What to pack for a trip to La Réunion?
Most visitors to La Réunion land expecting a beach holiday and leave wondering why nobody warned them about the altitude, the mud, or the volcano trail closing without notice.
In short, what catches you out here
- Trails in Mafate and on Piton de la Fournaise turn muddy and slippery even in dry season; uneven volcanic scree causes ankle injuries and exhaustion on steep descents.
- Sudden torrential downpours hit the windward coast and mountain areas with almost no warning, soaking bags and ruining electronics within minutes.
- UV index regularly reaches 11–12 at sea level; long queues in the open sea or snorkelling sessions cause severe sunburn faster than visitors expect.
Why this list?
The island packs at least three distinct climates into a two-hour drive: the coast can be 30 °C and sunny while the Fournaise crater car park sits in cold fog at 2200 m. The cirque of Mafate has no road — you walk in or take a helicopter — and the handful of mountain guesthouses fill up weeks in advance. Sundays bring a near-total commercial shutdown, and mobile signal disappears precisely where you need navigation most. Getting around without a pre-booked rental car is genuinely difficult. The list below focuses on what experienced travellers wish they had packed: the fleece buried at the bottom of the bag, the offline map downloaded the night before, and the gîte reservation made before even buying the flight.
✔To do before you leave
Your countdown: every action at the right time, from furthest ahead to departure day.
- Mafate has no road access and the handful of gîtes fill up weeks ahead; without a reservation there is literally nowhere to sleep in the cirque.
- Without a car you cannot visit the cirques, the volcano or most beaches; local agencies sell out fast during school holidays and options narrow sharply on arrival.
- Thefts from rental cars at trailhead parking lots are frequently reported; most insurance policies require prior declaration of electronics to be covered.
- The volcano erupts several times a year and the crater trail closes without notice; no mobile signal on the approach road makes last-minute online checks impossible.
- Most supermarkets and many restaurants close early or entirely on Sunday; visitors caught inland without provisions on a Sunday have very few options.
✔The essentials
Without these, the trip is compromised. Don't forget them.
- Gîtes in Mafate have no road access and power cuts are frequent; a headtorch is also essential for the pre-dawn departure to reach the crater rim at sunrise.
- Mafate and Fournaise trails turn muddy and slippery even in dry season; trail shoes with no ankle support lead to twisted ankles on volcanic scree.
- Dengue and chikungunya are endemic; mosquitoes are particularly aggressive at dawn and dusk in coastal and forested low-altitude zones and most visitors are caught off guard.
- A rental car is essential to get around the island; UK visitors need their photocard licence and some local agencies also ask for an international driving permit.
- UK three-pin plugs are incompatible with French type-E sockets used throughout the island; adapters are hard to find cheaply once you arrive.
✔Nice-to-haves
Not vital, but noticeably more comfortable with them.
- Water sources in Mafate are not always treated and carrying enough bottled water for several days is impractical given the weight hikers already carry.
- Mobile signal disappears precisely in the mountain and lava field areas where navigation is most needed; Google Maps without offline data leaves you stranded on unmarked tracks.
- Multi-day hikes in the cirques mean no charging for 2–3 days; a flat phone in Mafate means no emergency contact and no trail navigation.
- Steep descents on uneven lava fields put enormous strain on knees; most hikers regret not having poles on the Fournaise crater trail.
- Equipment hire on the beach is rare and expensive; the coral gardens off Saint-Gilles are best explored with your own mask rather than queuing for mediocre rental gear.
- Multi-day trekking on volcanic rock causes blisters very quickly and pharmacies are scarce or closed on Sundays in most inland communes.
- Roadside rougail stands, gîtes in Mafate and rural market stalls are often cash-only; ATMs are scarce in the interior and may be out of service.
✔Weather & season
Adjust to the time of year and forecast for your trip.
- Visitors who drove up from a 30 °C beach to the Fournaise car park at 2200 m find temperatures as low as 5–8 °C and suffer badly in a T-shirt.
- UV index regularly hits 11–12 at sea level and snorkelling sessions over coral cause severe burns; standard sunscreens also damage protected marine areas around the island.
- Torrential rainfall arrives with almost no warning; electronics and documents stored in an unlined backpack are regularly destroyed on the windward coast or during canyon descents.
- Sudden downpours on the windward coast soak a backpack in minutes; an umbrella is useless in gusts and ruins electronics stored in an unlined bag.
✔ My own items
Create an account to save your lists and find them on all your devices.
