Trou d'Eau Beach in Reunion Island: clear kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkelling
3km of coral lagoon between La Saline-les-Bains and Saint-Leu, one of the calmest and most photogenic spots on the west coast, with shallow, crystal-clear water. It's also Reunion Island's original clear-kayak spot. Here are the 4 best things to do, the swimming rules and 5 Agoda hotels nearby.
3km of lagoon0.5 to 1.5m deep€50 for the clear kayakMarine Reserve since 2007
Quick facts
Trou d'Eau beach in 8 numbers
Location
Between La Saline-les-Bains and Saint-Leu
Beach length
About 3km along the lagoon
Lagoon depth
0.5 to 1.5m, ideal for swimming with children
Protection
Marine Nature Reserve since 2007
Underwater visibility
3 to 6m depending on the tide
Clear kayak spot
Lagon Réunion, from €50 for a 2h outing
Parking
Free along the forest road
Warmest period
December to March, water at 28°C
Trou d'Eau is one of the west coast's three iconic lagoons, along with L'Hermitage and La Saline. 3 kilometres of casuarina-lined beach, a shallow lagoon protected by the coral reef and crystal-clear water. It feels more intimate than its immediate neighbours, with a more local crowd and fewer facilities. Clear kayaking in Reunion Island started right here, and Lagon Réunion runs a fleet on this lagoon that you won't find anywhere else on the island. Below: the 4 ways to enjoy Trou d'Eau, practical tips and 5 Agoda hotels nearby.
4 flagship activities
4 ways to enjoy the Trou d'Eau lagoon
Clear kayaking on a guided outing, stand-up paddleboarding (hired or in a group), snorkelling from the shore, or simply swimming and relaxing for the day. Four different paces and four budgets.
Activity 1
Clear kayaking with Lagon Réunion
Format: Guided 2h outingPrice: From €50 per personDuration: 2h on the water, departures at 9am or 2pmAge: From age 5, armband included
Trou d'Eau's signature activity. Lagon Réunion runs clear-bottom kayaks that let you watch parrotfish and butterflyfish through the hull, with no mask or fins needed. An instructor leads the outing, explains the marine life and adapts the route to the tide. Rated 4.9/5 from 90 traveller reviews, one of the best-rated activities on the west coast. Ideal for families with children, or anyone who wants to discover the reef without swimming.
Best for: The lagoon's only clear-bottom kayak, the most educational spot on the coast
Format: Free rental or guided outingPrice: From €5 an hour rental, €30 for a guided outingDuration: 1 to 2h depending on the packageAge: From age 8 with an adult, from 14 unsupervised
The Trou d'Eau and La Saline lagoon is one of the island's best paddleboarding spots, with calm, shallow water you can see right through. École de Surf offers self-guided rental from €5 an hour, rated 5/5 from 13 reviews. A guided beginner outing costs €30. The giant paddleboard outing (6 to 10 people) at €150 per group is the fun option for birthdays or hen parties.
Best for: A gentle glide at a bargain price, on the same water as the clear kayak
Format: Self-guided or guidedPrice: Free on your own, guided outing from €30Duration: As long as you likeAge: From age 6 with an adult if self-guided
The lagoon shelters several areas of living coral reachable by fin from the beach. You'll commonly see parrotfish, blue damselfish, butterflyfish and sergeant majors, and occasionally green turtles near the north pass. Visibility is 3 to 6m depending on the tide, and best on a mid-rising tide. A guided outing is recommended for beginners: the guide helps you spot the species and avoid fragile areas (don't stand on the reef).
Best for: The free option if you have your own mask and snorkel
Format: Free swimming, public beachPrice: FreeDuration: As long as you likeAge: All ages, parental supervision for children
The coral reef keeps the lagoon calm and shallow along its whole length. Expect golden sand, bleached coral pebbles and plenty of shade from the casuarina trees along the back of the beach: ideal for a family day out with a picnic. Several rondavelles (round thatched snack huts) and small beachside restaurants serve simple Creole food (curry, samosas, grilled fish). Sunsets are photogenic, with warm light between 5.30pm and 6.45pm depending on the time of year.
Best for: No booking needed: a lazy beach day between activities
Six things to check before hitting the Route des Filaos: access, rules, gear, season, food and combining it with other west-coast activities.
Access and parking
Trou d'Eau sits between La Saline-les-Bains to the north and Saint-Leu to the south, along the Route des Filaos (the west coast forest road). Parking along the road is free but limited, and fills up by 10am on Saturdays and Sundays in high season. There are several small car parks along the 3km stretch. There's no direct public transport, so a car is essential, apart from an occasional summer shuttle from Saint-Gilles.
Swimming rules and the Marine Reserve
The Trou d'Eau lagoon has been part of Reunion Island's Marine Nature Reserve since 2007. Swimming is allowed in the lagoon, as along the whole reef-protected west coast. Don't touch the coral, don't stand on the coral platform at low tide. Fishing and collecting are strictly banned. Reef-safe sunscreen free of oxybenzone and octinoxate is strongly recommended to protect the reef.
