The region Saint-Denis and the East is the most rainy of Réunion — you must know this before planning your stay. The east coast receives on average 3,000 to 4,000 mm of precipitation per year, with some sectors (Sainte-Rose, Saint-Benoît highlands) exceeding 5,000 mm. Saint-Denis is less rainy but remains rainy compared to the west coast.
The austral winter (May to November) remains the best period to visit. Rarer and briefer rains, more temperate temperatures (22-28°C in Saint-Denis), clearer sky to photograph the Creole houses and forest landscapes. It is also the season when the Bélouve forest and the trail to the Trou de Fer are most accessible, with optimal visibility from the viewpoint.
The austral summer (December to April) is frankly humid on the east coast. Frequent rains, sometimes intense (tropical rain episodes), real cyclone risk (Saint-Denis on regular alert during cyclonic passages). Visits to Saint-Denis remain possible between showers, but the Bélouve forest and the Trou de Fer can be drowned in fog for days.
The cultural festivals are an excellent pretext to come to the East. Dipavali (Tamil festival of lights, October-November) in Saint-André and Saint-Denis. Cavadee (Tamil procession with flowered arches, January-February). Firewalking (Pongol Padèy, November-December) in Saint-Pierre and Saint-André. Chinese New Year (January-February) in Saint-Denis.
Read also
- Saint-Denis, the Creole capital — Colonial houses, Jardin de l'État, Musée Léon Dierx and Chaudron market: the largest French city overseas.
- The Cirques of Réunion — Mafate, Cilaos and Salazie: accessible from Saint-Denis in 1h30-2h for Salazie.
- The West Coast — Saint-Gilles, L'Hermitage and the turquoise lagoon: 40 min to 1h from Saint-Denis.
- Réunion — Complete guide of the intense island: formalities, budget, climate, regions to discover.