Saturday, May 9th

At 7:00 AM we start our day with a delicious breakfast in the garden of the Les Filaos hotel before setting off for Piton Maido. After about an hour's drive, we reach the parking area near the summit. The view that awaits us here more than makes up for the early start.

At 2,190 m altitude, on the old crater rim, a sensational panorama of the rugged mountain landscape awaits us — including the island's highest peak, Piton de Neiges at 3,070 m, and the Cirque de Mafate nearly 1,000 meters below, accessible only on foot or by helicopter.

In the other direction, there is a clear view of the Indian Ocean and the coastline. Punctually at 10:00 AM, clouds roll in from the direction of Cilaos and instantly shroud the summit in fog. So make sure to get there early!

When we got back to the car, the door was wide open — we had apparently forgotten to close it in all the mountain excitement... absolutely nothing was missing! After this scare, we set off on a 4-hour circular hike at Piton Maido, unfortunately not along the spectacular cliff edge as planned, but through a beautifully bizarre and scenic mountain landscape. Had we followed our Rother Hiking Guide La Reunion: France's Hiking Paradise in the Indian Ocean*, we might have enjoyed the view into the depths.

On the way back, just before La Petit France, we turn left and take the forest road through the tamarind forest to Tevelave — simply beautiful, with endless picnic spots. Everywhere you see locals who retreat to the cool mountain region on weekends to camp — so we happily take a break with our packed lunch. After an hour in this seclusion, we continue on to Tevelave. We were lucky, by the way — the forest road is not always open to traffic. Alternatively, you can take the panoramic road RF6 a bit further.

We check into the Auberge Fougeres in Tevelave and then drive down to St. Leu to visit the turtle conservation center Ferme Corail (Kelonia — Tel. 0262 348110, admission €7.00; open daily from 9 AM to 6 PM). Here you will find a wealth of information in a large exhibition. The animals are now kept in spacious outdoor enclosures solely for scientific purposes. Injured turtles are also rehabilitated here. museesreunion.fr/kelonia

After a detour and delicious ice cream on the promenade of St. Leu at dusk, we drive back to Tevelave in a torrential downpour and visit the festival that just happens to be taking place this weekend, filling the otherwise quiet mountain village with hip-hop music.