The Nez de Bœuf – Roche Plate trail connects the heights of Saint-Joseph to Mafate's cirque via one of southern Réunion's most spectacular routes. From the Nez de Bœuf viewpoint, the descent plunges into volcanic ramparts to the isolated hamlet of Roche Plate, accessible only on foot or by helicopter. The elevation loss is substantial, the landscapes raw, and solitude nearly guaranteed outside weekends.

Practical information at a glance

• Type of hike: day trip or traversal (with overnight at Roche Plate)
• Difficulty: challenging — significant downhill elevation loss, demanding climb back up
• Recommended duration: full day for day trip; two days recommended with overnight lodge stay
• Starting point access: Nez de Bœuf viewpoint, on the forest road RN3 between Le Tampon and Bourg-Murat (parking available)
• Equipment: high-ankle hiking boots mandatory, sufficient water, windbreaker
• Lodge at Roche Plate: accommodation and meals available by advance reservation
• Accessibility for people with disabilities: not accessible

What you'll see

The Nez de Bœuf viewpoint offers a plunging view over Mafate's cirque and its ramparts. The trail then descends through a landscape of tamarind forest, basalt cliffs and ravines. Roche Plate is a hamlet of a handful of Creole houses, without roads, without cars, with kitchen gardens clinging to the slopes.

History and context

Mafate is the only cirque on Réunion without road access. Its inhabitants, descendants of runaway slaves who fled coastal plantations in the 18th century, developed an autonomous way of life within these natural ramparts. Roche Plate is one of the cirque's most remote hamlets, having remained apart from the mass tourism that affects La Nouvelle or Marla more heavily.

Highlights of the visit

The Nez de Bœuf viewpoint

Before even beginning the descent, the view from the parking area is striking. Your gaze sweeps across the vertical ramparts of the cirque, the ridges and, on clear days, the hamlets suspended in morning mist. This is where most visitors stop; hikers continue alone.

The descent into the ramparts

The trail cuts through volcanic rock, sometimes equipped with cables on the steepest passages. The vegetation changes with altitude: tamarind forest of the heights, then drier vegetation as you approach the cirque floor.

The hamlet of Roche Plate

Arriving at Roche Plate means stepping into a village out of time. Inhabitants tend their gardens, raise livestock, welcome hikers in family-run lodges. The absence of roads gives the place a rare atmosphere on Réunion.

Photography tips

Morning light is ideal from the Nez de Bœuf viewpoint: the ramparts are lit and mist hasn't yet filled the cirque. During the descent, passages through tamarind forest offer upward-angled shots of the cliffs. At Roche Plate, photograph the Creole gardens and houses with discretion and the residents' permission.

Location and access

The trailhead is at the Nez de Bœuf viewpoint, on RN3 in the heights above Le Tampon, near Bourg-Murat. By car from Saint-Pierre or Saint-Denis, expect about an hour. There is no regular public transport to the viewpoint. Carpooling or car rental are practical options. To reach Mafate another way, helicopter departures from Saint-Paul serve certain hamlets.

In the surrounding area

• Piton de la Fournaise — Réunion's active volcano, accessible from the same RN3 road, a few kilometers to the southeast.
• Plaine des Cafres — altitude plateau between the two volcanoes, starting point for numerous hikes and overnight stop.
• Mafate Cirque — the cirque in its entirety, also accessible from Dos d'Âne or Col des Bœufs.
• Bourg-Murat — village in Plaine des Cafres, last resupply point before the viewpoint.