Staying a week in the West of Reunion Island? Here is a day-by-day itinerary to enjoy the best of the region, between relaxation and discovery.
Day 1 — Arrival & lagoon
Settle into your home, first swim in the l’Hermitage or La Saline lagoon, and a sunset at Boucan Canot to ease in gently.
Day 2 — Saint-Leu & Kélonia
Head to Saint-Leu: watch the surfers, visit the Kélonia turtle observatory, and snorkel in the lagoon.
Day 3 — The Maïdo at sunrise
Very early start for the Maïdo viewpoint and its view over Mafate. Relaxing afternoon at the beach to recover.
Day 4 — Boat trip
Depart from Saint-Gilles to spot dolphins (and whales from June to October). Afternoon at the marina and shops.
Day 5 — Market & culture
Morning at the Saint-Paul market (Friday/Saturday): spices, fruit, crafts. Stop by the marine cemetery and Saint-Paul bay.
Day 6 — Nature & highlands
Hike at the gateway to Mafate from Dos d’Âne, or a day trip to Cilaos. Back for a Creole dinner.
Day 7 — Relax & departure
A last morning at the lagoon, souvenirs at the market, and a light-hearted transfer to the airport.
Ready to live this week? Choose your home in the West and contact us.
Why a single base works
Over a week it is tempting to change accommodation at each stage. In practice the island is compact enough that a single base in the West is enough: the cirques, the volcano and the wild South are all reachable on day trips.
You save the hours lost to packing, check-ins and transfer drives — and gain the comfort of returning to the same place each evening, with its kitchen and terrace.
Adapting the itinerary to the weather
Reunion’s weather changes quickly and differs sharply from one side of the island to the other. Keep the high-altitude days flexible and set them by the forecast rather than fixing the programme in advance.
In practice: book weather-sensitive activities early in the stay, which leaves room to postpone if conditions do not hold.
The pace to plan for
Mountain roads are winding and journey times longer than the distances suggest. Allow a full day for Cilaos or for the volcano, and avoid two big driving days back to back.
Alternating a day at altitude with a day on the coast remains the most comfortable formula over a week.
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