gite6 km
Maïdo Viewpoint · 2,205 m
Wild Camping at Piton Maïdo: sleeping at the summit for sunrise
One of the island's most popular camping spots, 2,205 m up above the Mafate cirque. Pitch your tent the evening before, sleep under the stars and wake up to Reunion Island's finest sunrise.
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Piton Maïdo, perched at 2,205 m in the highlands of Saint-Paul, is probably the island's most popular camping spot, and for good reason. People come to spend the night here for a front-row seat at dawn: an incredible view over the Mafate cirque lit up by the first rays of sunlight.
You reach the summit after a little over an hour's drive from the lowlands. Along the way, plenty of picnic shelters give you a place to pitch a tent, several with magnificent views. This guide covers everything you need to know before heading up: route, gear, National Park rules, the best monthsand precautions to keep in mind. If you'd rather skip the tent, a fitted campervan in the large car park is a comfortable alternative, a stone's throw from the viewpoint.
In brief
Maïdo camping essentials
The experience
Night and dawn at Piton Maïdo
Arrive late afternoon.The golden rule: don't dawdle. The spot is popular, and despite the many shelters along the road, you may not find a decent pitch if you arrive after dark. Go for a shelter with a stone fire pit: it gets cold up here, and a fire (where allowed) makes a real difference in the evening.
Sunset. Before bed, the first show: from the viewpoint, you watch the sun sink into the ocean beyond Saint-Paul as warm colours light up the west coast. The cold sets in fast, so layer up from 6pm.
Night. At 2,200 m, the sky is clearer than you can imagine from the coast. With no moon, the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye. The silence is broken only by the wind and, occasionally, the cry of a wild goat.
Sunrise.This is what everyone came for. Get up at least 30 minutes before sunrise (see the table below) and walk to the viewpoint. The first glow brushes Mafate's inner peaks, then the sun crests the island's ridge, and the whole cirque catches fire. Expect 20 to 30 minutes of magic before the light gets too harsh for photos.
The setting
Mafate seen from above
The Maïdo viewpoint looks straight onto the Mafate cirque, the only cirque in Reunion Island with no road access. Below, you can see the hamlets of Aurère, La Nouvelle, Marla, and inner peaks such as Roche Plate or Maïdo itself.
On the northern horizon, Le Grand Bénarecloses off the view at 2,898 m. To the south, you can make out the ridge descending towards Saint-Leu: that's where paragliders take off for their glide down to the bay. Mafate looks different again seen from the sky: within minutes of take-off you see the whole cirque and hamlets invisible from the ground.
Route
How to drive up to Maïdo
From Saint-Paul or Saint-Gilles, head towards Le Guillaume then Petite France. The road climbs in switchbacks through the cryptomeria forest before opening onto the Maïdo plateau. Allow around 1 hour's drivefrom the coast, on a paved but winding road, with few passing points in some sections. If you're bringing a tent rather than a campervan, any standard car handles the climb; you can look through rental cars on Discover Cars to find one with room for your gear.
The car park is a 5-minute walk from the viewpoint, free and unattended. Fill up with fuel lower down, as there is no petrol station above Petite France, and no shops either, so bring all your food.
What time
Sunrise time at Maïdo, month by month
Approximate times at the viewpoint (local time, UTC+4). Be up 30 minutes earlier so you don't miss anything.
| Period | Approximate sunrise |
|---|---|
| December to January | 5:35am |
| 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 January5:35am
February to March5:50am
April to May6:15am
June to July6:50am
August to September6:25am
October to November5:50am
Backpack
What to pack for a night at Maïdo
- A 3-season tent and a 0°C sleeping bag (it drops below 10°C at night, sometimes close to 0°C in July-August)
- A warm down jacket or fleece, a hat and gloves: at 2,200 m, the cold always catches people out
- A head torch: there's no lighting at the summit, and people often arrive after dark
- At least 2 L of water per person: there's no drinking water point at the viewpoint
- A portable gas stove: fires are banned except in the stone fire pits
- Bin bags: all waste, even biodegradable, leaves with you
- Fill up with fuel in the valley: there's no petrol station above Petite France
Regulations
Camping in the National Park: the rules
The Maïdo viewpoint sits in the core zone of Reunion Island's National Park. Camping is allowed there, with conditions. Here are the official rules, quoted word for word.
- “Tents and hammocks must be set up before sunset and taken down in the morning”
- “Do not light campfires”: only stoves and the stone fire pits provided are permitted
- “Take all your waste back with you”, including biodegradable waste
- “The use of generators is prohibited”
- “No harm may be caused to wildlife or plant life”
- “Leave the site as you found it”
Source: Parc national de La Réunion: Wild camping in the core of the park. 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 Le Grand Bénare (sensitive zones). The Maïdo viewpoint and its picnic shelters aren't affected by these bans.
