Most of the 32 reported Reunion Island surf spots on the west coast break on fragmented barrier reefs, quite a distance from the beach.
This beautiful volcanic island is ideally placed to receive powerful and consistent Roaring Forties swells. Rain from the mountainous interior brings murky water – good habitat for the sharks that have made Réunion’s waters the most dangerous on the planet. Réunion is oft considered a one-wave island, rarely mentioned unless the boomerang bending lefts of St Leu are the topic of conversation. West Réunion is more like 3 separate wave zones, as the circular shape of the island offers variation on wind and swell direction. East of Saint-Pierre’s jetty rights and the short lefts of Grande-Anse and Manapany, sees the south coast start, named ‘La cote du Sud Sauvage’, mainly due to the constant swell and wind action, but also because of a major shift in the island’s geography. The coral reefs give way to lava flows and basalt rocks, backed by steep ravines leading up to the volcanic peaks that dominate the east coast, where rainfall is way higher than the west, and dense tropical vegetation cloaks the lower slopes. High precipitation inevitably creates murky water at the many rivermouths, which are the preferred restaurants of the large Réunion shark population. The NE coast from Sainte-Rose to Saint-Denis offers very little opportunity, despite being directly in the summer cyclone firing line and most locals will head to the NW coast for these rare swells.
When to Go
SW swells varying in size from 3-15ft can occur year-round, while the summer season is characterised by occasional NE tropical storms (about 10 per season). SE trades blow constantly with a more E-NE direction during the summer (Dec-Mar) and more S-SE during winter (June-Sept). The wind can also produce 2-6ft onshore windswell on the windward coast, and side/offshore on the SW coast. Tides are significant at shallow spots.
Surf Spots
Statistics |
J
|
F
|
M
|
A
|
M
|
J
|
J
|
A
|
S
|
O
|
N
|
D
|
dominant swell |
N -E |
S -SW |
S -SW |
S -SW |
S -SW |
N -E |
swell size (ft) |
4-5 |
5-6 |
6-7 |
7-8 |
6 |
3-4 |
consistency (%) |
70 |
80 |
90 |
90 |
80 |
60 |
dominant wind |
E -SE |
E -SE |
SE -E |
SE -E |
E -SE |
E -SE |
average force |
F4 |
F4 |
F4 |
F5 |
F4 |
F3 |
consistency (%) |
65 |
64 |
60 |
76 |
69 |
58 |
water temp (C) |
28 |
27 |
26 |
24 |
25 |
26 |
wetsuit |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
boardshorts |
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Travel Information
Weather
The high mountains mean the windward coast is very wet, with record humidity levels, while the W coast is rather dry. The cyclone season lasts from Dec-March with major destructive cyclones hitting every three years or so. May-June and Sept-Oct are usually the best weather months. Springsuits help with windchill when water bottoms out at 24ºC (75ºF) around August.
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Lodging and Food
St-Leu’s 3-star Paladien Apolonia is plush but a double room starts at $175/night. Directly across the street from the wave is DodoSpot; a double room there starts at $32/night. The Campix campground is open March to November. Guesthouses ($40/$60) slightly out of town. Spicy Creole cuisine costs $15 or even less from bars.
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Nature and Culture
Maïdo is a 2000m peak that has a breathtaking view over the W coast. Cirques like Mafate, Cilaos, and Salazie are great places for trekking and views. On the E side, Piton de la Fournaise is the second-most active volcano in the world.
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