The Cirque de Mafate is the only one of Réunion’s three cirques with no road at all: you enter only on foot, by the trails, or by helicopter. It lies in the inhabited heart of Réunion National Park, within the UNESCO World Heritage property, and about 700 people still live there, spread across îlets (small settlements on ledges). This page presents the official entry points, the guarded car park at the Col des Bœufs, the 4×4 shuttles from Rivière des Galets, life in the îlets, the rules of the park’s core area and a preparation checklist specific to Mafate.
Mafate is prepared together with the rest of the island: see our guide to visiting Réunion, our page on the best time to visit Réunion for the dry and rainy seasons, and our map of Réunion.
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Cirque de Mafate: key facts
- Access: only on foot or by helicopter, no road in the cirque — checked on 24 October 2026 on reunion.fr (Île de la Réunion Tourisme)
- Entry points cited by the tourist board: Rivière des Galets, Maïdo, Dos-d’Âne, Col du Taïbit (from Cilaos) and Col des Bœufs (from Salazie)
- Col des Bœufs: guarded car park to leave your vehicle
- Rivière des Galets: 4×4 shuttles, booking compulsory, €14 per person each way with the listed operators (€28 round trip)
- Status: inhabited core of Réunion National Park (created in 2007), UNESCO World Heritage property since 2010
- Free access: no entry ticket; accommodation in homestay gîtes, to be booked
What is the Cirque de Mafate?
The National Park describes Mafate as « an immense and spectacular chaotic depression », ringed by ramparts, like Salazie and Cilaos. These three cirques were born from the erosion-driven dismantling of an ancient volcano, the Piton des Neiges — checked on 24 October 2026 on reunion-parcnational.fr. According to Wikipedia, the cirque forms an oval about 14 km (9 mi) from north to south by 7 km (4 mi) from east to west, and is the catchment area of the Rivière des Galets, straddling the municipalities of Saint-Paul and La Possession.
Its terrain first served as a refuge for escaped slaves, the maroons; the cirque’s place names preserve their memory. The name Mafate itself is linked to the Malagasy « mahafaty », meaning « deadly ». Today, the National Park counts a community of 700 people in the cirque.
Life in the îlets
Residents live on ledges, the îlets. Wikipedia lists ten main ones: Aurère, Îlet à Malheur, Îlet à Bourse, Cayenne, Grand Place and La Nouvelle on the La Possession side; Les Lataniers, Les Orangers, Roche Plate and Marla on the Saint-Paul side. According to the tourist board, La Nouvelle, the largest village, has a school, a bakery and grocery stores supplied mainly by helicopter, and its electricity is solar. Supplies, rescue and waste removal all go by air, and each house has its own photovoltaic installation.
How to enter Mafate: the access points
| Entry point | From | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Col des Bœufs | Cirque de Salazie | Guarded car park; access to La Nouvelle or Marla via the Col de Fourche |
| Rivière des Galets | West coast | 4×4 shuttles, booking compulsory; parking near the riverbed |
| Maïdo | Heights of Saint-Paul | Ti Col and Brèche trail to Roche Plate or Les Orangers |
| Dos-d’Âne | La Possession | Toward Deux Bras; Cap Noir viewpoint nearby |
| Col du Taïbit | Cirque de Cilaos | Toward Marla |
The 4×4 shuttles from Rivière des Galets are limited to four passengers in the cab: nobody is allowed in the bed, the tourist board specifies. The operators are found in the car park near the riverbed; the official page lists their contact details.
Admiring Mafate without going down
For those who do not have time to walk for several days, viewpoints built near the roads give a plunging view: the Maïdo, the Col des Bœufs and the Cap Noir, near Dos-d’Âne, according to Wikipedia. La Roche Écrite offers a view over Mafate and Salazie, and the Grand Bénare over Mafate and Cilaos. Clouds often cover the cirque from the morning on: go up early.
Sunrise and sunset in Mafate
When hiking, day length decides the stage. Here are sunrise and sunset calculated for the cirque’s coordinates.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Day length (h:min) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:49 | 19:05 | 13:16 |
| February | 06:08 | 18:55 | 12:47 |
| March | 06:20 | 18:34 | 12:14 |
| April | 06:29 | 18:06 | 11:37 |
| May | 06:40 | 17:48 | 11:07 |
| June | 06:52 | 17:44 | 10:52 |
| July | 06:55 | 17:53 | 10:58 |
| August | 06:41 | 18:04 | 11:23 |
| September | 06:15 | 18:12 | 11:58 |
| October | 05:47 | 18:21 | 12:33 |
| November | 05:29 | 18:36 | 13:07 |
| December | 05:31 | 18:55 | 13:24 |
From May to July the sun sets between 5:44 pm and 5:53 pm: set off at dawn and reach your gîte in the early afternoon. In December the day lasts more than 13 hours, but it is the austral summer, the hot and rainy season; see our page on the best time to visit Réunion for the climate.
