Anse des Cascades

Anse des Cascades is a small cove on the volcanic east coast of Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean, near Sainte-Rose along the Route Nationale 2. Several freshwater cascades drop directly from the cliff into a grove of coconut palms right at the shoreline, with the Indian Ocean crashing against black lava rock just beyond. The combination of freshwater falls and ocean coast in one small area is unusual on the island. Fishing boats are traditionally launched from the cove, and the flat, palm-shaded area around the falls is set up with picnic tables, making it a popular spot for family lunches on weekends. A restaurant on site serves lunch from Tuesday to Sunday, and parking is available at the entrance. Visitors can walk along the short paths between the palms, cross small wooden bridges over the streams, and watch waves break on the lava shelf. The cove is also known for its views of the waterfalls spilling beside the sea. A typical visit takes one to two hours. It sits close to the 1977 lava flow at Piton Sainte-Rose, so it is often visited alongside that site and the Notre-Dame-des-Laves church, which was encircled but spared by the flow. Mornings on weekdays are the quietest time, as local families fill the picnic area on weekends and holidays. The sea here is rough and not suited to swimming, so the pools and shoreline are for viewing only. Photographers favour early light, when the falls and palms are lit from the side, and the humid east coast means passing showers are common. Visitors reach it by car or with the Car Jaune line 1E from Saint-Benoît for about €3. Footwear with grip is useful, since paths and rocks around the falls can be slippery after rain.