27 kilometers of beaches, water temperature ranging between 20°C and 26°C. Beaches are found mostly on the leeward coast. Some are more popular than others, but the black sand of Etang Salé or Saint-Paul are just as welcoming as the lagoon of Saint-Gilles.

The nearest beach from Saint-Denis is Saint-Paul's, with 3 kilometers of black sand. Saint-Paul is a nautical station. After two years of infrastructure works, the harbour has doubled its size: its capacity is of 350 berths (formerly 160).

Further south, Boucan Canot and Roches Noires are Reunion's most beautiful beaches. Partly sheltered by the coral reef, these two beaches offer golden sand and excellent surfing spots. South of Saint-Gilles harbour starts the 15 km lagoon stretch which can be accessed to through numerous paths and where you can hire wind surfing boards, pedal-boats,…

Still further South, you'll find Saint-Leu beach, protected by the best preserved lagoon of the island, and also the black sand beach of Etang Salé which is Reunion's largest beach with its 5 km stretch. Saint-Louis, the capital of cabinet-making, is home to the Centre Artisanal du Bois (Woodcraft Centre) and is famous for its "Le Gol chairs."

The western upper reaches have plenty of picturesque roads, including Route Hubert Delisle, linking Bois de Nèfles Saint-Paul to Les Avirons and going through the charming village of Trois Bassins, a prize winner of the "Flowered towns, villages and houses" contest.