in the rain ) to get closer to the accommodation we have on the outskirts of Bourg Murat.
Stage 8 Trek GR R2 Reunion Island. From Bourg-Murat to Gîte du Volcán
Eighth stage of our trek through the GR R2 of this beautiful island.
We leave from the town of Bourg-Murat (we are staying in a large house on the outskirts of said village). At the beginning we walked a few km on the asphalt, and shortly after we turned right along paths between farmland. The day is sunny but as we walk at a certain height, the temperature is very pleasant. Little by little we are entering wilder terrain, crossing several small volcanoes and a small lake and some well muddy area, before reaching the asphalt road that goes up to the Gite del Volcán. We cross this road several times until we look at the edge of an immense crater from which we can already see in the distance the main crater (more bare of vegetation) in which the great Volcan de la Fournaise is located. This last section before reaching the gite where we will sleep, is more "Martian", with reddish lands barely covered by vegetation, with a special luminosity due to the height at which we find ourselves.
Stage 9 GR R2 Reunion. Gîte du Volcán a Gîte Theophane et Yoleane
Long stage through desolate places at the beginning of the day, that when we lose height they change and become much more leafy. We have a fairly closed day in the heights so we cannot contemplate in its splendor the great volcano that is the Pitón de la Fournase. This circumstance also makes us give up the possibility of approaching and going into the great crater at the foot of which we spend the night in the Volcano Refuge. However, we did approach the edge of said crater at the beginning of the day (unfortunately the clouds did not let us see much) before continuing along said edge until we said goodbye to it at Bert's Python, where we began to descend through the territory. volcanic until we get closer to the Puys Ramond, where the vertiginous descent through an increasingly jungle area begins along the southern slopes of this entire network of volcanoes that make up this area of Reunion Island. There is some section in which the terrain is quite muddy as the clouds let little light pass through this closed forest.
Stage 10 Trek GR R2 Reunion Island. From Gîte Theophane et Yoleane to Basse Vallée
Last stage of our Trek GR R2 from Reunion Island. We leave from the Gîte Theophane et Yoleane, a humble accommodation in the lush forest, already on the steep descent from the Piton de la Fournase. The stage could not be shorter and easier. It really could have been done the day before, but we prefer to do it isolated to get fresh and good time to the bus stop that there is just off the main road in Basse Vallée. There you can take different buses depending on where we go. As it was such a short and comfortable stage, it can be used to enjoy and relax contemplating the lushness and transition of the landscape, which gradually becomes more anthropogenic with sugar crops and other island products as we approach the coast.
I recommend this link to complement my descriptions. It is from María, our companion, and it is very complete and very practical:
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/gr-r2-gran-travesia-de-la-isla-reunion-44322550
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Pelchas Sep 6, 2019
Impresionante, muchísimas gracias por compartir y nos dejas disfrutar un poco de la ruta. Un saludo.
lamorosangel Sep 6, 2019
Muchas gracias a tí Pelchas como siempre! La ruta es preciosa.
Un saludo!
lamorosangel Mar 2, 2020
Recomiendo echar un ojo al siguiente enlace de wikiloc de nuestra compañera de viaje María. Es supercompleto, muy, muy práctico y yo creo que complementa perfectamente a mi descripción (bastante más rollera) de esta interesante ruta:
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/gr-r2-gran-travesia-de-la-isla-reunion-44322550
jgomezacin Sep 30, 2020
Buenas me gustaría saber si ¿me puedes dar consejo sobre Isla Reunion?
Teníamos que irnos en dos semanas a cruzar la Isla (Gran Trekking) pero no lo tenemos claro con el COVID. Queremos hacer con tienda de campaña para ir por libre y evitar al máximo estar en sitios cerrados con más gente. Mis dudas son:
1- ¿Es muy duro el trekking con mochila con tienda, saco dormir, ....? Fisicamente estamos preparados, hacemos larga distancia en todo (btt, nadar, correr, ...) pero hay buenos desniveles, calor y mucho peso en las espaldas
2- Acampar: ¿es posible en cualquier sitio?
