Destinations to run before we die: Reunion Island

Before calling myself a runner I used to have a list of places I wanted to visit before I die.

Since I'm a runner, I now have a list of the places I want to run and race before I die and well, I thought I would share it with you and see if you knew other places I was missing out on. I've split this list in different posts so don't worry it won't be super long and you'll have time to comment :)

Destination 1: My Island

http://www.reunion.fr/en/

OK, it's not mine per se, but it is where I am from ;)

Reunion Island is a volcanic island with a sleeping volcano Le Piton des Neiges, its highest peak (3070m, 10,070 ft), an active volcano La Fournaise and 3 calderas: Cirque de Salazie, Cirque de Mafate and Cirque de Cilaos.



In one go, you start your run in a sugarcane field, meet up giant bamboo trees

St Suzanne Trail

  Go up to a forest type like trail with waterfalls, rivers, and root trees. With temperatures changing like the clouds in the sky.









And finish your day by follow the beach path trail for a rewarding dip in the Indian Ocean Lagoon.

 

 

Races

You have the infamous Diagonal des Fous, a trail race of 162 km and 9643m of ascent, in October, loved by Kilian Jornet, who won it twice!

Diagonale des Fous Profile

If the kilometres are a bit too much, you also have la Cimasalazienne in August a trail run of 53 km with 3700m of  vertical gain, covering the 3 calderas. It's a beautiful route where you will come across some of the best canyons and nature jewels.

View of Mafate Caldera from Salazie Caldera

More: the other Grand Raid de la Reunion, le Raid 974, a 101 km with 4500 m of vertical gain, in July. This route crosses the west side of Reunion, with beautiful views of the Ocean and 2 of the calderas. You have the 53 km shorter option with as much as vertical gain that you could also attempt.

So this island is a concentrate of every thing you could wish for: weather, trails and rewards!

So what do you think?

Best time of the year to go there: March to November as it is the winter. Days are shorter but you get a nice not too hot weather. From November onwards, it's the summertime with loads of rain and hot temperatures
Places to Stay while there: The South West side as it the less raining side
Foods to die for:
Fruits: Ananas Victoria (Victoria Ananas), tiny bananas, goyaviers, letchis, longani,
Meat: sausages from Salazie, boucane from St Suzanne, duck from le Tampon
Meals: Rougaille saucisse, boucane bringelles, vanilla duck, carry tijaques
Deserts: Anything you fancy from the Patisserie
How to get there: You can either take a plane to Mauritus and another to Reunion Island. Or you arrive in Paris, and take a plane to Reunion.
Recommended minimum time to stay: 3 weeks