lodge4 km
Eden-Liberia forest · Bras-Panon
Belvédère de l'Eden, Bras-Panon: forest wild camping and a panorama over the east coast
A family-friendly spot in the Eden-Liberia forest: fitted picnic shelters, fire spots, access partly suited to reduced-mobility visitors near the car park, and a 20-minute trail that opens onto a view stretching from Saint-André to Sainte-Rose.
Hills above Bras-Panonlocation1 nightdurationCar + 20 minaccessFreecost
Belvédère de l'Edenis one of the rare wild-camping spots on the east coast where you can drive right up, pitch your tent under fitted shelters, and walk just 20 minutes to reach a panorama stretching from Saint-André to Sainte-Rose. The site sits within the Eden-Liberia forest, a sensitive natural area in the hills above Bras-Panon, within the core of Reunion Island's National Park.
This page covers everything you need to know before heading up: the route from the N2, gear suited to the humid forest, Park regulations, the 20-minute trail to the viewpoint and nearby combination ideas (Bélouve, the Marsouins river, Trou de Fer). For anyone who prefers sleeping differently, a fitted van parked at the forest car park offers a comfortable alternative, five minutes from the shelters.
At a glance
The Eden camping essentials
The experience
Two areas, two moods
Near the car park: the family area.Once you've parked, several open-sided shelters wait just a few dozen metres away, fitted with built fire spots and barbecues. The area is partly suited to visitors with reduced mobility. It's the simplest option for a first family camping trip or with young children: the car stays close, little to carry, flat ground.
The forest trail: a 20-minute walk. For those after more privacy and the view, a waymarked trail leaves the car park and crosses the Eden-Liberia forest over about 20 minutes: guava trees, bamboo, ferns, tree ferns and screwpines follow one after another. At the end, two picnic shelters flank the viewpoint and its panorama over the east coast, from the sugar cane fields of Saint-André to Sainte-Rose, with the ocean as a backdrop.
A night in the humid forest. The windward coast remains the wettest part of the island, and the forest around the site shows it: damp ground, moss on the branches, the nighttime calls of frogs and crickets. On a clear night, you can make out the lights of Saint-André and Saint-Benoît below, and a completely black horizon over the ocean: no light pollution out at sea.
Sunrise.The viewpoint faces due east: it's one of the rare camping spots on the island where the sun rises directly in front of you, straight out of the ocean. Get up about 30 minutes before the official sunrise time, and bring the head torch: the trail is walkable at night if you go carefully.
Route
How to reach Belvédère de l'Eden
From the N2, take the D48 exit towards Salazie/Bras-Panon. Turn left towards « Rivière du Mât », then follow the signs « Cascade du Chien, Belvédère de l'Eden » for about 12 km. The road climbs gradually through cane fields, then crosses the state forest before reaching the fitted car park.
The car parkis free, unmanned. The track that starts behind the car park isn't accessible to vehicles: it's reserved for walking and mountain biking (a mountain bike trail maintained by the RSMA starts from the same point). No shops up in the hills, so fill up on fuel and supplies before heading up, in the Bras-Panon valley or Saint-Benoît.
On foot from the car park
The Eden trail and Cascade du Chien
Beyond the viewpoint, the Eden trail lets you extend the forest walk over several hours. The full loop, sometimes called the « hiker's Eden », crosses the Eden-Liberia state forest, rich with Grand Natte, Takamaka, tree ferns and bamboo, out to secondary viewpoints over the Rivière du Mât.
The Cascade du Chien remains the most popular add-on: its pool sits just off the forest road leading to the viewpoint and offers, depending on the flow, a cool swimming spot deep in the forest. The access trail is waymarked, allow about an hour there and back depending on your pace. Check the weather: the water can rise quickly after heavy rain.
As for wildlife and plants, the Eden-Liberia forest is home to several endemic species: the tec-tec (Reunion stonechat), zoiseau la vierge (Reunion paradise flycatcher) and the Manapany day gecko. Stay on the waymarked trails: off-trail ground is fragile and vegetation struggles to recover. To see the area from another angle, the scenic helicopter flight passes over the entire Salazie rampart that closes off the forest to the west.
What time
Sunrise time on the east coast, month by month
Approximate times for the island's east-facing coast (UTC+4). Be up 30 minutes beforehand to fully enjoy the show, straight out over the ocean.
| Period | Approximate sunrise time |
|---|---|
| December to January | 5.30am |
| February to March | 5.50am |
| April to May | 6.15am |
| June to July | 6.50am |
| August to September | 6.25am |
| October to November | 5.50am |
December to January5.30am
February to March5.50am
April to May6.15am
June to July6.50am
August to September6.25am
October to November5.50am
Backpack
What to bring for a night at Eden
- A 3-season tent plus a 10°C comfort-rated sleeping bag (the eastern Hauts stay cool at night, especially during austral winter)
- Rain gear: the windward coast gets the island's heaviest rainfall, even outside the wet season
- A head torch: no public lighting in the forest, pitch dark as soon as the sun sets
- 2L of water per person: no drinking water point on site
- A portable gas stove: only the built fire spots at the picnic shelters allow a fire
- Closed shoes with a grippy sole for the 20-minute trail (the ground is often slippery after rain)
- Bin bags: all rubbish, even biodegradable, leaves with you
- Mosquito repellent: the humid forest has more of them than the leeward coast
Multiply that list by the number of campers and a boot fills up quickly. For a family night here, skip the smallest city cars and reserve a car with a roomy boot.
Regulations
Wild camping in the National Park: the rules
The Eden-Liberia forest lies within the core of Reunion Island's National Park. Wild camping is allowed there, under certain conditions. Here are the official rules, quoted as written.
