Mauritius - St Gilles Les Bains

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The area around St-Gilles-les-Bains is Réunion’s premier beach holiday hangout. The island’s best beaches and seaside hotels are here. However, it must be said that even these beaches do not compare to those of Mauritius.

As you head north from St-Leu along the coast, you come to the largely residential area of La-Saline-les-Bains. There are decent beaches here, popular for snorkelling, surfing and windsurfing, and they tend to be less crowded than those in St-Gilles-les-Bains.

Continuing north, before you hit St-Gilles itself, you pass the turning to L’Hermitage – arguably the island’s prettiest beach. The beach is protected by a long lagoon; the water is clear, shallow and good for swimming.

The bustling town of St-Gilles is packed with restaurants, bars, pubs and trendy nightclubs. It is a playground for hip, young, French holidaymakers, who come to enjoy the sunshine, the sea and the busy nightlife. Many travellers find it too ‘commercialised’ and crowded; for others it is the ideal way to unwind after hiking in the mountains. You will not get an authentic taste of Réunion in St-Gilles. It is a town built by Europeans for Europeans, a fact captured by one of my Réunionnais friends in his description of it as a ghetto zoreilles (white people’s ghetto). Certainly, it does feel like a mini St-Tropez and traffic congestion is a real problem along this section of coast.

The harbour (Port de Plaisance) is also a lively place, where all manner of watersports can be arranged. This is where you’ll find the excellent Aquarium de la Réunion (see What to see in Western Réunion, page 327).

About 3km inland from St-Gilles-les-Bains, on the road to St-Gilles-les-Hauts, is the starting point for the walk to three waterfalls plunging into pools (bassins): Bassin du Cormoran, Bassin des Aigrettes and Bassin Bleu. It takes about two hours and Bassins des Aigrettes and Bleu are ideal for a quick dip. You will have to take your shoes off and get your feet wet on parts of the walk, and you will need mosquito repellent.

Also on the road to St-Gilles-les-Hauts is the Village Artisanal de l’Eperon, where handicrafts and art produced by local artisans are on sale. The products include miniature Creole houses, leather goods and clothes; there are restaurants on site.

GETTING THERE AND AWAY All the towns along the west coast, including St-Gilles-les-Bains, are easily reached on the non-express St-Denis–St-Pierre buses (Lines B and C).

TOURIST INFORMATION There is a well-stocked tourist office (% 0810 797797; f 0262 550102; e info[at]saintpaul-lareunion.com; saintpaul-lareunion.com; ( 10.00–13.00 & 14.00–18.00 daily, including public holidays) at 1 Place Paul Julius Bénard, Galerie Amandine, St-Gilles-les-Bains. They can also make bookings for accommodation and activities.

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Mauritius - St Gilles Les Bains

Mauritius - St Gilles Les Bains

Western Reunion

Mauritius - St Gilles Les Bains