Cirque de Cilaos: the road, hikes and sights

The Cirque de Cilaos is the sunniest and driest of Réunion’s three cirques, according to the regional tourist board. You enter by a single road, the RN5, known as the « road of 400 bends », with three tunnels where traffic takes turns, about 1 hr 30 min by road from Saint-Louis according to the same source. The village, at about 1,200 m (3,937 ft) above sea level, is the starting point for the ascent of the Piton des Neiges, the roof of the Indian Ocean. Here is the essential information published by the national park and the regional tourist board: the road, the sights, safety rules and sun times.

Cilaos is one of the must-sees of a stay on Réunion: see our guide to traveling to Réunion, and our pages on the Cirque de Mafate and the Piton de la Fournaise.

Our travel deals for Cirque de Cilaos

Affiliate links: we earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.

• 
  FlightsKiwi.comCompare flights and airline combinations to Cirque de Cilaos.
  Compare flights

One cirque, three worlds: understanding the terrain

Réunion National Park explains that Mafate, Salazie and Cilaos are the island’s three main cirques, arranged « like a clover leaf » around the Piton des Neiges. This volcano, whose last activity dates back some 12,000 years, collapsed in places: its flanks gave birth to the cirques. According to the Park, Réunion is the only place in the world where this geographical form is so pronounced and on such a scale.

Cilaos stands apart from the other two: the regional tourist board presents it as the sunniest and driest. Its name is said to come from the Malagasy tsilaosa, « the place you do not leave ». The cirque was first a refuge for escaped slaves, the « Noirs marrons » (maroons), the Park and the regional board recall.

The Cilaos road (RN5): what to know

The National Park recounts that the road replaced in 1932 the long walk taken by travelers drawn by the thermal spring; some were carried in sedan chairs. Even today it is « a single road, permanently suspended at the edge of the void », with an overhanging bend and tunnels that seem to open onto empty air. The Peter Both, a peak reaching for the sky, and the îlets of Furcy, Petit Serré and Palmiste Rouge line the route.

The practical advice comes from the regional tourist board: the road is « tricky, with three tunnels where you must let the vehicle already inside go through », and you should sound your horn before bends to warn other users. It allows about 1 hr 30 min by road from Saint-Louis. If winding roads worry you, consider letting a confident driver take the wheel, or spending the night on site rather than making a day return trip.

Renting a car for Cilaos

The RN5 can be done by rental car or by public transport; ask the regional network for timetables. Before booking a vehicle, check the deductible and the insurance, and prefer a compact size. Also book your accommodation in advance, advises the regional tourist board, especially on the Grand Raid weekend.

What to see in the Cirque de Cilaos

• Cilaos village: colorful Creole houses, small shops and a church with a slender bell tower. The Park recalls that its fame comes from a thermal spring discovered in the early 19th century, later developed into a spa establishment.
• The Piton des Neiges: the island’s summit, whose ascent from Cilaos « keeps first place » among hikes, according to the Park, which speaks of « the finest panorama on the island » at sunrise. In the austral winter it is sometimes dressed in ice crystals.
• The Piton de Sucre and La Chapelle: the Piton de Sucre is, according to the Park, the petrified container of a syenite magma chamber, a very rare phenomenon to observe. At its base, a cut hollowed out by water, with walls about a hundred meters (330 ft) high, forms La Chapelle, popular with hikers, canyoning enthusiasts and climbers.
• Îlet à Cordes: an îlet reached by a road cut into the cliff face, where lentils are grown on stony terraces, with a few citrus orchards and old Creole houses surrounded by dry-stone walls.
• Bras Sec and the îlets: the regional tourist board also cites Palmiste Rouge, Mare Sèche, Peter Both, Ilet Chicot and Bras Sec, as well as the Roche Merveilleuse and the canyons of Fleur Jaune, Bras Rouge and Gobert.

Lastly, the Park mentions three specialties of the cirque: the vineyard and its wines, the Cilaos lentil, and an art embroidery, the « jours de Cilaos ».

Hiking in Cilaos: safety rules

Cilaos is a crossroads for long-distance hiking: the regional tourist board cites the GR trails that circle the Piton des Neiges through the three cirques and the GR R2 that crosses the island. It recommends using a mountain guide « to discover Réunion safely ». The walls of the Piton des Neiges shelter the nesting of petrels, endemic and threatened seabirds: stay on the marked trails.

Before any outing, check trail conditions and the weather: the cirques are subject to heavy rain, and the Park points out that erosion nibbles at the plateaus « with every heavy rain ». For the ascent of the Piton des Neiges, plan around a gîte or hut booked in advance rather than attempting an unprepared day return trip.

Best time to visit Cilaos

For the seasons on Réunion, see our page on the best time to visit Réunion. To plan a day in the cirque or a start for the Piton des Neiges, sun times at Cilaos are a useful guide.

Month	Sunrise	Sunset	Day length (h:min)
January	05:48	19:05	13:17
February	06:08	18:55	12:47
March	06:20	18:33	12:14
April	06:29	18:06	11:37
May	06:40	17:47	11:07
June	06:52	17:44	10:51
July	06:55	17:52	10:58
August	06:41	18:04	11:23
September	06:14	18:12	11:57
October	05:47	18:20	12:34
November	05:29	18:36	13:07
December	05:30	18:55	13:25

The sun rises between 5:29 am and 6:55 am and sets between 5:44 pm and 7:05 pm depending on the month. In June the day lasts only 10 h 51: a descent from the Piton des Neiges or an outing to La Chapelle should be finished well before dark, especially as the cirque’s relief hides the sun earlier.

Common mistakes to avoid

1. Entering an RN5 tunnel when a vehicle is already inside: you must let it through.
2. Neglecting the horn before blind bends, recommended by the regional tourist board.
3. Doing Cilaos as an express day return: the road takes time, so it is better to sleep on site.
4. Arriving without accommodation on the Grand Raid weekend.
5. Setting off hiking without checking the weather and trail conditions.
6. Leaving the trails near cliffs: petrel nesting areas.

What to see nearby

• Cirque de Mafate: the neighboring cirque, west of the Piton des Neiges.
• Piton de la Fournaise: the active volcano in the southeast.
• Map of Réunion: locate Saint-Louis, the RN5 and the three cirques.
• Time difference with Réunion.
• Mauritius: the neighboring island, often combined.

Frequently asked questions

Our sources

• Parc national de La Réunion: « Le Cirque de Cilaos – Dimitile – Les Makes », « La route de Cilaos », « Le village de Cilaos », « Le Piton des Neiges », « Le Piton de Sucre et la Chapelle », « L’îlet à cordes – Le Tapcal » and « Les cirques » pages, reunion-parcnational.fr, consulted on 27 October 2026
• Réunion regional tourist board: « Cirque de Cilaos : un goût de liberté » and « Route de Cilaos », reunion.fr, consulted on 27 October 2026
• Coordinates of Cilaos village: Wikipedia, « Cilaos » article
• Sunrise, sunset and day length: Destination de Voyage calculation, NOAA solar algorithm, Indian/Reunion time zone, coordinates of Cilaos village (Wikipedia), on the 15th of each month (year 2027)
• Our methodology

Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access rules may change: check the official website before you go.