Essential Guide to Réunion - Private drivers and island tours:

Navigate Your Journey with Confidence and Style

Cefalù

La Réunion is a French island in the Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. It’s famous for its active volcano, jaw‑dropping cirques, and a vibrant mix of African, Asian, and European cultures.

Explore shuttles, airport transfers, private drivers, boat trips, tours & sightseeing - Featured partners:

Getting Around La Réunion

Transport, Shuttles, and Practical Travel Tips

La Réunion is a dramatic volcanic island in the Indian Ocean — raw, mountainous, and unlike anywhere else in France. In a single trip, travellers can move between lava fields, lush cirques, waterfalls, Creole villages, and one of the world’s most active volcanoes.

This guide explains how transport works in La Réunion — buses, car hire, helicopters, private transfers, and airport access — with realistic travel times, costs, and context for exploring both the coastline and the island’s wild interior.

Transport Options in La Réunion

Car Hire (Highly Recommended)

For most visitors, renting a car is essential.

• The best way to access mountain cirques and viewpoints
• Required for early starts (hiking, volcano visits)
• Gives flexibility for coastal drives and remote villages

Typical cost:
€25–70 per day

Roads are generally excellent, but expect steep climbs, hairpin bends, and slower travel times in the interior.

Buses in La Réunion

Public buses connect coastal towns but are limited for tourists.

• Operated by regional networks (e.g. Car Jaune for longer routes)
• Reliable along the coast
• Limited service into the mountains and cirques

Typical cost:
€2–10

Useful for budget travel between towns, but not practical for exploring highlights like Cirque de Mafate or Piton de la Fournaise.

Helicopters & Scenic Flights

A unique feature of La Réunion.

• Scenic flights over volcanoes and cirques
• Only way to see some remote landscapes from above
• Essential access for parts of Mafate (no roads)

Typical cost:
€200–350 per person (tour flights)

Popular routes include aerial views of:
• Cirque de Cilaos
• Cirque de Salazie
• Piton des Neiges

Private Drivers & Transfers

Available but less common than in Europe.

• Useful for airport transfers
• Good option if you prefer not to drive mountain roads
• Can be arranged through hotels

Typical cost:
€80–180 depending on distance

Taxis & Ride Services

• Available in main towns such as Saint-Denis and Saint-Pierre
• Limited availability in rural areas
• No widespread ride-sharing apps like Uber

Best used for short distances or airport trips.

Domestic Flights

La Réunion is small — no domestic flights are needed.
Helicopters effectively replace internal air travel.

Ferries

There are no inter-island ferries within La Réunion itself.
Boat trips are mainly for coastal excursions (whale watching, lagoons).

Airports

Main airport:

• Roland Garros Airport (north, near Saint-Denis)

Secondary airport:

• Pierrefonds Airport (south, limited flights)

Connections mainly to:
• Paris
• Mauritius
• Madagascar

Airport → City Centre:
15–20 minutes | €20–30 by taxi

Getting Around La Réunion’s Main Areas

Saint-Denis & North Coast

Administrative and cultural centre.

• Walkable centre
• Good bus connections
• Easy airport access

Nearby highlights:
• Saint-Denis
• Coastal drives դեպի the north

West Coast (Beaches & Lagoons)

The island’s main resort area.

Centred around:
• Saint-Gilles-les-Bains

• Best beaches and swimming lagoons
• Good road access
• Base for snorkelling and sunsets

Cirque de Cilaos (Interior)

Mountain scenery and thermal village.

• Access via winding road (400+ bends)
• Car essential
• Cooler climate

• Cirque de Cilaos

Cirque de Salazie (Interior)

Lush, green, and easier to reach.

• Waterfalls and Creole villages
• Accessible by road
• Ideal day trip from Saint-Denis

• Cirque de Salazie

Cirque de Mafate (Remote Interior)

The most isolated part of the island.

• No road access
• Reachable only by hiking or helicopter
• Traditional villages and trails

• Cirque de Mafate

South & Volcano Region

Wild, raw, and less developed.

Key highlight:
• Piton de la Fournaise

Nearest base:
• Saint-Pierre

Car required for access to the volcano road.

