The west of the island consists of various towns and communes including La Possession, La Saline, Saint-Paul, le Port, Trois-Bassins and Mafate. The drier and sunnier climate combined with almost all of the island’s best beaches being located along the 27 kilometre strip of sandy coast, make this the most touristic region of Réunion.

The most popular beaches include Saint-Paul with its black sand, and the golden sand beaches of Saint-Gilles, Saint-Leu, and La Saline. L’hermitage and Trou d’Eau beaches are calm and family-friendly while others like Roches Noires, and Boucan Canot are frequented by the young and hip. There is easy access to this region due to the Route des Tamarins, a dual carriageway that crosses the West Coast halfway up the mountains, that features magnificent bridges crossing ravines and precipices revealing stunning views over the Indian Ocean.

Higher up in the mountains, the West Coast is covered with forests, some that are primitive, and some that have been replanted with cryptomeria trees. The two communes La Possession and Saint Paul also encompasses the Mafate Cirque, that offers breathtaking viewpoints at Le Maido or at Dos d’ ne. There are several footpaths that lead into Mafate, including those at Ilet des Orangers, Roche Plate Mafate, and Cayenne.
A variety of watersports are available in the region, including surfing at the legendary surf spot in Saint-Leu. The West also features sharp cliffs, with blow holes between Saint-Leu and Étang-Salé, at Pointe au Sel, and at Pointe des Châteaux, Piton Saint-Leu, Stella, Le Guillaume, are all ideal stop-off points along the Les Hauts roads, with outcrops overlooking the coast. Go up a level to Petite France, for a total change of scenery, or a little higher to la Glacière, where ice used to be collected from the puddles left by the rapids. Not forgetting Maïdo, an exceptional panoramic view a kilometre above Mafate, where the coolest winds blow.

La Possession

Fifteen kilometres from Saint-Denis, La Possession, repository for the collective memories of the influx of the population into the Bourbon area, is now a residential area with several business estates. It offers a myriad of landscapes and views and is bursting with unexpected picturesque sites which require patience and effort to reach, including Dos-d’ ne, nicknamed the gate of Mafate, the starting point for many hikes, or Roche Vert-Bouteille, Roche-Écrite, Ilet-à-Malheur to name just a few

Saint-Gilles les Bains

At Saint-Gilles les Bains you will find the most beautiful beach of the island. Diving and other water activities like snorkelling or swimming are also concentrated around the area of St Gilles les Bain and its coral reefs, and the region is ideal for deep-sea fishing, with chartered fishing boats departing from the marina on a regular basis.

La Saline

Situated at an altitude of 400 metres, La Saline is a picturesque commune of Saint Paul. There you can find accommodation, a police station, a post office, bank, supermarket and many sports and cultural associations, as well as the charming Sainte-Thérèse church. The attractive and quiet coastline is ideal for sunbathing, with a beautiful lagoon perfect for swimming, and stand-up paddle boating is also on offer. The heights of La Saline offer unobstructed views of the West Coast, allowing the visitor to contemplate the beauty of this idyllic landscape.

L'hermitage Les Bassins

L'hermitage Les Bassins has a beautiful beach situated near les Roches Noires. It is an ideal place to rest in its peace and tranquillity. The lagoon is shallow, making it a safe spot for children to bathe

Saint-Leu

The Saint-Leu region seems to have been blessed by the Gods for sport and tourism. From the shore to the mountaintops, all sports and leisure activities are on offer: a world-renowned surfing spot, sailing, water skiing, scuba-diving, fishing, paragliding, mountain biking, long-distance hiking trails, forest tracks that can be taken by car, and a host of historical sites where Réunion’s heritage is closely guarded and protected.

Piton Saint-Leu

Piton Saint Leu is located on the west part of the Réunion Island and it is a world-renowned surfing spot where a large variety of watersports are available. It is the ideal stop-off point along “Les Hauts” roads with outcrops overlooking the coast.

Saint-Paul

An immense district where the first colonials arrived, Saint-Paul was Réunion’s first capital before its status as principal town was transferred to Saint-Denis. Saint-Paul is popular with tourists for its many attractions. The coastline offers the beautiful beaches at Boucan, Roches-Noires, l'Ermitage, la Saline, and Trou d'eau. The mountain-biking trails on the road up to the Maido, and from there the viewpoint over the Mafate Cirque, and the various treks in Mafate itself are popular with nature lovers. The Villèle district in St Gilles les Hauts with the Villèle Museum, the Pointed Chapel built in a ‘neo-gothic’ style in 1845 and the Chapel "la Misère" also attracts visitors. Other attractions in Saint Paul include: the Marine Cemetery where some of the island’s most famous names are buried; "Petite France" with its geranium distilleries; the Bassin Bleu Golf Course; and the aquarium in St Gilles.

Trois Bassins

The Trois-Bassins district perfectly matches the image of former trading posts assigned to the Bourbon colonies by the East India Company, from the edges to the summits of the mountains. From here visitors can climb to the top of Grand-Bénare, the island’s second highest summit, walk in the forest up in the hills of Trois-Bassins or enjoy the small beach at Souris-Chaude.

La Chaloupe

La Chaloupe is a small village in the highlands of Saint Leu, where life is good, the temperature is pleasant and the people are considerate.

Le Guillaume

Situated on the Petit MaÏdo Road, Le Guillaume is a small village in the communal territory of Saint Paul, at an altitude of 900 metres, it benefits from a dryer climate than the littoral regions. In fact, the cloud bands on the Piton MaÏdo cover and shower the highlands, morphing the vegetation and the relief.

Le Port

In the far west point of Réunion, le Port is the island’s smallest district as well as one of its most active, featuring the dynamic Pointe-des-Galets port which was inaugurated in 1886. The architecture in this region attracts visitors from the grandiose buildings which house the headquarters of various navigation companies, to the old houses of employees and foremen of the former railway track to the typical African and colonial architecture of Rue Lepervanche that was the height of fashion at the end of the 19th century. There are often events organised at the exhibition centre, the Halle des Manifestations, as well as shows and concerts at the Kabardock. Other attractions include the quaysides of the old port and the insectarium.

Éperon

L'Éperon is situated on the West Coast of Réunion Island near Saint Gilles Les Bains and Saint Gilles Les Hauts. It is a very peaceful place where splendid views of the sea will leave you breathless. L'Éperon is well known for its craftsmanship and it is the ideal place to go if you are searching for souvenir gifts.

Cirque de Mafate

The Cirque de Mafate is situated in the highlands of Réunion Island at an altitude of 1,200 metres. It is well known for being a perfect spot for hiking as it has more than 140 kilometres of paths for those who wish to discover the green side of the island. The cirque can be reached by foot or by helicopter only, but there are several inhabited villages along the trails, each with mountain hostels and small stores to stock up on provisions. Most of the walks are fairly easy and villages are generally within two hours walk of each other. At the cirque de Mafate you can enjoy peace and tranquillity in its truest sense.

Les Makes

A small cirque in the south west of the island, Les Makes village is situated at an altitude of 1,000 metres. The peacefulness of this town where many services are available for villagers, attracts many tourists that are on tours or just passing by. While you are here, visit the Astronomy Observatory and enjoy the viewpoint over Cilaos.