What to do as a family in Réunion: activities and outings by age group

L'île de la Réunion is the perfect destination for family holidaysbecause it offers grande variété d'activités accessibles aux petits et grands. Voici une sélection d'activités classées par tranche d'âge pour profiter pleinement de cette île paradisiaque.

Vous êtes pressé(e) ? Cliquez sur la catégorie d'âge ou l'activité qui vous intéresse dans le sommaire 😉

In this article:

Family activities on Réunion Island with children aged 3 and over

Swimming and sandcastles on the lagoon's beaches
Visite de l'observatoire des tortues marines, Kelonia
Saint-Gilles Aquarium
Luge d'été à Maïdo avec une balade en poney

Activities and family outings on Réunion Island for children aged 6 and over

Family outings
Walking on ancient lava flows
Exploring the Lava tunnels in complete safety
Swimming in Réunion's rivers, pools and waterfalls
Learning and dreaming at the Cité du Volcan
S'amuser dans les parcs de loisirs et d'aventure de la Réunion

Leisure and family activities with children aged 8 and over

Go on a water ramble

Pour les grands à partir de 12 : nos idées pour s'amuser en famille

It's time for some thrills: rafting, canyoning!
Water sports: kayaking, paddle boarding
Snorkelling and diving in the lagoon

Pour les petits et grands....

Observer les baleines et dauphins au large de l'île

Family activities for children aged 3 and over:

Swimming and making sandcastles on the beaches of the lagoon

Le lagon de l'Île de la Réunion est l'endroit idéal pour une safe swimming with children. Les eaux calmes et peu profondes offrent un cadre parfait pour se rafraîchir et jouer dans l'eau. Cependant, il est possible de se baigner dans d’autres plages aménagées.

Visit beaches where you can swim with young children :

La plage de l’Hermitage entre Saint-Gilles-les Bains et La Saline (y aller)

This plage de sable blanc lined with filaos is ideal for picnics and lounging. Here, the translucent waters of the lagoon are protected by a coral reefThe water is 27 degrees Celsius, with hundreds of multicoloured fish and coral.

La Saline beach (y aller)

This beach is an extension of Plage de l'Ermitage and the lagoon. Also handi-plageLa Saline beach is accessible to people with reduced mobility.

La plage de Boucan Canot entre Saint-Paul et Saint-Gilles-les-Bains (y aller)

It is one of the most beautiful white sand beaches on the islandThe beach is popular for its waves and seabed. A swimming area is secured by an anti-shark net, but you must remain vigilant because of the strong currents. For the little ones, there is a natural swimming pool formed by volcanic rocks.

Saint Pierre beach (y aller)

The sandy beach at Saint-Pierre slopes gently down to the ocean and is ideal for children. You can relax in the sun, build sandcastles and swim in peace. The beach is also next to water gamesAnd don't forget to bring your young children along for the ride: they'll love being splashed (and you'll love being splashed) by the water jets!

The beach at the watering hole à La Saline (y aller)

The beach at Trou d'Eau is perfect for children, as the coral reef offers a wonderful view over the sea. safe swimming. The water is also shallow. Once there, your children can once again discover the wide variety of colourful fish and coral.

The beaches of St Leu (y aller)

One is in the city centre and the other at Pointe au Sel. Both are protected by a small lagoon.

Grande Anse beach entre Saint-Pierre et Saint-Joseph (y aller)

This magnificent white sand beach is lined with coconut palms and vacoas (a large palm-like plant). Swimming is prohibited, however a natural pool has been created, thanks to a barrier of rocks.

Visit Kélonia, Réunion's sea turtle observatory

Kélonia est un centre de recherche et de protection des tortues marines which will delight your youngest visitors. They can learn a lot about these fascinating creatures and observe different species of turtle. Interactive activities are also on offer to make the visit even more rewarding.

And if you like turtles, you can also go to watching land and sea turtles at the Turtle Garden in Les Avirons (near Etang salé).

A feast for the eyes at the Saint-Gilles aquarium

Plongez en famille au cœur de l’océan Indien, à la découverte des espèces marines de la Réunion, à l’Aquarium Saint Gilles. L’Aquarium est un a place to discover the island's marine environment, but also to provide information and raise awareness about it.

On site, fish, seahorses, sharks and octopus await you in different marine environments: volcanic cliffs, coral gardens, the deep sea, the open sea...

Summer sledging in Maido with a pony ride

In the Parc de la Luge, try summer tobogganing in the heart of a tropical forest ! Children aged 3 and over can go tobogganing (children under 1.40m must be accompanied by an adult). The little ones can also enjoy a pony ride. Other activities for older children include archery, all-terrain scooters and remote-controlled boats.

Activities and family outings on Réunion Island for children aged 6 and over

Family hiking in Réunion

From the age of 6, why not take your children for a walk and explore the beauty of Réunion on a short hike ? Réunion has an abundance of trails that are accessible to young children. Even on short hikes, or even walks, you can enjoy superb panoramic views of the cirques, mountains and coastline of Réunion.

Here are a few examples easy hikesThe walk takes no more than 3 hours:

- Boucle de la plaine des sables au petit cratère du Piton Hauy

- La Cascade Jacqueline et le tour de la Pointe de Langevin

- Le Cap Noir et Roche Verre Bouteille

- Chemin du Cap Jaune

>> Voir les randos facile autour du Piton de la Fournaise <<

Walking on ancient lava flows

For younger children, a a walk through the volcanic garden at Pointe de la Table in Saint Philippe is ideal. Allow around an hour for this 3 km loop (1h). on the old lava flows of 1986. Beware, however, of the sun's reflection off the volcanic rock: bring a hat and sun cream, and leave early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Explanatory panels line the route, providing an educational introduction to this place steeped in history.

