Reunion Island - Facts
Reunion FAQs
Pre-Arrival Boat: Entry to Reunion is only permitted with a marina reservation. All yachts must e-mail the authorities in advance to get permission to enter La Reunion. See Clearance for more details.
Pre-Arrival Crew: If you are non-EU/Schengen then generally you will need a visa which must normally be acquired in your home country prior to departure.. See Immigration for details.
Where can I enter? Pointe des Galets (Le Port) is the only port of entry on Reunion.
Are fees high to enter by yacht? There are no fees for clearance into and out of Reunion Island.
What security concerns should I know about? The level of crime in Reunion Island is very low. See Security for more info.
Reunion Facts for Sailors
- La Reunion Island is an overseas department and region of France and is located in the South Indian Ocean lying south-west of Mauritius and east of Madagascar.
- The official language is French but a large majority speak Reunion Creole. The population is about 850,000.
- Reunion Standard Time is UTC +4.
- The currency is the Euro.
- The island has a tropical climate which is softened by the breezes of the Indian Ocean. See Weather section below for more details.
- The lush interior of this volcanic island has some stunning mountain scenery, and many people go walking in the mountains. It is the last opportunity to stretch one’s legs before the long and possibly rough passage to South Africa.
- The Scattered Islands – Juan de Nova, Europa, Bassas da India, Iles Glorieuses and Tromelin – are uninhabited islands near Madagascar. After Madagascan independence, they remained French, and are administered by the Reunion Commissioner. Tromelin is claimed by both the Seychelles and Mauritius.
- St Pierre offers good repair facilities whilst Pointe des Gardes is a popular and well-sheltered destination. For more details on yachting services see Yachting Essentials.
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As to security, we are on the visitor’s pontoon by the Marina Office where there is no security. Generally, not a problem, but someone stole the plug from the end of our hose! Fortunately, I have a spare, which I now take off after use.
Currently in Reunion. St Pierre is no longer a port of entry/departure for clearance. This all done at Le Port.
Our experience here has been very good with everyone taking a sensible and helpful attitude. For example, we are being cleared-out on Sunday morning to depart Monday, because the fuel dock is closed Monday and we want duty free fuel.
One especially helpful guy is Ben (+0692 217669) who has a small chandlery and sail/canvas repair workshop who is also a rigger and can source/help with anything on the Island. Speaks very good English and could not be more helpful. I had the standing rigging checked, new rope bags made and the bimini repaired. He also had an s/s part fabricated, all within the week and everything was done pretty much as he said it would. A smashing chap!
Posted on behalf of Guillaume Pignol:
Glorioso Islands – in the northern Mozambique channel, about 160 kilometres (99 mi) northwest of Madagascar.
We were in the Glorieuses for two days (Île du Lys). After one day a boat with soldiers and a policeman came. He said we have to leave now. We talked a little and explained and were allowed to stay one more night.
They told us it is possible to get permission to visit the Glorieuses from:
Siège des Terres Australes et Antarctiques Françaises (TAAF)
Rue Gabriel Dejean
97410 Saint-Pierre, île de La Réunion
Standard téléphonique: (depuis la France) 02 62 96 78 78
Appel international: 00262 2 62 96 78 78
UPDATE ON LA REUNION
If you are planning on visiting La Reunion then please note the following:
1. Visiting yachts can be accommodated in Le Port, and there is space in the new marina – if it were to be full, then alongside the walls outside the old marina where yachts used to tie up and raft up, is still available.
2. While it is a good idea to email the Marina management (jerome.belhuerne@reunion.port.fr or pierre.dalele@reunion.port.fr) do not be surprised if you do not get a reply and boats have not been turned away for failing to email.
3. There is a very good haul out and hard standing with water and electricity, but space is at a bit of a premium – contact Pascal at starnettmarine@izi.re – travel lift for monohulls.
4. There is some night security now, so not much noise in the evening around the new marina – on Fridays and Saturdays there may be a few small groups of young people drinking and partying but not on a large or intrusive scale. We have been here for two weeks (5th October) and no subwoofers at 0300, no screeching tyres and drag races, no prostitutes etc There was a family type event with stage, food and beer stalls, one Saturday starting at 2000 with a rap group for an hour and a comedy duo for an hour – all over by 2230. There is occasionally a small amount of rubbish left behind but no need for any sidestepping to go to the showers/toilets in the morning.
MINNIE B arrived from Mauritius on 23rd September 2015 at 1230 and went to the arrival pontoon in the old marina having been given directions from calling Port Control on VHF Ch16. We were met by Pierre – one of the marina staff and he helped with our lines. He telephoned Pascal at Starrett Marine, who came over immediately and took Phil to the haul out dock.
We proceeded to the haul out dock and were chocked by 1430. Mechanics from Waterland Services started work at 1600 to replace the cutlass bearing and shaft seal. The work was completed the following day and we relaunched on the morning of 25th September to take a berth in the new marina.
So that’s all good then.