Introduction to Reunion Island

I took this straight from the website “Introducing Reunion Island”

Not as well-known as nearby Mauritius or the not-so-far-away British Seychelles, little Reunion seems but a speck in the vast ocean, dwarfed by Madagascar, located 500 miles to the west. The French know the island well but only the very well-traveled have ever stepped foot on Reunion's varied and enticing terrain.

With an active volcano on its south coast, 17 miles of warm, welcoming beaches in the west, and lots of mountains and forests in between, Reunion Island offers vacation opportunities ranging from relaxing to truly insane. If you're looking for a place to "chill out", you'll find it here. But if you're the kind of vacationer who prefers an adrenaline rush over a sunburn, the possibilities are endless. From hiking Reunion's unique "cirques" or canyoning the island's many waterfalls to scuba diving or surfing in the clear waters that surround this tiny 30-mile-wide island, adventure activities abound for vacationers hoping to do something a little daring while on their Reunion holiday.

The cirques :

As a volcanic island, the topography of Reunion Island is unique and craggy, with the island’s most enticing natural formations being its three cirques, formed as the inside of Piton des Neiges - the volcano that gave birth to Reunion Island - and further shaped by centuries of erosion.
Most often referred to as natural amphitheaters, these cirques – Salazie, Cilaos, and Mafate – are all a bit different, each attracting travellers that are looking for a true adventure. Some come here for the incredible canyoning excursions. Others want to hike the hundreds of kilometers of trails that traverse the cirques. Some spend their holiday in Reunion mountain biking while others choose a more relaxing trek with stops along the way to explore the cirque’s enticing mountain villages.
No matter which cirque you visit and what activity you choose, you’ll be treated to breathtaking scenery, friendly locals, and world-class adventure…all wrapped up into one magnificent little island.

There are two volcanoes : Piton de la Fournaise and Piton des Neiges ;

1) Situated in the southeast corner of Reunion Island, Piton de la Fournaise is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Erupting for the first time about 50,000 years ago, records note that this basaltic shield volcano has erupted nearly 180 times since such eruptions were first recorded in 1640. The most recent occurred in 2004.

Piton de la Fournaise (Furnace Peak) stretches to about 2,631 meters in height and, since 1980, has been consistently monitored by volcano experts including scientists and government surveillance facilities, just in case an evacuation of residents and guests is required.
The 700,000 residents of Reunion Island have learned to deal with life in the lava path of an active volcano. As a matter of fact, many locals earn money offering guided walking tours and rides to Piton de la Fournaise and the volcano is undoubtedly Reunion’s most popular tourist attraction. Few leave the island without a close-up look at Furnace Peak.
It’s actually quite easy to walk to the top of the mountain and courageous guests can even camp near the rim of the volcano. A helicopter tour is also an awe-inspiring way to experience this amazing sight and such tours are readily available for those who fancy a ride over this bubbling cauldron. In reality, however, the view from down below is the most spectacular. Piton de la Fournaise spews orange and yellow lava day and night, with the evening pyrotechnics topping any first-class fireworks display you’ve ever experienced.

2) The highest point on the island of Reunion, Piton des Neiges soars to 3,070 meters. The most dominant geological feature on the island, located in the north central region of Reunion, Piton des Neiges may be an old, eroded volcano but it’s also a favorite destination of hikers who come from all around the world to explore the area.

Piton des Neiges occupies much of the northwestern two-thirds of the island. Unlike the island’s other famous volcano, this one has been inactive for approximately 20,000 years. Its name translates as “Snow Peak”, but you certainly won’t be doing any skiing here. You will, however, often find a little bit of snow dusting the top of the mountain as you look towards Reunion’s blue sky.
The road to the summit is described as a “walk-up”, not a particularly difficult climb for healthy individuals. Many additional hiking trails surround the area, appropriate for a variety of skill levels. Avid climbers also flock to this area for a little adventure with the best months for climbing being May through November, when the weather is dry.
Visitors will find a biological reserve on the lower slopes of the Piton des Neiges. A stop here will allow guests to learn about many of the 200+ varieties of plants and the many species of animals that are found on this volcanic island. One of four on the island, this reserve was set up about 40 years ago because residents of the island and the government of France were both quite concerned about preserving Reunion Island’s unique biome.

The Wildlife : Reunion Island is a bird-watchers paradise the many birding aficionados head the island simply for the purpose of discovering how many species of winged creatures they can spot here.

There’s nothing terribly unusual about the fauna of Reunion Island. Throughout the centuries, a number of animals were introduced to the forests of the island, such as deer and rabbit. However, if you’re looking for something a bit more exotic or unusual, you may be able to spot a brown maki lemur (from Madagascar), a few varieties of bats, a number of rats, and the nearly extinct Pteropus Edwardsii, a flying fox. Marine mammals may include a few different species of whales