Etang-Salé les Hauts

Etang-Salé les Hauts brings together three distinct attractions: the large forest and its history, the volcanic sand beach, and a circular route between Les Bains and Le Gouffre. The landscape, local history and a route with a specific distance give you different starting points for planning your trip. The forest area, beach length and route length each describe a different experience. This lets you appreciate the coast, forest and route as distinct parts of the destination.

Forest history and landscape

The forest of L’Étang-Salé was artificially established in 1870 and covers 922 hectares. Its origins also make it part of the area’s history. If you are interested in designed landscapes, you can consider this background alongside the area’s coastal attractions. With its large area, the forest is an attraction in its own right. It offers a different way to experience the destination than the coast or a named circular route: here, the focus is on how a landscape was created. This may be particularly interesting if you would like to discover not only natural attractions during your trip, but also their history.

A circular route between two places

A 2.5-kilometre circular route runs between the village of Les Bains and Le Gouffre. Les Bains and Le Gouffre provide specific reference points, while the term circular route describes its shape. You can consider it as a standalone excursion when planning your trip and distinguish it from a stay focused mainly on forest history or coastal scenery. Check local conditions before setting out. The route thus adds a specific walking option to your trip planning without needing to be equated with the area’s other landscape attractions.

A historical connection at Bassin Pirogue

Around 1870, a small fishing harbour developed beside Bassin Pirogue. The forest and the harbour represent different developments from the same period: the forest was artificially established in 1870, while the small harbour developed beside the Bassin around that time. These are two distinct points of interest for anyone interested in local history. The forest is about the development of a large area, while the fishing harbour offers a historical connection to a specific place. The history of Bassin Pirogue thus adds another theme to the landscape perspective.

Volcanic sand and casuarina trees on the coast

The beach at L’Étang-Salé consists of volcanic sand, stretches for 1.5 kilometres and is lined with casuarina trees. Its material, length and tree-lined shore shape this particular coastal scene. The beach and the 2.5-kilometre circular route offer different experiences of space: a coastline and a loop between named places. If coastal scenery is the focus of your holiday, volcanic sand and casuarina trees are the defining features of this attraction. This makes the beach clearly distinct from the forest’s history and the historical connection at Bassin Pirogue.

Plan your stay around your interests

When planning your holiday, you can give these themes different priorities according to your interests. Is coastal scenery your main focus, are you drawn to the history of the artificially established forest, or would you like to include the circular route as a standalone excursion? You can discuss this question with your fellow travellers, as each theme offers a different way to experience the area. If you are looking for a holiday rental in Etang-Salé les Hauts, you can start by asking which of these aspects matters most for your trip.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Philippe, Cilaos, Les Avirons, Casabona, Saint-Joseph, Entre-Deux, Le Tampon, Manapany-Les-Bains

Return to the main travel overview: Saint Pierre.