Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Salazie, Reunion, French
Salazie is a commune as well as volcanic caldera in the French overseas department and island, Reunion, located on the heart of the island. It is situated around 50 km southeast of the department capital, Saint-Denis and to the north-east of the highest point on Reunion, Piton des Neiges. Salazie is landlocked commune, bordered by the communes of Saint-Benoît, Saint-Denis, Sainte-Marie, La Possession, Saint-André, Sainte-Suzanne and Bras-Panon. The geographical coordinates of Salazie are 21°01′40″ S 55°32′21″ E.
History of Salazie:
According to the documented history, Salazie was first settled in the year 1829 and it gained municipality status in 1889. It is believed that, Salazie got its name from the Malagasy term, salazy, which means ‘fine encampment’.
How to reach Salazie?
Roland Garros Airport is the closest airport to Salazie, situated around 43 km away from the centre of Salazie. This airport receives flights from Marseille, Johannesburg, Paris, Mauritius, Bangkok, Chennai in India and many other African destinations.
The road connectivity of Salazie extends to all the major towns of the island, including the capital, Saint-Denis.
For airport travel, inter-commune travel, to move within the commune and sightseeing purposes, visitors can hire car from the local travel agency.
Shopping and Food in Salazie:
Salazie is home to many nice shops with both branded products and local specialties. Salazie offers a variety of restaurants with a wide range of French, Chinese and Indian dishes at reasonable prices. The prominent and recommended restaurants in Salazie are as follows:
- Le Relais Des Cimes
- La Coco Le la
- Les Jardins d’Heva
- Restaurant La Cascade Blanche
Things to do in Salazie:
- Hiking
- Village tours
- Visiting churches
What to see in Salazie?
Hell-Bourg:
Hell-Bourg is a village belonging to the commune of Salazie. Originally a spa town, now it has turned as a favorite spot of hikers, with a small peak the Piton d’Anchaing. Salazie is also known for its museum, cemetery and 19th century historic buildings.
Piton des Neiges:
The Piton des Neiges is the highest peak on the island of Reunion, situated to the southwest of Salazie. It is famous among tourists as a great adventure sports spot, so it is advised for visitors to take a guided tour for the easy and safe exploration of the peak.
Trou de Fer:
Trou de Fer is a canyon, featuring many spectacular waterfalls, including the waterfall of the Bras de Caverne River. The canyon itself is enthralling and its exploration will be a memorable experience for visitors.
Church of Salazie:
The Church of Salazie is simply superb, drawing a substantial number of both devotees and tourists year round for its striking construction and holiness.
List of the other places of interest in and around Salazie includes:
- Le Bassin la Paix
- Rivière des Roches
- Cascade du Chien
- Vanilla fields Bras-Panon
- Le Belvédère de l’Eden
- Saint-Benoit Church
- River Rocks
- Le sentier du littoral
- Temple Tamoul in Saint-Denis
- Museum d’Histoire Naturelle de La Reunion
- Léon Dierx Museum
- Grand Étang in Saint-Benoit
- Plantation Melissa
Best time to visit Salazie:
Salazie is a year round destination, experiencing pleasant climate throughout the year. The ideal time to visit Salazie is from May to October.
Where to stay in Salazie?
Salazie is home to around 20 standard accommodation centres, of which most are traditional options, with typical hospitality services. List of the major hotels in Salazie include:
- Le Faham
- Les Jardins d’Heva
- Le Domaine des Songes
- Le Relais de Mafate
- Le Papangue
- Le Belier
- Le Relais des Cimes
- Ti Jack
- Le Cimendef
- Chez Liliane Bonald
- Gite Madeleine Parisot Hell Bourg
- L’Orchidee Rose
- La Tourte Doree
- Les Bungs D’Amour
- Gite des Trois Roches