Saint-Paul, on Réunion's west coast, pairs some of the island's best beaches with a genuinely distinctive piece of history — a historic cemetery reputed to hold the graves of corsairs who once used this coast as a base. Add Piton Maïdo's clifftop views and a marine reserve's worth of coral reef, and it's easy to build a full day or two around this stretch of coastline alone.

A historic corsairs' cemetery

Saint-Paul's old cemetery, shaded by tall palms near the seafront, is one of the town's most atmospheric sights — long associated with local legend as the burial ground of corsairs and pirates who operated along this coast during the Indian Ocean's age of sail. Worth a quiet look even for visitors who aren't usually drawn to cemeteries.

Plage de l'Hermitage

Réunion's longest and widest beach, Hermitage stretches around 7km along Saint-Paul's coast, with shallow, warm water (22-30°C) that makes it a strong choice for families. A natural coral reef shelters the beach, keeping conditions calm and giving first-time snorkellers an easy introduction to the area's marine life — the whole stretch sits within a marine nature reserve extending some 40km along the coast, and full beach infrastructure (showers, changing rooms, lifeguards) is in place.

Réunion Aquarium

In the western part of the island, this aquarium lets you see Réunion's underwater life without getting wet — around 700 fish across a dozen tanks, from seahorses and clownfish to sharks, plus a small screening room showing marine documentaries.

Local markets

Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, part of the Saint-Paul area, hosts a Wednesday morning market with local handicrafts, fresh produce and coconut ice cream, while a Sunday grower's market at the theatre car park and the Mail de Rodrigues market in Ermitage both offer organic, locally grown produce — genuinely good spots for real souvenirs rather than mass-produced ones.

Piton Maïdo

Réunion's highest accessible viewpoint by road, Piton Maïdo sits at 2,190m on the island's west side, just outside Saint-Paul, with sweeping views over the Cirque de Mafate and the island's central highlands. The drive up passes through a forest of tamarind trees found only on Réunion, and the viewpoint itself rivals the island's other great vantage points for sheer drama.

From Maïdo, marked trails lead down toward Mafate's caldera — old-growth forest home to over a hundred animal species and around ninety plant species. Once there, activities range from hiking and quad biking to summer sledding, and clear days offer views over the west coast's white sand beaches all the way to the Indian Ocean horizon.

Plage de Boucan Canot

A long, wide stretch of white sand with strikingly turquoise water, Boucan Canot has a dedicated lifeguarded swimming area, plus restaurants, snack bars and gift shops nearby. The water is clear enough to see the sandy, coral-strewn bottom while swimming or snorkelling.

Garden of Eden

This tropical botanical garden holds close to 700 plant species — bamboo groves, flowering shrubs and aquatic plants along winding paths, with both self-guided and guided tour options. Yoga, meditation and aromatherapy classes are also held on site, if you want to slow down rather than just walk through.

Ready to plan a trip? Take a look at Quintrip's Réunion Island holiday packages to build a Saint-Paul stop into your itinerary.

A few practical questions

How many days should I spend in Saint-Paul? 2 days covers the beaches, markets and Maïdo comfortably.

Is Piton Maïdo accessible without hiking? Yes — it's reachable by road, with hiking trails available for those who want to continue down toward Mafate.

What language will I need? French is the official language; English is less widely spoken than in some other Indian Ocean destinations.

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