West Lagoon and Hermitage beach
Protected by the coral reef, the West Lagoon spreads its calm waters from Boucan Canot to La Saline. In L’Hermitage, filaos shade a golden-sand beach ideal for a Creole picnic. You swim, you read, you laugh. The curious try mask and snorkel to spot parrotfish and sea turtles. A salty, perfect date to begin a shared connection.
Saint-Paul Market, memory of the island
On Friday and Saturday mornings, Saint-Paul’s outdoor market stretches along the seafront. Lychees, mangoes, achards, chilli preserves, Bourbon vanilla and warm samosas form a symphony of scents. Nearby, the sailors’ cemetery, where the pirate La Buse rests, tells another side of the island. Sharing a cari afterwards, in the shade of a boucan on the beach, is a bonding ritual.
Saint-Denis and Creole delights
The capital, Saint-Denis, lines Rue de Paris with handsome Creole houses and ornate lambrequins, visited on Heritage Days. Saint-Paul’s Grand-Boucan, a major Creole parade, sets the town ablaze once a year. On Lyad, Réunion members share their favourite beaches and tables; it is up to you to find someone to raise a glass of rhum arrangé with.
Date ideas
- Saint-Denis
- Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
- L’Hermitage
- West Lagoon
- Saint-Paul Market
- Rue de Paris
- Grand-Boucan
