Discover Cilaos: La Chapelle, trails and thermal bath history

Cilaos can be discovered through distinctive landscapes and trails of very different kinds: large basalt blocks shape the rock formation called “La Chapelle” along the Bras Rouge River, while Roche Merveilleuse offers sweeping panoramic views. Hiking and cycling routes also vary in length. If you’re looking for a holiday rental in Cilaos, use your planned holiday days as a guide: would you like to focus on a longer hike, or would one of the shorter cycling routes fit better into your day? The history of the thermal baths adds another facet to the place.

Rock formations and panoramic views

Large basalt blocks form a natural rock formation along the Bras Rouge River, known as “La Chapelle.” Its name gives this landscape a distinctive landmark. Roche Merveilleuse offers another perspective: from there, the panorama stretches across the Cirque de Cilaos, the high-altitude forest of “bois de couleur,” and the Petit Matarum nature reserve. This gives you two different natural sights to choose from—the rock formation by the river and sweeping views across several named landscape features.

Compare hiking and cycling by time required

The hiking trail branches off: turn right for La Chapelle, or continue straight on to Ilet à Cordes. The round trip is estimated to take five to six hours. If you’re travelling with children, this time estimate can help you plan your day together. Compared with the stated cycling times, the hike takes considerably longer. The Cascade de Bras Rouge lies in the gorge of the Bras Rouge River; at the end of a hiking trail described as relatively easy, it can be seen from above. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

The cycling routes can also be compared by distance and time. The marked route to Îlet à Cordes is 13 km long and climbs 980 m; the cycling time from Cilaos is given as around an hour and a half. The marked cycling route at Îlet à Calebasse in Cilaos is 5.3 km long. Its cycling time from Route de Cilaos is given as around 45 minutes. That makes the stated time for Îlet à Calebasse roughly half the cycling time to Îlet à Cordes. The two marked routes can therefore be compared by distance and time; the 980 m of elevation gain is an additional point of comparison for the route to Îlet à Cordes. Published route details may change; check the latest information in advance.

The history of Cilaos’s thermal baths

The history of the thermal baths adds a historical perspective to the natural scenery. The first spa guests in Cilaos are recorded in 1835, and the first simple thermal bath facility was built in 1839. A cyclone almost completely destroyed the thermal baths of Cilaos in 1948. Two years later, they were rebuilt on the foundations of the older buildings.

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