Takamaka, Grand Étang, the primary forest of Bébour-Bélouve, Sainte-Anne church, rafting on the Marsouins river. The rural, rainy east is home to some of Reunion Island's most striking natural sites, a world away from the beach resorts of the west coast. Here's how to explore it without missing a thing.
Saint-Benoît, Reunion Island's second-largest municipality by area after Saint-Paul, stretches from the sea up into the forested highlands. It's also one of the wettest places on the planet, which explains why it's so full of waterfalls, natural pools and primary forest.
The four sites not to miss in Saint-Benoît, from the most spectacular to the most historic.
A winding 16km road from Saint-Benoît climbs to 800m, facing one of the island's wettest cirques. From the platform you can see the waterfalls streaking down the near-vertical green ramparts (the cirque's cliff walls), as well as the EDF Takamaka I and II hydroelectric dams. From the car park, the Takamaka-Bébour trail heads off into the primary forest (5h, 27 ladders, for fit hikers). Go early in the morning, before the mist rolls in.
At 530m, Grand Étang is Reunion Island's only natural lake of any real size. The trail from the car park (30 min) leads to a wooden viewpoint facing a green cirque. Walking all the way round the lake takes about 2h, through woodland and clearings and past the Bras d'Annette waterfalls. Look out for moorhens, stonechats and Réunion harriers. Swimming is banned.
A 6,000-hectare forest shared with Plaine des Palmistes, with the feel of a high-altitude rainforest: century-old tamarind trees, tree ferns, moss, lichen and orchids. The École Normale trail (1h to 1h30, easy) is a good first taste. The Bébour-Bélouve-Trou de Fer route is for well-prepared hikers, in dry conditions or with a guide. Bring a windproof jacket: it can be 12°C under cloud, even when it's 28°C in Saint-Benoît.
10 minutes from the centre, this is Reunion Island's most unusual church. The facade was carved entirely by Brother Soubise and his parishioners between 1920 and 1940: friezes, niches, scrollwork and angels in relief. It's a listed historic monument, nicknamed the Creole Sagrada Familia. Free to visit, with no booking needed. Combine it with a picnic in the church gardens and a stop at the Sainte-Anne bakery, known for its pain au chocolat.
Two of the island's best-known rivers flow through Saint-Benoît: the Marsouins, running down from Piton des Neiges, and the Rivière des Roches to the north, on the border with Bras-Panon. Both are playgrounds for the east coast's whitewater activities.
A guided 8km raft descent over class II and III rapids, weaving through small canyons and clear pools. From age 8, equipment provided, half a day. It's Saint-Benoît's signature activity and the cheapest on the whole island, rated 4.7 out of 5 from 75 verified reviews.
Canyoning on the Rivière des Roches is more demanding, with moderate abseils, jumps of up to 8m and deep rock potholes. Intermediate level, half a day, €75-85.
Saint-Benoît has no white-sand lagoon beach, but its natural pools are well worth the detour. Always check the weather over the past 24 hours: the Marsouins river can rise very quickly after heavy rain.
5 minutes from Sainte-Anne church. Crystal-clear water fed by the Marsouins river, with swimming allowed except when the river is in flood. Black basalt pebbles, shade and a family-friendly atmosphere. Easy to reach: from the church, cross the bridge, then go 300m to the left at the picnic shelters. Busy on Sundays.
Upstream from Bassin Bleu, and wilder. Deep water and a waterfall, for confident swimmers only. Avoid it after rain: the Marsouins river rises fast. It's a 15-20 minute walk on a slippery trail from the Bassin Bleu car park.
A former pilgrimage site on the Marsouins river, downstream from Sainte-Anne. A wide pool of clear water, and camping by the river is tolerated. Ideal for a quiet afternoon. Access via the D54.
Saint-Benoît's northern boundary. Natural pools carved into the basalt, often with clear water, and several calm spots. This is where family canyoning in the east began. You can spend a half-day swimming and exploring with a guide.
Rafting, canyoning, horse riding at Grand Étang, the Bélouve-Trou de Fer trail and trips to Salazie. A selection of partner activities I've checked.
★ 4.6(61)A half-day ride around one of Reunion Island's rare natural lakes, from €70 with Ferme Équestre du Grand-Étang.
★ 4.9(17)A guided hike to Trou de Fer waterfall from Bélouve forest, from €50. 3 packages (Manawa and Viator), 4.9/5 from 14 verified reviews.
★ 4.8(101)Whitewater rafting on the Marsouins River in Saint-Benoît from €35 with Manawa. 4.7/5 from 75 verified reviews.
★ 5(30)Water hiking and canyoning in the Rivière des Roches at Saint-Benoît from €45 with Rando Aqua Réunion (5/5 from 30 Manawa reviews). 2 packages of jumps and slides, from age 7-8.
★ 5(1)A full-day horseback ride to Bassin Bœuf in Sainte-Suzanne with the Ferme équestre du Grand Étang (Manawa), from €150 per person.
A guided tour of the Maryen Peroumal Tamil temple in Saint-André, one of Reunion Island's largest Hindu temples. €12 per person with Ceetiz.
★ 4.8(17)A combo day excursion to the Cirque de Salazie and a traditional vanilla farm, €75 per person with Ceetiz. Hell-Bourg, Voile de la Mariée, Mare à Poule d'Eau.
★ 5(5)The island's most popular family-introduction canyon, on the Rivière Sainte-Suzanne (Bassin Bœuf). 2 Manawa listings from €55, 5/5 from 5 verified reviews.
The rural east has few hotels and plenty of quiet spots. A campervan hired through Yescapa lets you sleep as close as possible to the sites, be at the Takamaka viewpoint for sunrise, and move freely between Grand Étang, Bébour and Plaine des Palmistes. Sleeping in your vehicle is tolerated in some car parks: by the picnic shelters at Bassin Bleu de Sainte-Anne, the Grand Étang car park and the picnic areas at Bébour. The one rule: leave no litter.
Hire a Yescapa campervanFrom the viewpoint, you only see a fraction of the Takamaka cirque. From the air, you see the valley's true depth, its hydroelectric dams, dozens of hidden waterfalls and the primary forest of Bébour-Bélouve next to it. Flights usually include nearby Trou de Fer, one of the island's tallest waterfalls.
Saint-Benoît's street market runs every Saturday morning in the square in front of the town hall. Quieter than Saint-Pierre's and smaller than Saint-Paul's, it brings together producers from across the east: lychees and longans in season, mangoes, jackfruit, Victoria pineapples, Bourbon vanilla, mountain honey, local herbal teas, fresh fish, samosas and piping-hot bonbons piment (chilli fritters).
Arrive before 10.30am for the best choice and the freshest produce. You can also grab a Creole meal to take away: cari poulet (chicken curry), rougail saucisse (a spicy sausage stew) or bouchons (steamed dumplings). Woven vacoa (screwpine) baskets and straw hats make typically Reunionese souvenirs at a fair price.
For eating out, there are several good places along the coast: seafront Creole restaurants near Pointe du Tremblet, roadside snack bars between Saint-Benoît and Sainte-Rose for smoked jackfruit (ti-jacques boucané), and guesthouses serving their own home-cooked table d'hôte dinners.
Saint-Benoît makes an excellent base for exploring the whole windward (east) coast and the north-east. Here are six half-day or full-day ideas, all less than an hour's drive away. Roland-Garros airport is 50 minutes up the N2, and a rental car can be waiting for you there: weigh up the hire companies before you fly.
Gîtes and guesthouses in the east around Saint-Benoît, Bras-Panon and Sainte-Anne, plus a Booking.com search for the town.
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Page updated on 12 November 2026.