The island's sportiest seaside town: world-class paragliding, famous surf waves, scuba diving on the bay's drop-offs, Kelonia and its sea turtles, the Le Souffleur blowhole and whale watching from June to October.
Saint-Leu stretches from the ocean (harbour, beaches, Kelonia) up into the hills (Les Colimaçons, the Mascarin gardens), with the Route des Tamarins expressway running through it. More authentic than Saint-Gilles, it's also the island's adventure sports hub: paragliding, diving, surfing and bungee jumping. And it's much drier than the east coast. Getting up to Les Colimaçons and the Mascarin gardens is easiest by car, as the buses mostly run along the coast; if you haven't booked one yet, see which hire cars are available at Roland-Garros airport.
Five sides of Saint-Leu: the thrill of flying, the power of the waves, turtle conservation, tropical botany and the island's sugar heritage.
Saint-Leu is one of the three best paragliding spots in the world. Flights usually take off from Les Colimaçons (800m) or the Maïdo (2,200m) depending on the weather, with 20 to 35 minutes over the lagoon before landing on the beach near Kelonia. Conditions are excellent all year, with around 300 flying days. Budget €95-130 for a first tandem flight and €150-250 for a premium option.
A natural blowhole in the basalt coastline: waves surge in and force a jet of water and air several dozen metres into the air. It's free, and most impressive in rough seas and on a rising tide. A must on the way back towards Saint-Gilles. Take care on the rocks, which get slippery in a big swell.
A turtle care and research centre opened in 2006, working with Ifremer (the French marine research institute). Outdoor pools open to the public, exhibitions and films, with green turtles (Chelonia mydas) and hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys) recovering before being released. €9-11 for adults, €5-7 for children; allow 1.5-2 hours. Saint-Leu also has a protected nesting beach from June to February.
Five minutes up the hill in Les Colimaçons. A 9-hectare estate around a 19th-century planter's house: endemic orchids, palms, medicinal plants, a scented garden and a recreated Creole garden. Visit on your own or with a guide, in about 1.5 hours. Ideal for winding down after a morning of diving or paragliding.
A former sugar factory in Piton Saint-Leu turned into a heritage museum telling the story of sugar cane in Reunion Island, with original machinery and exhibitions on rum and vanilla. Superb industrial architecture. €9 for adults, €5 for children. Combine it with a Creole lunch by the sea.
Beyond paragliding, Saint-Leu packs in more outdoor sports than anywhere else on the island: surfing, diving, bungee jumping, snorkelling and downhill mountain biking. Here are the six main ones, in town or up on the Maïdo.
Saint-Leu's left-hander is one of the finest waves in the Indian Ocean: long, hollow and consistent. Several schools run lessons from age 6, always with shark spotters in the water. Beginners will find easier conditions at Pointe au Sel. Budget €40 for a group lesson.
Saint-Leu bay has spectacular drop-offs and fewer divers than Saint-Gilles: shoals of reef fish, rays and reef sharks. Reputable clubs at the harbour run PADI and FFESSM courses for all levels. Try-dives from €85, guided dives €55-75.
A 120m jump from the Ravine Fontaine bridge, one of the three most intense activities on the island. From €95 for a classic jump and €110 for the pendulum jump. There's no official minimum age, but you need to be in good physical shape.
Saint-Leu bay and Pointe au Sel: a coral reef you can reach from the shore or on a guided snorkelling trip. Shoals of fish and sometimes green turtles. Several operators at the harbour, from €40 for a 2-hour trip.
An iconic annual downhill mountain bike race from the Maïdo (2,200m) all the way to the beach. Outside race time, guided descents run all year, with bike hire included. For strong, experienced riders only.
Several operators in the hills offer horse rides (Saint-Philippe forest, the Maïdo grasslands), quad biking and, more recently, electric motorbikes for exploring the forest tracks quietly.
A selection of partner activities I've checked in Saint-Leu and on the Maïdo, with prices and customer reviews.
★ 4.8(99)Paragliding in Reunion Island at Saint-Leu, one of the three best spots in the world for it. 2 packages from €110, 97 verified Manawa reviews.
★ 4.9(143)Prices for whale and dolphin watching trips from Saint-Gilles. 4 boat packages from €37 with Manawa partners. Humpback whales from July to October, dolphins year-round.
★ 4.8(62)4 guided excursions from €40 in Saint-Gilles, Saint-Leu, Le Port and Étang-Salé: coral reef, dolphins, humpback whales in season.
★ 4.9(42)Bungee jumping from €95 at the Bras de la Plaine bridge (115m, Saint-Pierre) and the Ravine Fontaine viaduct (120m, Saint-Leu). 3 operators, 4 packages compared.
★ 4.8(72)Mountain bike descents from the Piton Maïdo summit, from €65 on an e-MTB and €75 on the classic descent, plus an extreme Megavalanche-style format.
★ 4.9(197)A first scuba dive in Reunion Island from €85 across 4 spots (Saint-Leu, Saint-Gilles, Le Port, Étang-Salé). 4.9/5 from 145 Manawa reviews in Saint-Leu.
★ 4.9(34)Supervised surf lessons in Reunion Island from €40 with École de Surf de la Réunion at the Saint-Leu / Trois-Bassins spot. 4.9/5 from 27 Manawa reviews, systematic shark spotters.
★ 4.7(11)Guided exploration dives in Saint-Leu bay with Excelsus from €65, access to Pointe au Sel, the Antonio Lorenzo wreck and 8 other Marine Reserve sites.
15 minutes' drive from Saint-Leu, L'Éperon is one of the island's three helicopter bases. Flights cross the Mafate cirque, Piton des Neiges and the Maïdo, with Trou de Fer to the east on longer routes.
The perfect follow-up to a paragliding flight: once you've seen Saint-Leu from the air, why not head into the cirques? 30-55 minute flights cost €205-345 depending on the operator and length, often cheaper per person with 4 passengers.
The south-west is made for a road trip: Saint-Leu, Étang-Salé, Manapany and Saint-Pierre. Short drives, varied beaches, whale-watching viewpoints in season and colourful markets. Yescapa connects local owners with travellers, and is cheaper than the big rental chains with a much wider choice (from compact vans to vintage VW campers). Overnight parking is tolerated in some car parks, including Pointe au Sel.
Rent a van on Yescapa
Saint-Leu has something for every taste, from Creole snack bars by the beach to smarter restaurants around the harbour. The classics: chicken or goat cari, rougail saucisse, Chinese-style bouchons (steamed dumplings), samosas, achards (pickled vegetables) and chouchou (chayote) gratin. Snack bars are cheap (€8-15 a dish); seaside restaurants cost more (€18-32).
The Saturday morning marketon Place Pierre Vergès is smaller than Saint-Pierre's but authentic: seasonal fruit (Victoria pineapples, mangoes, longans), spices, local honey, takeaway dishes and vanilla from local cooperatives. Ideal for stocking up for a picnic at Pointe au Sel or the Mascarin gardens.
To go beyond the classics, several guesthouses in the hills serve a Creole set dinner, by reservation. That's often where you'll find the best caris and rougails in town.
Saint-Leu is right in the middle of the west coast: 20 minutes to Saint-Gilles, 20 minutes to Étang-Salé and just over an hour's drive up to the Maïdo. Six ideas for a day out.
Hotels, lodges and guesthouses on the west coast, from sea-view rooms to a guesthouse facing the lagoon.
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Article updated on 14 November 2026.