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Mare à Poule d'Eau · 4 km from Hell-Bourg
Wild camping at Mare à Poule d'Eau: a night by the pond, Salazie
The Salazie cirque's mirror-like pond, 4 km from Hell-Bourg: a recently renovated area with shelters and fire pits, tilapia fishing, and bitterns to spot at daybreak.
1,100 maltitudePondreflections and fishingCardirect accessFreeno booking
Mare à Poule d'Eau is one of the most photogenic spots in the Salazie cirque, just 4 km from Hell-Bourg: a pond deep in the forest that mirrors the cliffs on a calm day, with recently renovated facilities that make it a comfortable, easy-to-reach camping spot.
The site has several shelters with picnic tables, fixed barbecues, and enough space for everyone to find a quiet corner. You can fish for tilapia (with a permit), and the birdlife (bitterns, moorhens) is out at dawn and dusk. For campervan road trips, the access road is fine and the car park lets you sleep close to the water.
At a glance
The Mare à Poule d'Eau camping essentials
The experience
A night by the pond
Arrival.The road from Salazie climbs towards Hell-Bourg, then a sign points to Mare à Poule d'Eau on the right. A few tight bends downhill and the pond appears in a hollow at the foot of the cliffs, with several shelters in a semicircle facing the water. It's very peaceful.
Sunset.Depending on the season, the sun leaves the pond around 5pm, but the golden light lingers on the cliffs for another 30 minutes. That's when the reflections on the water are at their best. It's also when the wildlife comes out: look for the bitterns at the water's edge, usually standing still and hard to spot.
Night. Salazie is damper than the other cirques, so pitch your flysheet taut. The silence is deep, broken only by the croaking of frogs and the ripple of wind across the pond. No light pollution on the horizon, a clear starry sky whenever the cloud cover lifts.
Morning. Dawn is the best time: mist over the water, perfect reflections, wildlife active. For photos, bring a tripod and a telephoto lens. Otherwise, set off on a 30-minute loop around the pond, or head back down to Hell-Bourg for breakfast before the rest of your day.
How to get there
How to reach the pond by car
From Saint-André, take the D48 towards Salazie, then towards Hell-Bourg. 4 km before Hell-Bourg, follow the ‘Mare à Poule d'Eau’ sign heading down on the right. A few tight bends take you down to the pond and the car park at the entrance. Allow 1 hour from Saint-André, 1 hr 45 from Saint-Denis. The rental car search opens on Roland-Garros, which suits this trip: the airport lies between Saint-Denis and Saint-André, so you head straight for the D48 without driving through the capital.
An ordinary car is fine. Fill up with fuel in Salazie village (there's a petrol station in the centre).
Backpack
What to bring for a night at the pond
- A 3-season tent and a 0°C sleeping bag: at 1,100 m, nights drop below 5°C in the southern winter
- A fleece and a hat: Salazie is damp, and it gets cold quickly after sunset
- Insect repellent: the pond attracts insects in the southern summer
- A head torch: there's no lighting, and the area is on the edge of the forest
- A gas stove: fires are banned except in the barbecues provided
- Bin bags: take all your rubbish home, even biodegradable waste
- A fishing permit if you want to try for tilapia (from the Reunion Island fishing federation)
Regulations
Wild camping in the National Park: the rules
Mare à Poule d'Eau lies within the core of Reunion Island's National Park. Wild camping is allowed there, with conditions. Here are the official rules, word for word.
- 'Tents and hammocks must be pitched before sunset and taken down in the morning'
- 'Do not light campfires': only stoves and the designated fire pits 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 on the cliffs of Piton des Neiges, but Mare à Poule d'Eau is far from there and remains open access. Tilapia fishing is regulated by the Fishing Federation, a permit is mandatory.
Combine it with
Things to do near the pond
Make the most of being in the Salazie cirque with a guided activity. All of these start less than 45 minutes from Mare à Poule d'Eau.
Trou Blanc canyoning, Hell-Bourg
One of Salazie's best-known canyons, with natural jumps and slides and an instructor, 5 km from the pond.
See the activity
Bélouve hike, Trou de Fer waterfall
The Bélouve primary forest with a local guide, and a dizzying waterfall plunging into the gorge.
See the activity
Horse riding at Grand Étang
A ride through the Grand Étang forest, a similar setting if you love mountain lakes.
See the activity
Also worth combiningAerial view
Salazie in five minutes: the pond from above
Camping at Mare à Poule d'Eau, you see the pond from its bank, with its mirror-like water and the call of the bitterns. A helicopter shows you the whole cirque in five minutes: the Voile de la Mariée waterfall, the gap through to Mafate at the Col de Fourche, and the pond itself from above.
A view no trail can give you, and one that completely changes how you see the cirque, especially after a night there.
From €125 · 210 Manawa reviews · Saint-Pierre / Saint-Paul
See helicopter rates
Stay nearby
Accommodation near Mare à Poule d'Eau
For the night before or after, here are places to stay within 20 km, in the Salazie cirque and around Hell-Bourg.
gite2 km
gite2 km
hotel2 kmOther spots
Other wild-camping spots near the Salazie cirque
Wild camping at Ravine Blanche, Grand Îlet
Salazie's other favourite spot, in a meadow facing Roche Écrite, a 30-minute drive away.
See the spot
Wild camping in Aurère, in the heart of Mafate
If you're heading into Mafate over the Col de Fourche, the hamlet of Aurère is a natural stop.
See the spot
Béthléem in Saint-Benoît, the Marsouins river
Down towards the east coast, a former pilgrimage site with a riverside camping area.
See the spot
Frequently asked questions
Wild camping at Mare à Poule d'Eau: your questions answered
How do I get to Mare à Poule d'Eau by car?
From Saint-André, take the D48 to Salazie, then towards Hell-Bourg. 4 km before Hell-Bourg, follow the 'Mare à Poule d'Eau' sign down to the right. There's a free car park at the entrance. Allow 1 hour from Saint-André, 1 hr 45 from Saint-Denis. An ordinary car is fine: the road is tarmacked but has tight bends.
Is there parking, and what facilities are there?
Yes, a free, unattended car park at the entrance. The area has several renovated shelters with picnic tables, fixed barbecues and several flat pitches for tents. Drinking water isn't guaranteed, so come self-sufficient.
Do I need a permit to camp at Mare à Poule d'Eau?
No, camping here is free with no booking. As everywhere in the core of Reunion Island National Park, the rules are: pitch your tent in the evening and take it down in the morning, no fires except in the designated spots, and take all your rubbish with you. Mare à Poule d'Eau isn't in a banned area (the cliffs of Piton des Neiges are, but they're a long way off).
Can I fish in the pond?
Yes, the pond is known for its tilapia. You need a freshwater fishing permit, from the Reunion Island fishing federation (Fédération de pêche). Fishing is open all year. Respect the minimum sizes and catch limits to protect the stock.
When is the best time to go?
The dry season, from May to November, has the clearest skies and the best conditions. Salazie is the wettest of the cirques, so always bring something to shelter under, even outside cyclone season. Early morning and late afternoon give the best reflections on the pond for photos.
What wildlife can I see?
The pond is known for its bitterns, herons, moorhens and other water birds, best seen at dawn and dusk. A few ruins dating from 1830 recall its past as a reservoir. Stay quiet so you don't scare the birds.
How else can I explore Salazie without camping?
A day in Hell-Bourg, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, with its Creole houses, old spa spring and gardens. Trou Blanc canyoning is the cirque's classic water activity. And for the most spectacular view, the scenic flight over Salazie in just a few minutes.
Page updated on 20 September 2026. GPS coordinates and National Park rules verified as of this date.