La Réunion en Camping-Car : location, conseils, aires, routes

Would you like to discover the island of Réunion freely to enjoy its wonders? So why don't you visit this one on a motorhome?

The island of Réunion is home to many treasures and offers extraordinary landscapes. Between ocean, lakes, waterfalls and volcanoes, you will be filled with your trip to the island. It also houses more than 900 km of hiking trails marked through its different terrains. So you can discover its beauty alone, as a couple, with family or friends without any difficulty.

However, in order to make the most of this wonderful island, we advise you to visit the Meeting on motorhome. Indeed, it will allow you to move as you like. But also to stay close to the points of interest of the island. So, ready to go? Here are our tips to visit the island of the Reunion on motorhome!

Ideas of itineraries to the Meeting in motorhome

Do you want to visit the Meeting on a motorhome during a weekend, a week or fourteen days? So we suggest you discover some ideas of itineraries. These will allow you to make the most of your stay on the island of Réunion.

For a weekend

Starting for a week at the Meeting in motorhome, you will not have time to see everything. Nevertheless, you can still enjoy two of the most beautiful spots on the island.

• Day 1: The Port – Salazie (76 km and about 1h30 road), hiking or canyoning in the Cirque de Salazie ;
• Day 2: Salazie – The Maido (100 km and 2h of road), hiking on the volcano and discovering the authentic nature of the island of the Reunion. Return to Le Port (beach) at the end of the day (39 km and 1 hour drive) to enjoy local specialities and go back to the evening or the next day. Otherwise, back toairport Roland-Garros (65 km and about 2 hours).

For one week

A week is an ideal time to enjoy the most beautiful wonders of the Reunion in camping-car. Thus, by taking back the proposed route for a weekend, we have:

• Day 1: The Port – the Cirque de Salazie (76 km and approximately 1h30 drive).
• Day 2: Salazie – The Maido (11 km and 2h of road) and return to the side of Saint Paul for the night (28 km and 1h of journey);
• Day 3: Saint-Paul – La Plaine des Cafres (82 km and 1h15 road), hiking or mountain biking and stopping by the Belvédère de Bois Court;
• Day 4: La Plaine des Cafres – Massif du Piton de la Fournaise (29 km and 50 minutes to go and count the same for the return), hiking on the Massif and breathtaking panoramic views;
• Day 5: La Plaine des Cafres – Domaniale Department Forest of the South Volcano (67 km and 1h50 road), hiking in the heart of a natural and typical landscape of the island. Stop in a campsite nearby for the night ;
• Day 6: Departmental Forest Domaniale du Volcan Sud – Saint-Joseph (22,9 km and 54 minutes away), visit the city, farniente on its beaches of black sand or canyoning for lovers of strong sensations;
• Day 7: Return to Le Port (bateau) from Saint-Joseph (78 km and 1 h of road), tasting of local dishes and visit the port until the time of return. Otherwise, return to the Roland-Garros airport(105 km and approximately 2h drive).

For two weeks

In two weeks at the Meeting by motorhome, you can easily go around the entire island! Here, we propose you to resume the days 1 to 6 of the one-week itinerary, then add this:

• Day 7 and 8: Saint-Joseph – Etang Salé (34 km and 35 minutes drive), visit the commune, on-site hikes, visit the animal park or day at the water park (Parc akOatys) for two days of pure relaxation;
• Day 9, 10 and 11: Salé pond – Cirque de Cilaos (42 km and 1h10 by road), a natural cocoon where you can enjoy the calm and breathtaking landscape, ideal for a hike or simply for a day or two;
• Day 12: Cirque de Cilaos – Saint-Leu (57 km and 1h15 road), ideal spot for swimming and diving, but also for paragliding;
• Day 13: Saint-Leu – Saint-Gilles-les-Bains (18 km and 22 minutes drive), dolphin and whale observation, as well as scuba diving to meet the maritime life of the island;
• Day 14: Return to Le Port (beach) from Saint-Gilles-les-Bains (24 km and 25 minutes drive), tasting of local dishes and walk until the time of return. Otherwise, head to Roland-Garros Airport (48 km and approximately 1 h).

What budget to travel by motorhome at the Meeting?