What to bring
Swimsuit, towel, parasol or beach tent (the casuarina trees only give partial shade, depending on where you set up), high-factor sunscreen, sunglasses and a cap. Water shoes or sandals: the coral platform can hurt bare feet. Your own mask, snorkel and short fins if you have them, a water bottle (1.5L per person), a cold picnic if you're staying all day and a dry bag for valuables.
Season and weather
December to March: water at 27-29°C, intense sun, watch for cyclone alerts. April to May: the most stable period, water at 26°C, clear skies, a light trade wind. June to October: water at 23-25°C, stronger afternoon wind, ideal for watersports. Mornings are consistently calmer on the lagoon, as the trade wind generally picks up mid-morning. Tides are mild in Reunion Island (70cm maximum amplitude).
Food on site
Rondavelles and small Creole restaurants along the beach serve fish curry, samosas, bouchons (steamed dumplings) and cold drinks. Prices are fair, the atmosphere is family-friendly and cash is widely used. Vendors walk the beach selling fruit, coconut sorbet and samosas. For a more formal meal, the seafront restaurants in La Saline-les-Bains or Saint-Gilles are 5 to 10 minutes away by car.
Combining Trou d'Eau with other activities
For a full day, the classic plan: a morning clear kayak or paddleboarding (9-11am), a beach picnic, afternoon snorkelling or relaxing, sunset on site. An active variant: morning at Trou d'Eau, afternoon diving in Saint-Leu or Saint-Gilles. A combined variant: Trou d'Eau in the morning and Boucan Canot or Étang-Salé beach in the afternoon to compare the west coast's different atmospheres.
A quick dip needs very little kit, but a full lagoon day means a cool box, a parasol and snorkelling gear, and the combined variant above (Boucan Canot or Étang-Salé after a morning here) calls for your own wheels anyway. If your west-coast stay is still at the planning stage, compare the island's rental companies.
The highlight
Why clear kayaking is Trou d'Eau's signature activity
Trou d'Eau combines three rare conditions at once: calm water protected by the reef, very shallow depth (50cm to 1.5m) and underwater visibility of 3 to 6 metres at mid-tide. The result: you can see the coral perfectly through the kayak's clear hull, without putting your head underwater. It's an unbeatable, educational way to discover the reef with children from age 5, or for anyone who'd rather not dive.
Lagon Réunion is the only operator offering clear kayak outings on the island, with a dedicated fleet and certified supervision. The 2-hour outing at €50 per person is one of the best-rated activities on the west coast (4.9/5 from 90 traveller reviews).
Stay near the lagoon
5 Agoda hotels near Trou d'Eau
From the €50 guesthouse in La Saline to the €267 5-star resort in L'Hermitage: five Agoda hotels 5 to 15 minutes' drive from the lagoon, all rated 8/10 or higher with 51 to 353 traveller reviews.
La Saline-les-Bains9.5/10 (51 reviews)
Le temps d'une île
Guesthouse · best-rated in the area
A 2-bedroom holiday home with a fitted kitchen, sea-view terrace and private parking, a 5-minute drive from the Trou d'Eau lagoon. Quiet and popular with couples, with a personal welcome. Rated 9.5/10 from 51 Agoda reviews, the best rating on the west coast in the budget category.
A 4-star hotel-residence with 84 rooms on the La Saline-les-Bains lagoon, a few minutes' walk from L'Hermitage beach. A spa with a hammam, the Coconut Grill restaurant and direct lagoon access, a 10-minute drive from Trou d'Eau. An upmarket choice if you want to pair Trou d'Eau with hotel comfort.
A 3-star Qualité Tourisme-rated residence, 21 studios and 19 duplexes furnished in solid wood with a kitchenette. 80 metres from L'Hermitage beach and a 15-minute drive from Trou d'Eau. A practical base for a 3-to-7-night stay with morning paddleboarding or kayaking.
A 5-star resort with 174 rooms set in a 7-hectare tropical park, right on the beach at L'Hermitage. Creole architecture, 3 restaurants, a large pool, kayaking and snorkelling included and freely available. A 10-minute drive from Trou d'Eau. The west coast's benchmark luxury hotel, rated 8.4/10 from 353 Agoda reviews.
A 3-star residence with 18 rooms and studios with a kitchenette, on the hills above Saint-Gilles harbour in the Mont-Roquefeuil district. Outdoor pool, parking and a family atmosphere, a 15-minute drive from Trou d'Eau. A comfortable mid-range option with quick access to the lagoons.
The west coast packs L'Hermitage, La Saline, Trou d'Eau and Boucan Canot into 25km, ideal for a 3-to-5-day campervan trip. Overnight parking is tolerated in a few forest areas, but check the rules in each commune (municipality). Yescapa connects local owners with travellers, from classic motorhomes to converted vans.
The turquoise-and-white lagoon seen from a helicopter is one of the island's most photogenic sights. Every full island tour flies over Trou d'Eau before heading on to the cirques (vast volcanic amphitheatres) and the volcano. Four companies operate in Reunion Island, with 6 packages from €190 per person departing from Pierrefonds or Saint-Gilles.