Read before heading up
Maïdo, a protected and fragile area
Maïdo has suffered several disasters in recent years, including a major fire in late 2020 that ravaged over 200 hectares of this UNESCO World Heritage site. The area is very dry in places, and the smallest fire is catastrophic for wildlife and plants already weakened by an earlier fire in 2011.
Fire is only permitted in the shelters' stone fire pits, or via a portable gas stove.No campfires, no naked flames outdoors, no cigarette ends. Be responsible and leave no trace: it's the only way wild camping will stay allowed here.
To combine
Activities to do in the Maïdo area
Make the most of your time up here. All of these start from or pass through the Maïdo and Saint-Paul area.
Horse riding at Piton Maïdo
Ride the Maïdo trails with Zélie, a local guide.
See the activity
Quad biking in the Maïdo area
A quad bike trip through the hills above Saint-Paul and the cryptomeria (Japanese cedar) forest.
See the activity
Extreme mountain biking, the Mégavalanche from Maïdo
A mountain bike descent from the summit of Maïdo all the way to the coast, the island's legendary ride.
See the activity
First paragliding flight in Saint-Leu (Maïdo take-off)
Take off from the Maïdo ridge and glide down above the lagoon.
See the activity
Also worth combiningAerial view
See Mafate from a helicopter
From the Maïdo ridge you look down on Mafate. From a helicopter you see all of it: the whole shape of the cirque, hamlets you can't see any other way, and the sheer walls in full light.
The obvious next step: 8 different routes from Saint-Pierre or Saint-Paul, lasting 15 minutes to 1 hour, with a view no viewpoint on the ground can match.
From €125 · 210 reviews on Manawa · Saint-Pierre / Saint-Paul
See helicopter prices
Other spots
More mountain camping spots in Reunion Island
Wild camping at the summit of Piton des Neiges
The roof of the Indian Ocean at 3,071 m, reached only on foot after a 5-hour climb.
See the spot
Camping at Bras Rouge at the foot of Le Taïbit (Cilaos)
A camping spot in the Cilaos cirque, a secluded setting with waterfalls nearby.
See the spot
Wild camping in Aurère, right in the heart of Mafate
A night in the Aurère hamlet for hikers crossing the cirque.
See the spot
Sleeping nearby
Accommodation near Maïdo
For the night before you go up or after you come down, here are some places to stay within 25 km of the viewpoint, in the hills or on the west coast.
gite6 km
hotel10 km
hotel12 kmFrequently asked questions
Camping at Piton Maïdo: your questions answered
What time should I get to Maïdo for sunrise?
Arrive at least 30 minutes before sunrise to catch the whole show, from the first glow to the first rays hitting Mafate. In December-January, aim for around 5am; in June-July, more like 6:20am. If you're camping on site, you're already at the summit and just need to step out of the tent, which is the whole point of sleeping here rather than driving up in the dark from the coast.
Do I need a permit to camp at Maïdo?
No, wild camping is free at Maïdo, as in most of the core of Reunion Island's National Park. No booking, no fee. The non-negotiable rules: pitch your tent in the evening, take it down in the morning, don't light fires outside the stone fire pits, and take all your waste with you.
Can I drive up to Maïdo?
Yes, you can drive to the Maïdo viewpoint on the Saint-Paul → Le Guillaume → Petite France → Maïdo road. Allow about 1 hour from the coast, on a tarmac but winding road. A large free car park is a 5-minute walk from the viewpoint.
How much does a night at Maïdo cost?
Camping at Maïdo is completely free: you pitch your tent by one of the picnic shelters along the road or at the summit. There's no fee and no warden. Your only costs are gear, fuel and food.
What should I pack for a night at Maïdo?
A 3-season tent, a 0°C sleeping bag, a down jacket or fleece, a hat, gloves, a head torch, 2 L of water per person, a gas stove (fires are banned except in the stone fire pits) and bin bags to take all your waste back with you. At 2,200 m, temperatures often drop below 10°C at night, sometimes close to 0°C in the depths of the southern winter (July-August).
Are there parking and toilets at the summit?
Yes, a large free car park is set up near the viewpoint. As for toilets, there are a few at the viewpoint itself, but they're not always open at night or early morning. Plan to be fully self-sufficient if you're camping. No drinking water is available.
When is the best time of year to camp at Maïdo?
The dry season, from May to November, offers the clearest skies and the best views over Mafate at sunrise. Avoid December to March, cyclone season, when a sea of clouds often rises over the viewpoint and hides the panorama. Always check the Météo-France Réunion forecast the evening before.
How else can I see Mafate without camping?
Three options depending on your time and budget. A horse ride from the viewpoint covers the plateaus and mid-slope trails. The Roche Plate trail drops straight down into the cirque: allow at least a full day. And for the most spectacular perspective, a helicopter flight: 8 routes from €125, departing from Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, 15 to 60 minutes of flight depending on the format. No viewpoint on the ground can match it.
Page updated on 30 September 2026. GPS coordinates and National Park rules verified as of this date.