Popular Routes: Travel Times & Costs

Saint-Denis → Saint-Gilles-les-Bains
• Car: ~45 minutes
• Bus: ~1–1.5 hours

Saint-Denis → Cirque de Salazie
• Car: ~1–1.5 hours

Saint-Pierre → Piton de la Fournaise
• Car: ~2 hours

Saint-Denis → Cilaos
• Car: ~2.5–3 hours (slow mountain road)

Helicopter tours (cirques + volcano):
• ~45–60 minutes | €250–350

Inland La Réunion: Volcanic Landscapes & Creole Culture

Beyond the beaches, La Réunion is defined by its volcanic interior.

Highlights include:
• Piton des Neiges
• Remote cirques carved by ancient eruptions
• Creole villages and mountain agriculture
• Hiking trails among the best in the world

A car — combined with hiking — is the best way to experience these regions.

Top Places to Visit in La Réunion

• Saint-Denis – Culture and history
• Saint-Gilles-les-Bains – Beaches and lagoons
• Cirque de Mafate – Remote hiking paradise
• Cirque de Cilaos – Mountain village and scenery
• Cirque de Salazie – Waterfalls and greenery
• Piton de la Fournaise – One of the world’s most active volcanoes
• Piton des Neiges – Hiking and panoramic views

Practical Notes for Travellers

• Driving is on the right (French system)
• Roads can be slow — allow extra time for mountain travel
• Weather changes quickly in the interior
• Book rental cars early in peak periods (July–August, December–January)
• French is the main language; English is limited outside tourist areas

La Réunion rewards travellers who embrace flexibility and adventure. With a rental car, occasional guided tours, and perhaps a helicopter flight, the island becomes remarkably accessible — even in its most remote and spectacular corners.

Prices shown are approximate and current as of March 2026.

 

Popular Destinations, Tours and Shuttle Services - Réunion

ShuttlesA2B.com is a global online platform that connects travelers with private driver services, airport transfers, shuttles and local tour companies.

We are not a direct service provider in La Réunion.

We do not operate our own vehicles but act as a directory to help users find and book transport and tours directly with providers.

Please review our disclaimer for more information.

olive white-eye (Zosterops olivaceus)

Top Visitor Attractions in La Réunion

La Réunion is a destination of exceptional natural diversity, offering volcanoes, dramatic mountain landscapes, tropical beaches, and vibrant Creole culture — all within a single island.

Piton de la Fournaise (Active Volcano)

One of the most active volcanoes in the world and a highlight of any visit. Easily accessible via a scenic mountain road, with walking trails leading to viewpoints and crater areas. The surrounding lunar-like landscapes are unique and unforgettable.

The Cirques (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

La Réunion’s three vast volcanic amphitheaters are among its most spectacular sights:

  • Cirque de Cilaos – Known for mountain villages, hiking, thermal baths, and wine production

  • Cirque de Salazie – Lush, green, and home to waterfalls including Voile de la Mariée

  • Cirque de Mafate – Remote and road-free, accessible only on foot or by helicopter

Saint-Denis

The island’s capital blends colonial architecture with modern life. Visitors can explore museums, markets, historic streets, and the seafront promenade.

West Coast Beaches and Lagoons

The west coast offers the island’s best swimming areas, protected by coral reefs. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is the main resort area, popular for snorkeling, paddleboarding, and sunsets.

Lava Fields and the Wild South

The south of the island showcases dramatic lava flows from past eruptions, rugged coastlines, and powerful ocean views. A drive through this region reveals a stark contrast to the green interior.

Hiking and Nature Trails

With hundreds of kilometers of marked trails, La Réunion is a world-class hiking destination. Routes range from gentle coastal walks to multi-day mountain treks through rainforest and volcanic terrain.

Why Visit La Réunion?

La Réunion offers the comfort and infrastructure of France combined with dramatic landscapes found nowhere else. Whether exploring volcanoes, mountain cirques, or coastal lagoons, thoughtful transport planning — especially using private driver services — can greatly enhance the visitor experience.

translated to French:

Principales attractions touristiques de La Réunion

La Réunion est une destination d’une diversité naturelle exceptionnelle, offrant des volcans, des paysages montagneux spectaculaires, des plages tropicales et une culture créole vibrante — le tout sur une seule île.

Piton de la Fournaise (volcan actif)

L’un des volcans les plus actifs au monde et un incontournable de toute visite. Facilement accessible par une route de montagne panoramique, il propose des sentiers de randonnée menant à des points de vue et aux zones de cratères. Les paysages environnants, semblables à un décor lunaire, sont uniques et inoubliables.

