Réunion is a French overseas region and department in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Madagascar and 200 km south-west of Mauritius. This volcanic island of extraordinary drama packs an active volcano, three steep-walled cirques, a UNESCO World Heritage mountain core, dense rainforest, and a warm lagoon into 2,512 km². It is simultaneously French enough to accept euros and credit cards everywhere, and exotic enough to feel like another world entirely.
Best photo spots
Iconic and lesser-known locations worth shooting.
Le Maïdo Sunrise Viewpoint
Best time: Sunrise (arrive 30 min before dawn, around 05:30–06:00); the cloud fills Mafate cirque below by 08:00
Piton de la Fournaise Active Crater
Best time: Pre-dawn departure (04:00 from Bourg-Murat) for sunrise over lava fields; overcast days reduce glare on black lava
Cirque de Mafate from Grand Bénare Ridge
Best time: Sunrise from ridge before cloud builds; mid-May and September for least cloud
Plaine des Sables (Martian Landscape)
Best time: Mid-morning, clear days; before heat haze and afternoon cloud
Tamil Kovil Temples (Saint-André)
Best time: Morning light for best colour on temple gopurams; festival days for ceremony photography
Anse des Cascades (Waterfall + Coast)
Best time: Morning (09:00–11:00) — light falls on the waterfall face; afternoon gets backlit
Hell-Bourg Creole Architecture (Golden Hour)
Best time: Golden hour (17:00–18:30) — low light on lambrequin-decorated Creole houses with cirque walls behind
Hermitage Lagoon Underwater Photography
Best time: 10:00–14:00 — sun overhead for best underwater light
Photography tips
Make your shots stand out.
Shoot during golden hour (1 hour after sunrise, 1 hour before sunset) for warm, directional light.
Always ask permission before photographing people, especially in religious or cultural contexts.
Carry spare batteries and storage — opportunities for great shots appear unexpectedly.