At leisure to relax and enjoy the lively town of Saint-Gilles-Les-Baines, which has a lovely beachfront and splendid sunsets over Roches Noires beach.
At the Garden of Eden botanical gardens you can see chameleons and a magnificent volcanic lava tunnel. We suggest an early morning trip to the Maido viewpoint over the Cirque of Mafate, where hiking is popular. This popular holiday town is a favourite surfing spot, but as sea currents can be very strong you should only swim in the lagoon or at one of the protected beaches between L'Ermitage and La Saline-les-Baines.
In nearby Saint-Paul you can visit the fascinating Seaman’s Cemetery, where the French poet Leconte de Lisle is buried, as well as the famous pirate La Buse. Across the road you can visit the Grotte des Premiers Français - caves where the first inhabitants of the island are said to have lived. On a Friday don’t miss the local market, which is one of the nicest on the island.
You can also visit the Kélonia Sea Turtle research station in the nearby town of Saint-Leu, where a coral reef partly closes the bay to protect swimmers. Here you can snorkel over a coral garden that shelters numerous marine species including turtles, starfish, crustaceans and tropical fish. This is one of the best places in the world to view Humpback whales in season (June to September) and at the aquarium you can see moray eels, sharks and seahorses. Scuba diving and deep sea fishing trips are also available.