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Piton Sec area · cryptomeria forest
Wild camping at Piton Sec: a night by car on the volcano road
The easiest place to wild camp near Piton de la Fournaise: 10 stone fire pits in a cryptomeria forest, reachable by car from Bourg Murat, and a starry sky free of light pollution.
~1,700 maltitude10fire pitsCardirect accessFreeno booking
The Piton Sec area is probably the most practical wild-camping spot near Piton de la Fournaise. Halfway between Bourg Murat and Pas de Bellecombe, in a forest of cryptomeria (Japanese cedar), it has 10 stone fire pits, shelters with picnic tables and an exceptionally clear night sky with no light pollution at all.
Unlike the summit of Piton des Neiges, which takes a 5-hour climb, or Maïdo, perched on a ridge, Piton Sec is reached by car on the volcano forest road. It's the family option, the stargazing option, the ‘base camp’ before the crater hike the next day. For campervans, the area is drivable and lets you sleep up in the mountains without pitching a tent.
At a glance
The Piton Sec camping essentials
The experience
A night in the woods on the volcano road
Late-afternoon arrival.You reach the area by leaving the main road 6 km after Bourg Murat. The forest track opens onto a car park in the woods: tall cedars and a carpet of needles. Find a free shelter, pitch your tent on the thickest patch of grass and light the nearest fire pit. It's a popular weekend spot, especially Friday to Sunday, so it fills up fast.
Sunset.The woods block the horizon, but a 10-minute walk to the southern edge brings you out above the Plaine des Sables and the cliffs. The colours fade within minutes, and the air cools quickly. Cook dinner on the fire while it's still light: night falls suddenly around 6.30pm in the southern winter.
The starry night.This is what Piton Sec is known for. No light pollution for miles, and high enough for dry, clear air: the Milky Way is visible to the naked eye, and the southern constellations wheel above the cryptomerias. If you're into photography, a tripod and a long exposure give spectacular results.
Morning. There may be frost in July-August (rare on the island, but it happens here). Take your tent down before 9am, as the Park rules require, then head towards the Pas de Bellecombe and the Enclos Fouqué for the crater hike, or head back down at your leisure towards Bourg Murat for breakfast.
How to get there
How to drive up to Piton Sec
From Bourg Murat (Plaine des Cafres), take the volcano forest road. After 4.5 km, you enter the cryptomeria forest. Carry on for 500 metres, then turn left at the ‘RF de Piton Sec’ sign. Another 1 km of forest track in good condition takes you to the area. That last stretch is unsealed, and some rental contracts restrict driving on unsealed roads: when you look through hire car offers, read each company's terms on this point too.
Allow 1.5 hours from the west coast(Saint-Paul or Saint-Gilles), 1 hour from Saint-Pierre. An ordinary car is fine, no need for a 4x4. Fill up with fuel in Plaine des Cafres: there's no petrol station above Bourg Murat.
What time
Sunrise times over the Plaine des Sables, month by month
Approximate times (local time, UTC+4). For sunrise over the Plaine des Sables, walk 10 minutes from the area to its southern edge.
| 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 bring for a night at Piton Sec
- A 3-season tent and a 0°C sleeping bag: nights drop below 5°C in the southern winter, sometimes close to 0°C, with morning frost at times
- A down jacket or warm fleece, a hat and gloves: you're camping at around 1,700 m, and the dry air gets cold fast
- A head torch: there's no lighting, the area is in woodland and night falls suddenly around 6.30pm
- At least 2 L of water per person: there's no drinking water on site
- A portable gas stove: there are 10 stone fire pits, but dry wood is scarce and often damp
- Bin bags: take all your rubbish home, even biodegradable waste
- Fill up with fuel in Plaine des Cafres: there's no petrol station beyond Bourg Murat
Regulations
Wild camping in the National Park: the rules
The Piton Sec area 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 stone 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 in the Mare Longue forest, at Grand Bassin, in the Rivière des Remparts, and on the cliffs of Piton des Neiges and Grand Bénare. The Piton Sec area is not affected by these restrictions and is open to all.
Read before heading up
Active volcano: road closures, fog, frost
Road closed during an eruption. When Piton de la Fournaise erupts, the authorities close the volcano forest road, sometimes within hours. Check updates from the Piton de la Fournaise Volcanological Observatory and the weather forecast for the Plaines the evening before you go up. If the road is closed, a scenic flight from Saint-Pierre is then the only way to see the flow in eruption.