Les cirques (site classé au patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO)

Les trois vastes amphithéâtres volcaniques de La Réunion comptent parmi ses sites les plus spectaculaires :

  • Cirque de Cilaos – Réputé pour ses villages de montagne, la randonnée, les thermes et la production de vin

  • Cirque de Salazie – Luxuriant et verdoyant, abritant de nombreuses cascades dont le Voile de la Mariée

  • Cirque de Mafate – Isolé et sans route, accessible uniquement à pied ou en hélicoptère

Saint-Denis

La capitale de l’île mêle architecture coloniale et vie moderne. Les visiteurs peuvent y découvrir des musées, des marchés, des rues historiques et la promenade du front de mer.

Plages et lagons de la côte ouest

La côte ouest offre les meilleures zones de baignade de l’île, protégées par des récifs coralliens. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains est la principale station balnéaire, prisée pour le snorkeling, le paddle et les couchers de soleil.

Coulées de lave et le Sud sauvage

Le sud de l’île présente d’impressionnantes coulées de lave issues d’éruptions passées, des côtes escarpées et des panoramas océaniques puissants. Un trajet dans cette région révèle un contraste saisissant avec l’intérieur verdoyant de l’île.

Randonnée et sentiers nature

Avec des centaines de kilomètres de sentiers balisés, La Réunion est une destination de randonnée de renommée mondiale. Les itinéraires vont de promenades côtières faciles à des treks de plusieurs jours en montagne, à travers la forêt tropicale et les paysages volcaniques.

Pourquoi visiter La Réunion ?

La Réunion offre le confort et les infrastructures de la France, combinés à des paysages spectaculaires que l’on ne trouve nulle part ailleurs. Qu’il s’agisse d’explorer les volcans, les cirques montagneux ou les lagons côtiers, une bonne organisation des déplacements — notamment grâce à des services de chauffeur privé — peut grandement améliorer l’expérience des visiteurs.

translated to Creole:

Bann Prinsipal Lieu Touristik à La Rényon

La Rényon i lé enn destination avek enn diversité naturel eksepsyonel : volkans, montagn ek paysages impresyonan, plaz tropikal ek enn culture kréol vivan — tou sa rasanblé dann enn sèl zil.

Piton de la Fournaise (volkan aktìf)

Enn dann bann volkans lé pli aktìf dann lémond, ek enn passage obligat pou tou bann visiteurs. I lé fasilman aksesib par enn route montagn panoramik, avek bann sentier pou marsé ki amèn vers bann point de vue ek bann krater. Bann paysages otour, kouma la lunn, i lé inik ek inoubliyab.

Bann Cirques (Site classé patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO)

Bann trwa gran amphithéâtre volkanik de La Rényon i fè partie bann sites lé pli spektakilèr :

  • Cirque de Cilaos – Rényomé pou so villages montagn, randonné, thermes, ek production vin

  • Cirque de Salazie – Bien verdoyan, avèk bokou cascade, don Voile de la Mariée

  • Cirque de Mafate – Izolé, san okenn route, aksesib zis à pied ou bien par hélikoptère

Saint-Denis

La capitale de l’îl i mélanj architecture kolonial ek la vie moderne. Bann visiteurs i pé al visite musée, marché, rue historique, ek la promenade bord de mer.

Plaz ek lagons la côte ouest

La côte ouest i propose bann méyèr coin pou baigné, protégés par bann récifs coralliens. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains i lé la station balnéaire prinsipal, bien apprécié pou snorkeling, paddle, ek couchers soleil.

Coulées de lave ek le Sud sauvage

Dann le sud de l’îl, ou va trouve bann coulées de lave impresyonantes sorti bann éruption dantan, bann côtes sauvages, ek enn vue l’océan bien puissant. Enn tour dann sa région-là i montre enn gran contraste avek l’intérieur verdoyan de l’îl.

Randonné ek sentiers nature

Avek des centaines kilomètre sentier balisé, La Rényon i lé enn destination randonné reconnu dann lémond entier. Bann parcours i al depi promenade facile bord de mer ziska trek plizir jours dann montagn, à travers forêt tropicale ek terrain volkanik.

Poukwa visite La Rényon ?

La Rényon i offre le confort ek bann infrastructures la France, ansanm avek bann paysages spektakilèr ke ou trouve nulle part ailleurs. Ke ou lé entrain explore bann volkans, bann cirques montagn, ou bien bann lagons la côte, enn bonne organisation transport — surtout avek service chauffeur privé — i pé améliore bokou l’expérience bann visiteurs.