Mafate: how to reach the isolated cirque (trails + drop-off)
Mafate: how to reach the isolated cirque (trails + drop-off)
Mafate is the only cirque in Réunion with no road. No car, no motorbike, no scooter. You enter only on foot (by trail), or by helicopter for resupply. The 800 inhabitants live in ten scattered hamlets (La Nouvelle, Marla, Aurère, Roche Plate, Îlet à Bourse, Cayenne, etc.) and all logistics rely on trails and chopper lifts. As a visitor, you must plan ahead: pick a trailhead, organise the VTC drop-off, book a lodge. Here''s how.
Table of contents
- Why Mafate has no road
- The 3 main entries
- VTC drop-off: where and when
- Choosing your destination hamlet
- Helicopter, the express mode
- FAQ
Why Mafate has no road
The cirque of Mafate is ringed by 1,000-2,500 m cliffs. No valley allows road construction. Several projects have been studied and abandoned (environmental impact, cost, geological instability). The cirque is UNESCO World Heritage since 2010 (Pitons, cirques and ramparts).
Direct consequence: to get in, you walk. Allow 1h30 (Aurère from Sans-Souci) to 5h (Roche Plate from Maïdo) depending on entry and destination hamlet.
👉 Book your Zoot drop-off in the app
The 3 main entries
| Entry | Side | Trail | Hamlets reached | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Col des Bœufs | Salazie east | Scout trail | La Nouvelle, Marla | Medium |
| Sans-Souci / Cayenne | Possession west | Cayenne trail | Aurère, Îlet à Malheur, Grand Place | Medium-hard |
| Le Maïdo | West top | Roche Plate trail | Roche Plate, Îlet des Orangers | Hard (dry descent) |
Secondary routes: Aurère via Dos d''Âne (via Rivière des Galets), Marla via Mafate-Marla from Saint-Paul (rarely used).
VTC drop-off: where and when
Trailhead drop-off is the key VTC service for Mafate. The driver takes you the night before or very early in the morning (5-6 am typically) to the trail car park, and on day-end of your hike picks you up at another trailhead.
Classic 3-day / 2-night case:
- Day 1 morning: VTC drops you at Col des Bœufs (paid guarded car park)
- Hike to La Nouvelle or Marla, night in lodge
- Day 2: hike between hamlets
- Day 3 end: exit via Sans-Souci or Maïdo, VTC picks you up
Benefits: no need to come back to your car, you make a logical traverse. The VTC is the simplest solution for this pattern, a rental car would force you back to the same trailhead.
Pricing: point-to-point fare per drop-off, or hourly hire if multiple complex pickups.
Choosing your destination hamlet
- La Nouvelle: most visited hamlet, 2 h from Col des Bœufs, several lodges, school, small shop. Good for first time.
- Marla: higher (1,600 m), less inhabited, end-of-the-world feel. 3 h from Col des Bœufs.
- Aurère: most accessible from Possession side (1h30 from Sans-Souci), great for a short weekend.
- Roche Plate: isolated, view onto Maïdo, start or end of the long traverse.
- Îlet à Bourse: small, quiet, intermediate stages.
- Grand Place: by the Rivière des Galets, ravine atmosphere.
Book a lodge before leaving (limited capacity, especially in dry season May-November).
Helicopter, the express mode
Several companies offer Mafate scenic flights (15-30 min) or transfers to hamlets for those who want to sleep in without hiking. Cost: high (several hundred euros per person for round-trip transfer). Combine with a VTC to reach the heliport (Saint-Pierre, Saint-Gilles, or secondary heliport depending on company).
👉 Book your Zoot driver in the app
Practical logistics
- Water: 2 L/day minimum, some lodges charge for shower and drinking water
- Cash: no card payment in hamlets, bring euros (lodge, meals, shop)
- Network: uneven 4G by hamlet, SFR/Orange best
- Headlamp: essential, no street lighting
- Shoes: trail or medium hiking, stony paths
FAQ
Can I enter Mafate by mountain bike or scooter?
No. Trails are narrow, steep and many have steps cut into the rock. No motorised vehicle allowed.
How long to cross Mafate?
The long traverse Col des Bœufs → Maïdo takes 3 to 5 days depending on pace and hamlets visited. Possible in 2 days if you push hard.
Is there Wi-Fi in the lodges?
Rare. A few lodges have a limited hotspot. Treat Mafate as a digital break.
Can I do Mafate in one day?
Yes for a short round trip (Aurère from Sans-Souci, Roche Plate from Maïdo). No overnight, but good landscape immersion. 6-8 h walking depending on the trail.
Best hamlet for kids?
Aurère (1h30 from Sans-Souci) or La Nouvelle (2 h from Col des Bœufs). Regular trails, family-friendly lodges, a small school for the local-life vibe.
Read also
Related articles
Zoot · La Réunion 974
Get the Zoot app
Book a verified local driver anywhere in Reunion Island. Upfront price, secure in-app payment. iPhone and Android.