Frequent fog. Clouds regularly roll through: visibility sometimes drops to just a few metres around midday and late afternoon. Use your headlights and hazard lights on the forest road, and keep your things under the picnic shelter.
Fires only in the fire pits. The 10 fire pits are provided by the local authority (Conseil Général). No fires anywhere else, and no cigarette ends. The cryptomeria forest is a plantation, and the smallest spark could spread fast.
Combine it with
Things to do the next day
Make the most of being near the volcano with an outing the next morning. All of these start less than an hour from Piton Sec.
Volcano hike: the Pas de Bellecombe trail
Down into the Enclos Fouqué caldera to the Dolomieu crater with a local guide, starting 5 km from Piton Sec.
See the activity
Explore a lava tunnel
Volcanic caving with a qualified guide: 2 to 4 hours through tunnels formed by recent lava flows.
See the activity
Quad biking on the Plaine des Sables
A quad bike trip on red ash tracks through the lunar landscape at the foot of the volcano.
See the activity
Buggy ride across the Plaines
A two-seater off-road buggy across the Plaines, the same landscapes as the volcano road, seen from below.
See the activity
Also worth combiningAerial view
The Dolomieu crater from the sky, in five minutes
Camping at Piton Sec, you wake up in the forest at the foot of the volcano. A helicopter shows you the Dolomieu crater from above, the whole Enclos Fouqué in five minutes, and the lava flow itself when the volcano is erupting.
A view no trail can give you. 8 different routes from Saint-Pierre or Saint-Paul, the shortest (15 minutes) dedicated to the volcano.
From €125 · 210 Manawa reviews · Saint-Pierre / Saint-Paul
See helicopter rates
Stay nearby
Accommodation near Piton Sec
For the night before you go up or after you come down, here are places to stay within 25 km of the area, around Plaine des Cafres and Bourg Murat.
gite2 km
hotel4 km
hotel5 kmOther spots
More mountain camping spots in Reunion Island
Wild camping at the summit of Piton des Neiges
The highest point in the Indian Ocean at 3,071 m, reached only on foot after a 5-hour climb.
See the spot
Wild camping at the summit of Piton Maïdo
A viewpoint over Mafate at 2,205 m, reachable by car, with a legendary sunrise.
See the spot
Wild camping in Aurère, in the heart of Mafate
A night in the hamlet of Aurère for hikers crossing the cirque.
See the spot
Frequently asked questions
Wild camping at Piton Sec: your questions answered
How do I get to Piton Sec by car?
From Bourg Murat, take the volcano forest road. After 4.5 km you enter the cryptomeria (Japanese cedar) forest. Carry on for 500 metres, then turn left at the 'RF de Piton Sec' sign; 1 km further on you reach the area. Allow 1.5 hours from the coast in an ordinary car, on tarmac and then a forest track in good condition.
Is there parking, and how many pitches are there?
Yes, a free, unattended car park in the woods. The area has 10 stone fire pits, several shelters with picnic tables and benches, and plenty of room to pitch a tent among the trees. No booking, first come first served: arrive before 5pm in high season to get the best pitch.
Do I need a permit to camp at Piton Sec?
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 stone fire pits, and take all your rubbish with you.
How high is Piton Sec, and how cold does it get?
You'll be camping at around 1,700 m, in the forest between Bourg Murat and the Plaine des Sables. At night, expect 5 to 10°C in the dry season, sometimes close to 0°C in July-August with morning frost. It's a world away from the coast, so bring a warm sleeping bag.
Why camp here rather than at Maïdo or Piton des Neiges?
Three reasons. It's the easiest spot near the volcano to reach by car, with no walk in, unlike Piton des Neiges. It's wooded and sheltered from the wind, whereas Maïdo sits exposed on a ridge. And with no light pollution at all, Piton Sec has one of the clearest night skies on the island, ideal for the Milky Way.
What else can I do nearby?
The starting point of the Pas de Bellecombe hike to the Dolomieu crater is a 30-minute drive away. The Sainte-Rose lava tunnels are around 1 hour away. For a full day, a classic combination is a night at Piton Sec, sunrise over the Plaine des Sables, a morning hike to the volcano, and back down in the early afternoon.
How else can I see the volcano without camping?
Three options. A day hike from Pas de Bellecombe, if you drive up early from the coast. A lava tunnel trip, which shows you the volcano from the inside. And for the most spectacular perspective, a flight over the Enclos Fouqué : 8 routes from €125, departing from Saint-Pierre and Saint-Paul, 15 to 60 minutes depending on the format.
Page updated on 19 September 2026. GPS coordinates and National Park rules verified as of this date.