Clear kayaking, paddleboarding, guided snorkelling, towed inflatable rides, discovery diving and helicopter flights: six listings covering the main ways to enjoy the west coast from Trou d'Eau.
Trou d'Eau beach lies on Reunion Island's west coast, between La Saline-les-Bains to the north and Saint-Leu to the south, in the municipality of Saint-Paul. It continues on from the La Saline-les-Bains lagoon and belongs to the same coral system, protected by the Marine Nature Reserve. It's reached via the Route des Filaos from the N1A, 30 minutes from Saint-Denis and 45 minutes from Saint-Pierre.
What is there to do at Trou d'Eau beach?
There are four main activities. Clear kayaking with Lagon Réunion, a guided 2h outing from €50, watching the coral through the kayak's hull. Stand-up paddleboarding, either hired (from €5 an hour) or on a guided outing (from €30). Snorkelling from the shore, on your own or on a guided outing (from €30). And a free day of swimming and relaxing on the public beach, shaded by casuarina trees.
Can you swim at Trou d'Eau?
Yes, swimming is allowed in the lagoon, protected by the coral reef. The water is 0.5 to 1.5 metres deep depending on the area, calm and crystal-clear, ideal for children and beginner swimmers. Swimming in open water beyond the reef is banned by prefectural order because of the shark risk, as along the whole Reunion Island coastline.
How do you get to Trou d'Eau beach?
Via the Route des Filaos, which runs along the lagoon between La Saline-les-Bains and Saint-Leu. Parking along the road is free but limited, and fills up by 10am on Saturdays and Sundays in high season. There are several car parks along the 3km stretch of beach. There's no direct public transport, so you'll need a car from Saint-Gilles or Saint-Leu.
What's the best time to visit Trou d'Eau?
Mornings are calmer on the lagoon, as the trade wind generally picks up mid-morning. For snorkelling, aim for mid-rising tide for the best visibility (3 to 6 metres). For clear kayaking, Lagon Réunion outings depart at 9am or 2pm. For photos and the sunset, arrive 30 minutes before the official time (between 5.30pm in winter and 6.45pm in the southern summer).
How much does clear kayaking cost at Trou d'Eau?
The guided 2h outing with Lagon Réunion starts at €50 per person, from age 5. Armbands are included, and a certified instructor leads the outing and explains the coral, fish and plant life. Rated 4.9/5 from 90 traveller reviews, one of the best-rated activities on the west coast. Booking ahead is recommended in high season, as departures are limited by the tides.
Can you go snorkelling at Trou d'Eau?
Yes, the lagoon shelters several areas of living coral reachable by fin from the beach. Visibility is 3 to 6 metres depending on the tide, best on a mid-rising tide. You'll commonly see parrotfish, blue damselfish, butterflyfish and sergeant majors, and occasionally green turtles near the north pass. A guided outing is recommended for beginners: the guide helps you spot the species and avoid fragile areas.
Are there restaurants at Trou d'Eau?
Several rondavelles and small Creole restaurants line the beach. Expect fish curry, samosas, bouchons (steamed dumplings) and cold drinks at affordable prices. Cash is widely used. Vendors walk the beach selling fruit, coconut sorbet and samosas. For a more formal meal, the seafront restaurants in La Saline-les-Bains or Saint-Gilles are 5 to 10 minutes away by car.
Where can you stay near Trou d'Eau beach?
The closest accommodation is in La Saline-les-Bains (5 minutes by car) and L'Hermitage-les-Bains (10 minutes). Guesthouses and aparthotels are the main options, from €50 to €267 a night depending on the standard. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, a 15-minute drive away, has a wider choice of hotels and aparthotels. The 5 Agoda hotels listed above cover the full range from budget to luxury.
Can you camp overnight at Trou d'Eau?
No, overnight camping isn't allowed on the beach or within the Marine Nature Reserve's perimeter. More broadly, wild camping on the coast is very restricted in Reunion Island, with a few exceptions in the highlands. To sleep near the lagoon, book standard accommodation in La Saline-les-Bains, L'Hermitage or Saint-Gilles, or a Yescapa campervan parked in an authorised car park.
What's the difference between Trou d'Eau and La Saline-les-Bains?
Both beaches share the same coral lagoon and sit side by side. La Saline-les-Bains to the north is wider and busier, with more tourist infrastructure and restaurants. Trou d'Eau to the south is more intimate and local, with a more family-oriented crowd and fewer shops. Clear kayaking is Trou d'Eau's signature activity, while paddleboarding and dining options are more developed in La Saline.
Is Trou d'Eau beach suitable for children?
Yes, it's one of the most child-friendly beaches in Reunion Island. A shallow lagoon (50cm to 1.5m), no waves, crystal-clear water, soft sand, shade from the casuarina trees. Clear kayaking is open to children from age 5 with an armband. Most visitors come as families. Keep a close eye on children, as there's no permanent lifeguard post on the beach.