3- Lo más importante: ¿es fácil encontrar comida en la ruta? Hemos leido que en la ruta casi solo hay refugios y que si no has reservado dificilmente comeras. ¿Es así? En el trekking no parece que se pase por pueblos donde realizar compras. ¿Se puede comprar en el trekking?
lamorosangel Sep 30, 2020
Buenas jgomezacin. La ruta es bastante exigente con el tema físico, pero si estáis realmente fuertes como comentas y ya estáis acostumbrados a cargar con todo en travesías, no debería ser un gran problema, aunque hay algunos tramos bastante abruptos, con pasos embarrados y resbaladizos que os pondrán a prueba. Eso sí, informaros bien antes de ir de la estación en la que váis, porque yo no me iría en la época de lluvias.
Acampar no vimos que yo recuerde a nadie, ni zonas específicas para ello, pero supongo que con el covid harán la vista gorda como en todos sitios, este verano hemos visto acampar a todo el mundo en todas partes por el norte de España y sur de Francia, en lugares en donde en otras ocasiones te levantarían a los dos minutos, así que no debería de ser ese el problema, aunque zonas habilitadas con servicios no recuerdo que hubieran.
Respecto al tema de comprar, no hay pueblos en muchos de los tramos, así que ya podéis estar fuertes y cargar comida para varios días. A excepción de unos cuantos pueblos como Cilaos, el resto, con suerte, pasas alguna aldeita muy pequeña, aunque preguntando algo podréis encontrar.
También os digo que los alojamientos disponían de habitaciones para pequeños grupos. Nosotros íbamos tres y no recuerdo haber compartido espacio, excepto para cenar (y tampoco estábamos apretados con más gente casi nunca), para dormir, siempre estuvimos solos los tres, así que también podéis poneros en contacto con los de las gites y refugios.
Bueno, espero haberte aclarado algo. No dudes en preguntarme más si te hace falta.
Un saludo!
jgomezacin Sep 30, 2020
Muchísimas gracias por la información. Nos has ayudado mucho. Nuestro treking es en dos semanas y lo vemos complicado con actual situación!
lamorosangel Sep 30, 2020
Yo en vuestro caso intentaría informarme de las restricciones concretas que puede haber en Reunión, que al fin y al cabo es una provincia de Francia. Porque con la poca gente que te cruzas en el trek el riesgo es mínimo. Y nosotros en los alojamientos en general estuvimos bastante solos y nunca compartiremos habitación con nadie. Así que yo intentaría ponerme en contacto con los alojamientos. O preguntarles incluso a los de los alojamientos si saben si están dejando acampar. Porque hay tres pueblos grandes a lo largo del trekking donde sí que no es problema el comprar víveres, y algunos de los pequeños supongo que también será posible comprar algo.
En fin, suerte y no os desanimeis. Es un trek único que merece la pena!
Ander Iraola Parra Sep 9, 2021
Estoy valorando seriamente hacer este track con mi pareja, como aventura definitiva de trekking, por lo que me interesa mucho conocer tu opinión. Dices que es de los mejores trekkings que se pueden hacer en el mundo... qué otros 2 treks consideras que podrían estar a la altura de este? Muchas gracias por la ayuda! :-)
Med Poulain Sep 10, 2021
I have followed this trail View more
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super ruta y super compis ;)
lamorosangel Sep 13, 2021
Buenas Ander! Difícil pregunta porque obviamente es una opinión muy personal. Pero está claro que este de reunión para mí es de los mejores. Y por recomendarte otros diferentes que también para mí están entre los mejores (y fáciles de hacer por tu cuenta, que para mí eso es muy importante), pues por el Himalaya está claro que la vuelta a los Annapurnas o el del Campo Base del Everest (con losl Valles de Gokio y del Chukung), también espectaculares son algunos de la zona de Andes como Huayhuash o Cordillera Blanca. También son espectaculares los de Ruwenzori, Monte Kenia o Kilimanjaro. Pero por resumirte y fáciles de hacer por tu cuenta, los dos de Himalaya que te he dicho. Aunque el de Huayhuash es impresionante y diferente a los de Andes. Espero haberte aclarado algo con este rollo!
Un saludo!
lamorosangel Sep 13, 2021
Mil gracias María! Sobre todo por acompañarnos y disfrutar contigo de todo N sitio tan espectacular.
Un besazo fuerte!