Exploring the Lava tunnels in complete safety

family lava tunnel outing on Reunion Island

For a a memorable underground experience with your children, partez à la découverte d'un lava tunnel.

Equipped with helmets and headlamps and accompanied by a guide who specialises in lava tunnels, your children will be amazed by these fascinating buried volcanic formations.

C’est une activité à la fois éducative et amusante qui leur permettra de mieux comprendre le volcanisme de l'île.

Swimming in Réunion's rivers, pools and waterfalls

Discover the joys of river swimming in enchanting sites such as the Rivière des Marsouins or the Jacqueline waterfall at Langevin. These places are perfect for a refreshing swim in the heart of nature.

Here are a few examples freshwater bathing areas easily accessible for childrenand safe for swimming:

Aerial photo by drone of the Grand Galet waterfall and the Langevin river on the island of Reunion

North of the island :

Bassin Bœuf de la rivière Sainte-Suzanne: 300m walk from the Sainte-Suzanne car park (access via rocks)

South of the island:

Jacqueline waterfall at Langevin: 20-minute walk from the port of Langevin
Grand Galet waterfall at Langevin: 5-minute walk from the viewpoint, accessible by car from the village of Langevin.
Manapany-Les-Bains basin in Saint-Joseph
Bras de la Plaine basins, near Le Tampon and Entre-deux

East of the island :

The Blue Basin at Saint-Anne
Rivière des Marsouins at Saint-Benoît (îlet Coco and îlet Bethléem basins)

West of the island :

La Pointe Au Sel near Saint-Leu

Learning and dreaming at the Cité du Volcan

La C ité du Volcan, située à La Réunion, est un musée interactif consacré à l'activité volcanique de l'île. Designed to captivate visitors of all ages, the facility features fun and educational exhibitions that explain how volcanoes work in an immersive way. Young visitors can experience a realistic simulation of a volcanic eruption thanks to holographic projections, augmented reality and sound and visual effects. It's a must-see visit for a better understanding of volcanism on Réunion!

Fun in Réunion's leisure and adventure parks

For children aged 6 and over, many leisure parks welcome your children for fun family activities. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list:

- Parc Aventure de l'Étang-Salé : parcours acrobatique en hauteur dans la forêt de l'Étang-Salé, adapté aux enfants dès 6 ans avec divers niveaux de difficulté.

- AkOatys : situé à l'Étang-Salé, ce parc aquatique propose des toboggans, des piscines et des jeux d'eau pour les enfants à partir de 6 ans.

- Cilaosa Parc Aventure : ce parc d'aventures situé à Cilaos offre des parcours accrobranche adaptés aux enfants, avec des tyroliennes et des ponts suspendus.

- Parc du Colosse : à Saint-André, ce parc public propose des aires de jeux, des balades en poney, et des structures gonflables pour les enfants.

- Parc des Mascareignes : à Saint-Denis, ce parc aquatique propose des toboggans et des piscines adaptées aux enfants à partir de 6 ans.

Leisure and family activities with children aged 8 and over

Go on a water ramble

The water sports in Réunion offrent une aventure unique pour les familles avec des enfants de plus de 8 ans. Plusieurs lieux incontournables vous permettent de découvrir la beauté naturelle de l'île en toute sécurité.

Rivière des RochesBetween the La Mer and La Paix basins in Sainte-Suzanne, there are water courses specially designed for children, combining swimming and exploring waterfalls. You can try your hand at jumping between 4 and 8 metres into pools of water, sliding down natural slides and swimming in the river, while admiring the clear waterfalls.

Particularly suited to families with children aged 8 or 10 and over, the descent of the Rivière des Roches is great fun. In this part of Réunion Island, in the north-east near Saint-Benoit, you will be immersed in an environment of basalt rock, surrounded by lush green vegetation.

Pour les grands à partir de 12 ans : nos idées pour s'amuser en famille

It's time for some thrills: rafting, canyoning!

For young thrill-seekers, the rafting is an unavoidable option on the Rivière des Marsouins at Saint-Benoîtwhere the rapids are part of the action.

Canyoning is also very popular on Réunion, and you can enjoy it with your family in the Canyon de Sainte-Suzanne or the Canyon de Langevin (Petit Galet)where the courses are suitable for beginners.

Water sports: kayaking, paddle boarding

For those who prefer calmer water activitiesPaddleboarding and kayaking are perfect. The Saint-Gilles lagoon is an ideal place for paddle boarding in crystal-clear waters, while kayaking can be practised in the Saint-Paul bay, offrant une vue imprenable sur les côtes de l'île. Ces activités permettent de découvrir La Réunion sous un angle différent, tout en profitant de son environnement naturel exceptionnel.

Snorkelling and scuba diving in the lagoon

When it comes to aquatic activities, there's plenty to choose from on Réunion Island! Once again, Réunion's lagoon is a veritable natural paradise where you can introduce your children to snorkelling. Equipped with masks and snorkels, they can observe a multitude of colourful fish and coral.

For the more adventurous, you can try your hand at the scuba diving by diving further out to sea... That's where you can get a closer look at the cetaceans...

Pour les petits et grands...

Watching whales and dolphins offshore

Réunion is THE spot for whale and dolphin watching. De juin à octobre, les baleines à bosse viennent se reproduire dans les eaux entourant l’île, offrant un spectacle unique. Les dauphins, quant à eux, sont visibles toute l'année, pour notre plus grand plaisir. Montez dans un bateau et laissez-vous porter à leur rencontre ! On vous laisse avec le chant des baleines... A bientôt !