The last big town before the island's far south, Saint-Joseph is the base for exploring the wild south: the Grand-Galet waterfall, Manapany's natural pool, the ochre cliffs of Cap Jaune, canyoning and tubing on the Langevin river and genuine Creole produce. 4 sites, 10 bookable activities, farms to visit and places to eat.
Saint-Joseph is the opposite of Saint-Gilles. Instead of a touristy lagoon and 5-star hotels, you get basalt cliffs, waterfalls tumbling from 2,200m, fishing villages clinging to the rocks and a wetter climate that paints everything deep green. This is the real wild south.
As the last big town before the far south (Saint-Philippe), Saint-Joseph is the ideal basefor Grand-Galet, Manapany and Cap Jaune. It's also where you go canyoning and tubing on the Langevin river, and the starting point for the highlands (Grand Coude, the forest road).
Grand-Galet for the waterfall, Manapany for family swimming, Cap Jaune for its unusual geology and Vincendo for a coastal stroll.
The must-seeThe most photogenic waterfall in the wild south. Rising at 2,200m, the Langevin river tumbles through a string of falls and pools down to Grand-Galet: a basalt wall over 30m high, laced with ribbons of water, in a tropical amphitheatre. Free to visit from the Langevin road (20 min from Saint-Joseph), with parking 200m away and an easy walk down. It's sometimes closed after heavy rain (risk of falling rocks).
Full guide to Grand-Galet
FamilyA village perched on the cliffs, with genuine Creole architecture and an old-world feel. The highlight is its natural pool in the lava rock, where a basalt barrier keeps you safe while the ocean crashes just metres away. Ideal for families, with Creole restaurants nearby and a Sunday morning market.
UnusualA geological curiosity: an ochre, sulphur-yellow cliff in stark contrast with the black basalt around it. You reach it on a coastal path from Langevin harbour (30-40 min there and back), and it feels like the end of the world. Go when the sea is calm (the exposed side gets spray). A favourite with photographers at sunset.
A quiet, rural fishing district between Manapany and Saint-Joseph, with a black-sand beach, a coastal path for walking and wildlife spotting and a sea pool for swimming (take care outside the sheltered areas). Traditional Creole houses and small family-run restaurants.
Outdoor activities in Saint-Joseph and the south, plus a few 25-30 min away in Saint-Pierre, Étang-Salé and Cilaos.
★ 4.9(162)Canyoning on the Langevin river in Saint-Joseph from €55: family, classic, sporty Grand Galet and aquatic hike packages with CilaosAventure.
★ 5(8)A pendulastic jump in Reunion Island from €110 at the Ravine Fontaine viaduc (Saint-Leu) with Air Jump Réunion. 2 listings compared: Manawa & Funbooker.
★ 5(4)2 diving packages at the southern tip of the Marine Nature Reserve with Plongée Salée: a discovery dive at €110, or an exploration dive at €65. Unique volcanic sites.
Inflatable tube descent on the Langevin river with Bouée Péi (Saint-Joseph) from €60. 4 hours on site, including 2 hours of active tubing, from age 13, full gear included.
★ 5(17)4 canyoning listings for the Bras Rouge canyon (Cirque de Cilaos), from €65. A Médian route (3h) or an Intégral route (6h), 3 operators compared, 5/5 from 17 combined reviews.
★ 4.9(27)2 quad and buggy packages in Saint-Pierre from €160: a self-drive quad rental, or a guided ZForce 950 buggy excursion in the Mont Vert forest, 4.9/5 from 24 reviews.
★ 4.9(29)A guided quad excursion in the Rivière des Remparts valley from Saint-Joseph, from €70 per person, 4.6/5 from 23 reviews, from age 8 as a passenger, cliffs over 300 m.
★ 5(3)2 private tour packages in Reunion Island's Wild South: a 9-10h signature tour from €245 per group, or a short 4-7h Discovery from €289. Anse des Cascades, Cap Méchant, the Langevin river.
Saint-Joseph is one of the island's great food-producing areas: turmeric, vanilla, honey, homemade syrups and Grand Coude tea.
Saint-Joseph is the home of turmeric in Reunion Island. It's grown on small plots, then dried and ground locally, and tastes far more intense than supermarket versions. Buy it from the growers or at the market.
Fruit syrups (tamarind, rose geranium, pink peppercorn) made the old-fashioned way, and traditional bonbons la rouroute, sweets made from arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea). Perfect souvenirs.
Honey from the humid mountain forests of the southern highlands, with a distinctive woody taste. Several beekeepers at Plaine des Grègues sell direct.
Several vanilla growers in Saint-Philippe and the hills above Saint-Joseph offer tours of their drying sheds and sell quality black pods. Combine it with a visit to the Jardin des Parfums et des Épices.
A plateau at 1,100m above Saint-Joseph where tea and medicinal plants are grown. Guided tour, tasting and meals made with farm produce, in the cool mountain air.
At Grand Coude: a fun maze through the tea plantation with a trail explaining how tea is grown, tasting included. Ideal for families with children aged 6 and over.
30 min to the east: a former clove plantation turned botanical trail, with spices (vanilla, cinnamon, pepper), medicinal plants and local wildlife. Shop on site.
Pierrefonds is 25km from Saint-Joseph and the closest helicopter base to the volcano. Fly over the Sainte-Rose lava flows, Piton de la Fournaise, Cap Méchant and the Rivière des Remparts in 30 to 55 minutes.
See helicopter flightsGenuine Creole restaurants in Manapany, fishermen's restaurants in Vincendo and farm restaurants in the highlands (chicken cari, sausage rougail, sweet potato cake). The fine-dining restaurant at the Manapany Hôtel & Spais listed in the Gault & Millau guide.
Fine-dining restaurant guideMy pick of places to stay in the wild south, from Manapany to the Grand Coude highlands, with a direct link to listings on the site or partner booking.
An affiliate link, at no extra cost to you
An affiliate link, at no extra cost to you
An affiliate link, at no extra cost to you
An affiliate link, at no extra cost to you
Six outings, 25 minutes to an hour and a half away by road, where your own vehicle, van or car, really pays off. Pierrefonds airport is only 30 minutes from Saint-Joseph: search rental cars on Discover Cars and set Pierrefonds as your pick-up point.
The capital of the south, with the island's best-known street market (6am-1pm), the seafront, the harbour, the Karly temple and the Domaine du Café Grillé.
View the guideThe Mars-like Plaine des Sables, Pas de Bellecombe, the hike to Dolomieu crater and the Cité du Volcan museum at Bourg-Murat.
View the guideThe UNESCO-listed cirque at 1,200m. The Route des Plaines is faster than going via Saint-Louis. Hot springs, local wine and hikes up Piton des Neiges.
View the guideA black-sand beach, state forest, Bassin Pirogue (a sea pool for swimming) and Croc Parc.
View the guideLe Grand Brûlé, the 2007 lava flow, the lava tunnel and the Jardin des Parfums et des Épices in the far south.
View the guideA plateau at 1,100m with the Ferme du Grand Coude (tea, medicinal plants), the Labyrinthe En-Champ-Thé and sweeping views over the south.
View the guideThe south-east has fewer hotels than the west. A campervan from Yescapa lets you sleep near Grand-Galet, Manapany and Cap Méchant and catch the sunrise over the lava road. Several converted vans are available in Reunion Island.
Article updated on 2 November 2026.