Guided hike in Mafate: levels, packages and 2026 prices

This is the most reviewed guided hike in the Mafate cirque, rated 4.9 out of 5 from 18 verified Manawa reviews. Mafate is one of the island's three cirques, and the only one not accessible by car: you enter on foot via the trails from Maïdo, Cilaos or the coast. It's the most immersive hiking experience in Reunion Island.

The state-certified guide knows the trails and the inhabited îlets (Roche Plate, Marla, Aurère, Hell-Bourg, Îlet à Cayenne, La Nouvelle, Grand Place) and adapts the route to the group's level and the desired length. There's a half-day format for a striking viewpoint (e.g. Maïdo to Roche Plate and back), a full-day format to cross several îlets, and a 2-day format with a night in a gîte (guesthouse) on the way.

Who it's for: regular walkers comfortable on mountain trails, from age 12, equipped for altitude and wind (Mafate reaches 2,200m on the Maïdo side). Who it's not for: children under 12, people with limited mobility, severe heart conditions (significant cumulative elevation gain).

Manawa price: €55 per person. Flexible weather cancellation. Bring sturdy walking shoes (the trails are rocky and steep), warm clothing (it's 10-15°C cooler at Maïdo than on the coast), water and a snack, a cap or hat and sunscreen. For the full-day and 2-day packages, add a larger backpack with a change of clothes and a head torch.

This is the most reviewed Mafate package on Viator, rated 5 out of 5 from 19 verified reviews. The "authentic immersion" format favours meeting the residents of the inhabited îlets over physical performance: an extended stop in an îlet, a meal at a resident's home (an extra cost depending on arrangements), encounters with the farmers and herders who have chosen to live cut off from the road network.

The programme runs a full day, departing early morning from the Maïdo or another entry point depending on the guide. A moderate walk but with real elevation gain (around 600-800m cumulative there and back), so genuine fitness is needed. The guide works in partnership with residents to bring in the human dimension of the cirque, which radically changes the experience compared with a pure hike.

Who it's for: travellers who want to understand Mafate beyond the physical challenge, documentary photographers, couples or small groups open to cultural exchange. Who it's not for: sporty types who just want to rack up the kilometres (take the Manawa /11723/ listing or the Maïdo package /14002/ instead).

Viator price: €67 per person. Cancellation per the Viator conditions specified on the listing at the time of booking. Same gear recommendations as the Manawa package: walking shoes, warm clothing, water and a snack. Bring some cash to spend in the îlet (local crafts, drinks) if you want to support the local economy.

This package is the panoramic alternative: you stay on the cirque's ramparts on the Maïdo side without descending into the inhabited îlets. €60 per person, half-day, a format designed for occasional walkers who want to see Mafate without taking on a major descent (the way down to the îlets involves a demanding 600-800m climb back up).

The trail follows the rampart from the Piton Maïdo viewpoint (2,200m) and offers a succession of sweeping views over Roche Plate, La Nouvelle, Marla and Grand Place (the cirque's inhabited îlets). The guide comments on the geological formation, the history of the "petits blancs des Hauts" (poor white settlers) who took refuge in Mafate in the 19th century, and the endemic flora of the Maïdo highlands.

Who it's for: occasional walkers who want to see Mafate without a descent, families with teenagers, travellers combining the Maïdo with other activities on the same day (quad biking, paragliding, microlight flights are all in the same area). Who it's not for: seasoned walkers who really want to get into the cirque (take the Manawa /11723/ package or the Viator immersion instead).

Manawa price: €60 per person. Flexible weather cancellation. No reviews published to date (a recent package). Same gear recommendations as the other packages: walking shoes, a windbreaker (the rampart is exposed to the Maïdo's thermal wind), water, a cap, sunglasses. The trail stays flat to moderate, with a few steep sections at the viewpoints.