Preparing a trip to the Meeting on a motorhome is not always easy. Indeed, between bookings to be made and the calculation of a budget, it is difficult not to lose in the accounts. Also, here is an estimate of the budget for rental, insurance, gasoline and parking during your stay.

Average budget for 1 weekend

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 290€
• Essence: 15€
• Parking : 15€
• Total: 320€

Average budget for 1 week

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 1040€
• Essence: 35€
• Parking : 240€
• Total: 1315€

Average budget for 2 weeks

• Rental + motorhome insurance : 1800€
• Essence: 80€
• Parking : 360€
• Total: 2240€

Areas and driving in camping-car at the Meeting

To make the most of your stay at the Meeting by motorhome, here is all the information you need to circulate and park on site.

What documents do you have on board?

The Island of the Meeting being a French region, the documents you need are the same as in metropolis . That is, the gray card, the driver’s license and the insurance certificate. In addition, if you rent a camper on site, don’t forget to have the rental contract available.

Motorway to the Reunion: what price for your motorhome category?

Reunion Island does not have highways . Indeed, the highway project, the “New Route du Littoral”, is not yet completed. Thus, no tolls exist to visit the island of the Reunion on a camping-car.

Other information on conduct at the Meeting

Although the island of the Reunion is French, it still has some peculiarities regarding the conduct. Thus, here are the main rules for driving in Meeting in motorhome:

• To rent a motorhome in the Meeting, you must at least 22 years ;
• In case of rain, you must turn on your passing beams ;
• In case of bad weather, certain main roads are closed for risk of landslide or flooding. Attention therefore to this point during your trip;
• Speed limitation in agglomeration is 50 km/h, against 90 km/h out of agglomeration;
• It is strictly forbidden to park on areas marked in yellow ;
• If you find many service stations in the agglomerations, these are rare once you get out. So watch it always do the full before leaving, for example, on mountain roads;
• The alcohol rate in the blood not to exceed to lead to the Meeting is to 0.5g/l blood.

The camper areas at the Reunion: where to park?

Parking on the island by car is simple. However, this is not always the case for tourists moving to the Meeting on a motorhome. Indeed, many parking lots exist to spend a day near a point of interest.

However, there are not, or almost, motorhomes on the island. So, you will often be obligated to choose a campsite to spend the night . You could, for example, choose the Camping Le Relax , located near the Salazie circus. Or again campsite de l’Étang-Salé in the commune of the same name.

You don’t like the idea of spending all your camping stay or you can’t find it near the places you’re interested in? So there is another solution . Indeed, farmers on the island of Réunion often propose furnished and private parking areas . So you will find these in the four corners of the island. You can therefore enjoy a warm welcome, large pitches and many amenities.

Finally, here are some good driving rules on parking and camping:

• Always make sure you don’t degrade anything and leave the place as it was before your arrival. This is all the more valid for those who decide, despite its prohibition, to make wild camping.
• Do not park within protected national parks and respect wildlife and local flora.
• Don’t throw your waste anywhere during your stay at the Meeting in motorhome.
• In case you choose to stay on a land made available by farmers, be respectful. Ask permission before parking and do not degrade.

How to go to the Meeting on a motorhome?

It is possible to take your own motorhome to visit the island . For this, you can go through a specialized company to transport your motorhome through containers.

However, it is important to know that container transport is expensive. Indeed, we count between 1600 and 3100€ depending on the type of transport chosen. Plus, It takes a month to get there . Thus, we can only advise you to rent a vehicle on site to visit the Meeting in Camping Car.

To rent a camper on site, two solutions are available to you. You can rent a motorhome at a dealership. You will often find it in the main areas of the north and west coast of the island. Otherwise, in order to settle this before your arrival, you can rent your motorhome online, on dedicated platforms like Yescapa . This means of booking ensures you enjoy a vehicle during your stay.

What is the best time to travel by motorhome at the Meeting?

The best time to visit the island of the Motorhome Meeting is the southern winter, from June to September. However, we also advise you in May and October. Indeed, you will then benefit from low precipitation and mild temperatures. In addition, it is important to know that the Island of the Meeting is subject to the South Indian Ocean climate regime. Thus, almost all year round the prevailing winds are the east and south-east winds. They refresh the atmosphere as soon as a few hundred meters rise. You are therefore assured to be able to withstand the heat during your stay at the Meeting in camper.