- 'Tents and other hammocks must be pitched before sunset and taken down in the morning'
- 'Do not light campfires': only stoves and the built, designated fire spots are permitted
- 'Take all your rubbish away with you', including biodegradable waste
- 'The use of generators is prohibited'
- 'No harm may be done to wildlife or plant life'
- 'Leave the site as you found it'
Source: Parc national de La Réunion: Wild camping in the Park core. Wild camping is banned in the Mare Longue forest, at Grand Bassin, in the Rivière des Remparts, and on the cliffs of Piton des Neiges and Grand Bénare (sensitive zones). The Eden-Liberia area isn't covered by these specific bans.
Read before heading up
What's different about a night in a humid forest
The windward coast receives the island's heaviest annual rainfall. Even in the dry season, brief showers remain possible at any hour. A waterproof tent is essential, pack an extra sheet or a bivy bag for the coolest nights of austral winter (June to August).
Fire is strictly limited to the built spots at the picnic shelters or a portable gas stove. No campfires at the forest edge, no cigarette butts stubbed out on the ground. The Eden-Liberia forest is home to endemic species and damp soils where the smallest spark can start an underground fire that's hard to put out. Stay on the waymarked trails to limit your impact.
Combine it with
Activities to do around Bras-Panon
Make the most of being on the east coast with a nature outing just 15 or 20 minutes from the viewpoint.
Rafting on the Marsouins river
A raft descent down the east coast's main river, departing from Saint-Benoît a few kilometres from the viewpoint.
Discover
Bélouve hike and the Trou de Fer waterfall
A guided trail to the viewpoint over the island's tallest waterfall, in the same humid forest as Eden.
Discover
Canyoning on the Rivière des Roches
Jumps, abseils and slides through the pools of the Rivière des Roches in Saint-Benoît, suitable for beginners.
Discover
Also worth combiningAerial view
See the east coast and the Trou de Fer from the sky
The viewpoint gives you the east coast from below, from the ground up to the sea. The helicopter flips the angle: it takes you above the Trou de Fer, whose full waterfall is invisible from any trail reachable on foot, then follows the Salazie ramparts that tower over the Eden forest.
It's the experience that rounds out the camping trip, not one that replaces it. 8 routes departing from Saint-Pierre or Saint-Paul, from 15 minutes to 1 hour, with views no ground-level viewpoint can match.
From €125 · 210 Manawa reviews · Saint-Pierre / Saint-Paul
See helicopter rates
Other spots
Other mid-altitude camping spots in Reunion Island
Cryptomeria forest at Le Brûlé
A humid mid-altitude forest above Saint-Denis, picnic shelters and fitted areas among the trees.
See the spot
La Mare à Poule d'Eau, Salazie cirque
A camping area around Salazie's iconic pond, accessible from Hell-Bourg.
See the spot
Ravine Blanche area, Grand-Îlet
A family-friendly spot in the Salazie cirque, reachable by car, with fire spots and plenty of room for tents.
See the spot
Stay nearby
Accommodation near Belvédère de l'Eden
For the night before heading up or the night after coming down, here's accommodation within 25 km of the viewpoint, on the east coast or in the nearby Salazie cirque.
lodge4 km
gite7 km
hotel8 kmFrequently asked questions
FAQ: camping at Belvédère de l'Eden
How do you get to Belvédère de l'Eden?
From the N2, take the D48 exit towards Salazie/Bras-Panon, then follow the signs for 'Cascade du Chien, Belvédère de l'Eden'. Allow about 12 km of driving from the exit, with the final kilometres on a paved forest road. Park at the fitted car park before the trailhead; the site isn't accessible to vehicles beyond that point.
Do you need to walk to reach the viewpoint?
The site has two distinct areas. The first, near the forest road, has picnic shelters accessible directly from the car park, some of them fitted for visitors with reduced mobility. The second, which opens onto the east coast panorama, takes about 20 minutes of walking along a waymarked forest trail through the Eden-Liberia forest.
Is camping here really free and unrestricted?
Yes, camping is free and unrestricted, as in the rest of the core of Reunion Island's National Park. No booking required, no fee to pay. The rules to follow: pitch the tent after sunset, take it down in the morning, no fires outside the built spots, and take all your rubbish home with you.
Are there fire spots and barbecues on site?
Yes, the site has built fire spots and barbecues installed near the picnic shelters. These are the only places where fire is allowed. Elsewhere, a portable gas stove is the only alternative. Remember to bring your own wood or charcoal, none is provided on site.
When should you camp at Belvédère de l'Eden?
The dry season, from May to November, offers the clearest skies and a less slippery trail. The windward coast still stays the wettest part of the island year-round, though, so always pack rain gear. Avoid the cyclone season from January to March, when the forest tracks can become impassable after heavy rain.
What gear should you bring?
A 3-season tent, a 10°C sleeping bag, rain gear, a head torch, 2L of water per person, a gas stove, closed shoes with a grippy sole and mosquito repellent. The humid forest is cooler and buggier than the leeward coast, so plan accordingly.
What activities can you combine with the camping trip?
The viewpoint is 15 minutes by car from Saint-Benoît, a base for several nature outings: rafting on the Marsouins river, canyoning at the Rivière des Roches, a guided Bélouve/Trou de Fer hike, or lava tube exploration further south. And for the widest perspective on this humid coast, the helicopter flyover remains unbeatable.
Is the site accessible for visitors with reduced mobility?
Yes, partially. The first area, near the car park, has fitted picnic shelters and access suited to visitors with reduced mobility. The viewpoint itself, which requires a 20-minute walk through the forest on an uneven trail, isn't wheelchair-accessible, however.
Page last updated 18 September 2026. GPS coordinates and National Park rules verified as of this date.