Mauritius and Reunion 16th March - 3rd April 2026

 

Monday 16th March

Overnight at The North Terminal Premier Inn at Gatwick. Julie down from Wellingborough and Ron flying in from Cyprus.

Tuesday 17th March

Left hotel about midday then to the airport for our overnignt BA flight direct to Mauritius. Spent a couple of hours in the lounge to kill some time.

Wednesday 18th March

Arrived about mid-morning and picked up a hire car. Bit difficult navigating to our hotel as Julie's gps kept dropping out but eventually found it. Checked in to the adult only Solana Beach Hotel. Few teething problems as none of our electric adaptors fit. Club sandwich for dinner from room service but Ron had to go and collect it from the restaurant.

The Solana Beach Hotel sign	The entrance
The swimming pool area...	...and patio
Our room on the top floor...	...and view from our balcony

Thursday 19th March

Good buffet breakfast at the Cinnamone restaurant. Had a quiet day, sunbathing, swimming, Julie snorkeling etc. Booked dinner at the Coco Bar restaurant as special lobster evening so Julie had lobster and Ron had roast lamb from the Pomelo restaurant.

Ron relaxing	Us
Lobster dinner for Julie	Ron's roast lamb
Evening entertainment	Spice Finch

Friday 20th March

After breakfast we drove to Labourdonnais rum distillery and gardens. Lovely walk around the gardens and rum tasting. Back at the hotel we spent a couple of hours on the beach, both swam and Julie snorkelled. Dinner at the Emporer Chinese restaurant, Ron had sweet and sour pork  and Julie beef stir fry.

Looking for birds	Exotic plants and trees
Ron	Aldabra giant Tortoises
The rums...	...and tasting
Emporer Chinese restaurant	ditto

 

 

Saturday 21st March

After breakfast drove to Bras D'Eau visitor centre where there were some giant tortoises. Did some of the nature trail but Ron's knee not so good so cut it short. Very rough underfoot so quite difficult walking. Dinner at the hotel buffet in Cinnamone Restaurant.

Tortoises at the visitor centre	The trail
Yellow-fronted Canary	Red Fody
Barred Ground dove	Mauritian Turtle Dove
Eursaian Curlew	Whimbrel

Sunday 22nd March

Drove back to the airport by more of a main route and returned car. Flight to Reunion, picked up rental car and drove to the Lux Hotel. As we walked in to reception, there was the lovely Julie who we had got on well with the previous year. She brought us refreshments and then personally showed us to our room, which turned out to be next to the one we had the previous year. Drove to des Trois Bassin to see if the truck was there for some lunch and beers but it was not there. Looked around and eventually found Le Santa Cruz cafe which was a rough place next to some sports fields and a skate-board park. Turned our great to watch the kids on the skate-boards and small scooters. Had a beer and shared a burger. This place turned out to be our beer stop every day. Hour on the beach to watch the sunset. Julie had sent a bottle of fizz for us so we drank that on the balcony. Dinner at Le Plage in the hotel. Julie had Maigret de Canard and Ron a burger.

The hotel sign...	...and entrance
Sunset	Balcony birds

Monday 23rd March

Beach in the morning then shopped at Leader Price. Dinner at La Vanangue restaurant, table 5 of course. Ron had a burger and Julie Maigret de Canard.

Restaurant entrance	Ron enjoying a beer

Tuesday 24th March

Drove down the coast through Saint Pierre and Saint Joseph (where we got lost again, exactly the same as the previous year!) then as far as we could go before the road was closed due to the erupting volcano. We could see the steam and gasses in the distance. Also the old lava field from when it erupted in 2007. Stopped a little further back and had a nice walk down a track called 'Depart Randonnee Plage du Tremblet' to the sea. Strange fish on the rocks and lots of white-tailed Tropicbirds. Then to Jardin des Parfums, where we had a nice walk around the gardens and Julie was pleased to see the Paradise Flycatcher. Lots of mosquitos. Beers at Le Santa Cruz and dinner at Vert tu Oses, both had Maigret de Canard.

Erupting volcano in the background	Previous lava from eruption in 2007
Rugged coastline	Rockhopper Fish
White-tailed Tropicbird	and two flying
Paradise Flycatcher
	Pink Anthurium
	Red Heliconia
Ron at Vert tu Oses	Common Myna

Wednesday 25th March

Drive to Cilaos up the 400 bend road, mainly hairpins too. Got stuck for an hour while repairs were done to the rockface. Nice walk around the town. Had a beer at the Le Magnolia cafe on the corner, then drove to La Roche Merveilleuse picnic site. Walked to the view point which overlooked the town, then had a wander around and photographed the various stages of the Longose flower. Dinner at the hotel buffet.

Waiting for road repairs	Lovely scenery
Cilaos main street	View of the church
At Le Magnolia Cafe	Our beers
View over Cilaos	One of the single-track tunnels
Longose flower stages - first	Opening up
The flower	gone over

Thursday 26th March

Popped into town and shopped at Carrefour. Slight problem getting out of the carpark as barrier closed on us so had to get help. A couple of hours on the beach then Rum workshop in the afternoon. Dinner at Cantina America, strange place with an American theme but rather overdone. Burgers for dinner which were with orange buns.

Our rum	The participants
Red-whiskered Bulbul	Sunset from our balcony
Dinner	The bar
Fancy decorations	Cantina America

 

Friday 27th March

Our 22nd wedding anniversary. Drove down to Saint Pierre then up to the volcano - Piton de la Fournaise. The final bit of road had got very rough and almost impassable after the cyclone damage. Parked at the end and had a short walk. The track down to the volcano was closed due to the volcano erupting. Beers at Le Santa Cruz as usual on the way back. Julie had left another bottle of fizz for us which we drank on the balcony. Dinner at La Plage, Julie had Legine and Ron chicken. Rum and cokes later on the balcony.

The volcano with clouds blowing up	View of Formica Leo
Rough road	Our bed
Anniversary fizz	Us at dinner

Saturday 28th March

Quiet day, morning on the beach. Julie went for a 6km walk along the track next to the beach. Beers at Le Santa Cruz. Dinner La Varangue, both Legine.

Le Santa Cruz Bar	the back
Skateboard and scooter park	Village Weaver

Sunday 29th March

Drive to Maido. Another windy road and we ended up in the clouds but got an occasional good spectacular view. Lots of people about picnicing, walking and hiking. Dinner at Le Santa Cruz, Julie Cordon Bleu wrap and Ron a bacon burger.

Swirling clouds	Not much to see
Spectacular views...	...more

Monday 30th March

Drive to Bassin Boeuf waterfalls. Short walk around, very pleasant. Then to Salazie and Hell-bourg villages. Walked around the latter which was supposed to be the prettiest village on Reunion. Raining on and off. Lots of very large spiders. Back via the rummery but they were not doing tours. Another bottle of fizz and then dinner La Varangue, Julie Legine and Ron lamb.

The waterfall	Looking upstream
On the road near Salazie	The waterfalls
Hell-bourg main street	Shops
Yellow Iris flower	Giant spider

Tuesday 31st March

Lazy day, beach in the morning. Julie went off for a walk to get some photos of the weaver birds. Walked to Le Santa Cruz for a beer and a half. Dinner at the buffet at La Cuisine in the hotel.

Red-billed Weavers...	...and all the babies demanding food

Wednesday 1st April

Early breakfast then drove to the airport for flight back to Mauritius. Long wait for our BA flight back to Gatwick but met interesting man, Mauritio, who helped us pass the time by chatting about his olive oil business etc. Long overnight flight.

Thursday 2nd April

Overnight at the North Premier Inn then back to Cyprus on the Friday.