When we think about the perfect escape from reality, our imagination usually conjures up a standard set: the Maldives with their “postcard-perfect” bungalows, bustling Bali, or, at worst, the familiar beaches of Turkey. But there’s a spot on the map that shatters all stereotypes about exotic vacations. Imagine a place where tropical jungles meet French bakeries, and an active volcano neighbors excellent highways. This is Réunion – a fragment of Europe, abandoned by fate in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean.
Today, when the world has become both smaller and more complicated for travel, the search for unique destinations turns into a real challenge. For Ukrainians and residents of European countries, Réunion is not just a dot on the map, but an opportunity to find themselves in absolute exoticism without leaving the comfort zone of Western civilization. Let’s find out what this island is and why it deserves a place on your wish list.
France with a hint of vanilla and lava
The first thing that is confusing upon arrival is a sense of déjà vu. You get off the plane after an exhausting 11-hour flight from Paris, expecting to see wild tribes or the chaos of Asian megacities, but you end up… in France. Only very hot and green.
Réunion is an overseas department of France. This means that the same laws, the same currency (euro), and the same standards of living apply here as in Marseille or Lyon. There are excellent roads, quality medicine, and, importantly in these turbulent times, a European level of security.
For the modern Ukrainian tourist, accustomed to European service but craving tropical adventures, this is the perfect compromise. You don’t need to exchange money for a local currency with a million zeros, you don’t need to worry about the quality of drinking water or look for adapters for sockets. You are in the European Union, but lychees and mangoes grow around you, and the air smells of the ocean and spices.
Volcanic character: Piton de la Fournaise
If you flew here just to lie like a “seal” on the beach, you made a mistake. Réunion is an island for those who can’t sit still. The main star here is the Piton de la Fournaise volcano. This is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, and it doesn’t hesitate to remind you of itself with regular eruptions.
But don’t be afraid: the locals have learned to live with this fiery neighbor in peace. The volcano is under constant observation, and its activity is predictable. Climbing to the crater is a must-do. The landscapes here are Martian: black frozen lava, reddish earth, and absolute silence, broken only by the wind. This is the kind of experience that makes you feel like a tiny grain of sand before the power of nature.
Cirques where clowns don’t perform
Réunion’s geography is unique – in the center of the island are three giant calderas, which are called “cirques” here: Cilaos, Salazie and Mafate. These are huge amphitheaters formed by the destruction of an ancient volcano.
- Salazie is the greenest and most accessible of all. This is the kingdom of waterfalls. The most famous of them, “Voile de la Mariée” (Bridal Veil), looks exactly as it sounds – thin streams of water falling from a great height, resembling a veil.
- Cilaos is famous for its thermal springs, vineyards and lentils (yes, local lentils are a brand!). The famous “road of 400 turns” leads here, which in itself is an adventure and a test for the vestibular apparatus.
- Mafate is a place for the chosen few. It is impossible to get here by car. Only on foot along mountain trails or by helicopter. People live inside the cirque, schools operate, there is a post office, but life here flows at a completely different rhythm, detached from the bustle of the rest of the world.
Cultural mix: from croissants to curry
Réunion is a real melting pot. Historically, descendants of French colonizers, African slaves, Indian workers and Chinese merchants mixed here. This mix created a unique Creole culture, which is most vividly manifested in cuisine.
Breakfast on the island can start with a classic French baguette and coffee, and lunch can smoothly flow into a tasting of “cari” (a local version of curry) with fish or chicken, generously seasoned with turmeric and ginger. Don’t forget about rum! Local rum, especially infused with fruits and herbs (rhum arrangé), is not just a drink, but a part of the cultural code.
Realities of today: how to get there and what to prepare for
In the current environment, travel requires thoughtful planning. For citizens of Ukraine, a visa-free regime applies for short-term trips to the Schengen area, but Réunion, being an overseas territory, has its own nuances. Most often, a visa is not required if you have a biometric passport, but it is always best to double-check the latest information at the French Embassy.
Getting there is easy, but quite tiring. There are, of course, no direct flights from Kyiv or Warsaw. The main hub is Paris. Wide-body airliners of Air France, Corsair or Air Austral airlines depart daily from Orly or Charles de Gaulle airports. The flight lasts about 11 hours, but, fortunately, these are often night flights: you sit down in the evening, wake up in the morning already in the tropics.
Why is it worth flying right now? Europe is now overcrowded with tourists. Barcelona, Rome, Athens are suffocating from the influx of guests. Réunion remains a place for “insiders”, for those who are looking for depth and nature, and not just selfies against the background of attractions. There are no crowds, no intrusive souvenir sellers at every step. This is Europe, which has managed to preserve a natural, living soul!
Who is this island suitable for?
Réunion is not for lovers of “all inclusive” and many hours of lying by the pool with a cocktail (although this is also possible). This is an island for active romantics.
- For trekking enthusiasts: hundreds of kilometers of marked trails of any difficulty.
- For ocean fans: diving, surfing (with caution due to sharks, you can swim only in protected lagoons!), whale watching in season (from June to October).
- For gourmets: unique Creole cuisine that you won’t find anywhere else.
Réunion is a place that reboots you. Here, standing on the edge of a crater or under the spray of a waterfall in the jungle, you understand how wonderfully our world is arranged. And even if it’s a long flight here, the feeling that you have found your own personal piece of paradise at the end of the world is worth every minute spent on the road.
