French Flair converges with Wild Nature

Reunion Island is a French overseas territory located about 500 miles east of Madagascar. So we were actually in Europe while just east of Madagascar in the Indian ocean. Our visit to the French Island of Reunion, included history, surf, sea turtles, and volcanoes - oh, and a French pastry shop!!

• Volcanoes: Reunion is home to one of the world's most active volcanoes, Piton de la Fournaise [lower southeast corner of the island]. This massive shield volcano has erupted over 150 times since settlers arrived in the 17th century and most recently in July of 2023. The extinct Piton des Neiges volcano and its three massive calderas are also geological marvels near the port where we came ashore [upper northwest corner of the island].

• Surf: Reunion has excellent surf spots, especially on the west coast, where we traveled from the port to St-Leu, St-Paul, and St-Gilles. The warm water and consistent swell make it a year-round surf destination. Here you can watch as surfer from start to finish of a great run.

It's also a popular destination for parasailing. In fact, Reunion Island Free-Flight League hosted the paragliding pre world cup competition last October. This competition offered national and international free-flyers a chance to qualify for the paragliding world cup event.

• Sea Turtles: Several species of sea turtles, including the green turtle and hawksbill turtle, nest on Reunion's beaches. Conservation efforts are in place to protect these endangered reptiles.

• French Bakery: What would a French Island be without a French pastry shop. We'll never know!

So in summary, Reunion offers world-class surfing, breathtaking volcanic landscapes, opportunities to see nesting sea turtles, and with a rich history as a French island colony in the Indian Ocean, fantastic French pastries.