Cirque de Mafate — La Nouvelle Day Hike

The La Nouvelle day hike is one of the most popular ways to enter the Cirque de Mafate, a roadless caldera in the west of Réunion that is reachable only on foot or by helicopter. The trail begins at the Col des Bœufs (1,865 m), reached by driving from La Plaine des Palmistes along the RN3 and then the D55, about 15 minutes, with free parking at the pass. The round trip to the hamlet of La Nouvelle and back covers about 14 km and takes five to six hours. The route first runs along a ridge with open views over the cirque and the surrounding peaks before dropping about 300 m by stepped paths and switchbacks into the village. Surfaces are a mix of packed earth, roots, rock steps and sections of stone paving, and the climb back out is the demanding part of the day. Some stretches are shaded by forest and tamarind trees, but the ridge itself is exposed to sun and wind, and cloud often rolls in after midday, so an early start is advisable. Key landmarks include the Col des Bœufs viewpoint, the ridge section toward Col du Taïbit direction, and the small settlement of La Nouvelle, which has gîtes, a few small shops or snack counters in some seasons and a chapel. There are no shops of any size in Mafate, so visitors should bring lunch or order a meal at a gîte in advance. Water should be carried: about 2.5 litres per person is sensible, as refills at the village are limited. Hikers who are short on time or energy can turn around at the first viewpoints on the ridge, while those wanting a longer trip can stay overnight at a gîte in La Nouvelle and walk on to other Mafate hamlets the next day. Rain jackets are worthwhile in any month because of fast-changing mountain weather.