- Every checklist you generate, kept and available anytime
- On your phone as well as your computer
- Your ticks picked up right where you left them
✔ Good to know
- Check your passport and entry documents well before departure: La Réunion is a French overseas department but sits outside the Schengen Area, so a Schengen visa for mainland France is not valid here. EU citizens may enter with a national ID card; most other nationalities need a valid passport — ideally with at least 3 months' validity beyond your planned departure date. Make sure you also have a return or onward ticket ready, as it is commonly requested at the border. source
- Budget in euros: La Réunion uses the euro (€), and payment infrastructure is modern and similar to mainland France. Cards (Visa, Mastercard) and contactless payments work well in towns, hotels, and supermarkets — but carry some cash for markets, small local restaurants, or mountain trailhead snack stands where card minimums or no connectivity can be an issue. ATMs are plentiful in cities but thinner in the highland areas (les Hauts). source
- Pack a Type E (French-style) plug adapter if your devices use a different plug format: La Réunion uses the same Type C/E sockets as mainland France at 220–230 V / 50 Hz. Travellers from the US, UK, or countries with Type A/B or Type G plugs will need an adapter to charge their devices. source
- Protect yourself against mosquito-borne illness: La Réunion has experienced chikungunya outbreaks (including an active one since mid-2024), and dengue is also present. Pack a good DEET-based insect repellent and light, long-sleeved layers for evenings — this is more practical than trying to buy repellent on arrival. source
- High-SPF sunscreen and a refillable water bottle are essentials: the tropical UV index is intense even on overcast days, and the island tap water is generally safe to drink (though exercise extra caution just after a cyclone, when supplies can be temporarily affected). Bottled water is also widely available. source
- Plan for a rental car to get around: public transport covers the main towns but does not reach most trailheads, scenic viewpoints, or highland villages. Driving is on the right (same rules as mainland France). Book in advance — especially in peak season — and check that your bank card can cover the security deposit hold that most rental companies place on arrival. source
- Selfie stick / tripod — These are often flagged at nature-reserve and viewpoint access points; a compact camera or phone mount tends to work just as well without the hassle.
- High heels or rigid-soled dress shoes — Much of the island's appeal is its volcanic trails and lava fields — grippy hiking shoes or sturdy sandals will serve you far better on uneven terrain.
- Large rolling suitcase — Mountain gîtes and trailhead car parks often have no storage; a medium backpack or soft bag that fits in a small car boot is much more practical for exploring the Hauts.
- American Express card (as your only card) — Amex is less widely accepted on the island than Visa or Mastercard — it's worth having a backup card to avoid being caught out.
✔ Frequently asked questions
Is tap water safe to drink in La Réunion?
Tap water in urban areas and coastal towns is generally treated and considered safe to drink. In mountain gîtes and remote areas, water sometimes comes from a cistern or spring and may not be treated — it is worth asking the gîte owner before drinking it. Carrying purification tablets is a sensible precaution on multi-day hikes in Mafate or Cilaos.
How do you get around La Réunion without a car?
There is a bus network (Car Jaune) connecting the main coastal towns, but frequencies are low, service is very limited on Sundays, and the network does not reach most hiking trailheads or the volcano. A rental car is the practical choice for almost any itinerary — book well in advance, especially during French school-holiday periods. Taxis are available but expensive for long distances.
What should I pack differently depending on when I visit La Réunion?
The wet season runs roughly from November to April, bringing cyclone risk, heavy rain on the windward coast and potential road flooding — a quality rain poncho and waterproof dry bag become essential. The dry season from May to October is more stable but still sees sudden showers at altitude. Year-round, plan for a 15–20 °C temperature difference between the coast and the Fournaise crater, so a warm mid-layer is always relevant regardless of when you travel.
Can you visit the Piton de la Fournaise crater when it is erupting?
When the volcano is in eruption the access road and crater trails are closed and off-limits. Eruptions can begin or end with very little notice, and there is no mobile signal on much of the approach road. Check the bulletin from the Observatoire Volcanologique du Piton de la Fournaise the day before your planned hike and again on the morning itself; driving two hours only to find the gate closed is one of the most common frustrations reported by visitors.
Is it safe to swim on all beaches in La Réunion?
Several beaches on the west and south coasts have faced shark-related incidents in recent years, and swimming outside lagoon and netted zones is strongly discouraged in many areas. Look for the official flag system at each beach: a green flag generally indicates a supervised and protected zone, while other colours advise against entering the water. Always check local signage and swim inside lagoon markers where they are present.