Sleeping in Mafate: gîtes and booking
The îlets host hikers in gîtes and homestay rooms. Book before you go, directly with the gîte or through the booking channels recommended by the tourist board, and confirm what is included (dinner, breakfast, payment on site). Keep in mind that shops are rare and supplied by helicopter.
Organizing your hike: guide or independent?
The tourist board advises using a mountain guide to discover the island safely. If you are comparing guided outings or drop-offs, check the entry point, the level required, whether the night in a gîte is included, and the cancellation policy in case of a weather alert.
Rules for the inhabited core and safety
- National park core: the National Park applies specific regulations to the inhabited core; stay on marked trails and respect residents’ property.
- Weather: the tourist board recalls the « weather and flood vigilance » alert system of the ORSEC plan; check the alerts before you leave and give up if one is issued.
- Ravines: heavy rain, frequent in the hot season, makes rivers rise and some crossings dangerous.
- Waste: it is removed by helicopter; carry yours back down.
- Altitude and terrain: the access trails go down or climb back up very steep ramparts; see our guide to altitude sickness for the neighboring summits.
Mafate checklist
- Gîte booked and confirmed for every night.
- 4×4 shuttle booked if you enter via Rivière des Galets.
- Weather alerts checked the day before and in the morning.
- Cash, and a prior check of the payment methods the gîte accepts.
- Headlamp, water, rain gear and a warm layer.
- Light backpack: everything is carried, there is no road or taxi in the cirque.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Thinking you can drive in: no road serves the interior of the cirque.
- Riding in the back of a 4×4: the bed is forbidden to passengers.
- Setting off without a gîte booking: accommodation is limited to the îlets.
- Reaching the viewpoint late in the morning: clouds often cover the cirque.
- Underestimating the night in the austral winter: the sun sets before 6 pm.
What to see nearby
Mafate combines with the other two cirques and with the active volcano: see our page on the Piton de la Fournaise. To choose your island, read our comparison Mauritius or Réunion, and for the time difference, our page on the time difference with Réunion.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get into the Cirque de Mafate?
Only on foot or by helicopter. The tourist board cites as entry points Rivière des Galets, the Maïdo, Dos-d’Âne, the Col du Taïbit (from Cilaos) and the Col des Bœufs (from Salazie).
Can you drive to Mafate?
No. No road serves the interior of the cirque. You leave your car at the Col des Bœufs, where there is a guarded car park, or at another entry point.
Is access to Mafate paid?
No, there is no entry ticket. Costs are for accommodation, the 4×4 shuttles from Rivière des Galets (€14 each way with the operators listed by the tourist board) and, possibly, a mountain guide.
How many people live in Mafate?
About 700, according to Réunion National Park, spread across îlets such as La Nouvelle, Marla, Aurère and Roche Plate.
Where can you see the Cirque de Mafate without hiking?
From the viewpoints at the Maïdo, the Col des Bœufs or the Cap Noir, near Dos-d’Âne. Go up early, before the clouds arrive.
Do you need to book your gîte in Mafate?
Yes, book every night before you go, directly with the gîte or through the channels recommended by the tourist board.
Our sources
- Parc national de La Réunion (reunion-parcnational.fr): « Le cirque de Mafate, voyage en terre de volcan » page, consulted on 24 October 2026
- Île de la Réunion Tourisme (reunion.fr): Cirque de Mafate page (entry points, Col des Bœufs car park, Rivière des Galets 4×4 shuttles), consulted on 24 October 2026
- Wikipedia article « Cirque de Mafate » (dimensions, îlets, access, viewpoints, coordinates), consulted on 24 October 2026
- Astronomical calculations: NOAA solar algorithm, applied by Destination de Voyage to the cirque’s coordinates (Wikipedia) (15th of each month, year 2027, clear horizon)
- Our methodology
Updated November 2026. Prices, hours and access conditions may change: check the official website before you go.