The road to the volcano or the road of sand plain, an incredible journey toward the Piton de la Fournaise
The road to the sand plain offers an astounding lunar spectacle in such a green island of Reunion. This almost extraterrestrial plain comes from a volcanic eruption dating back a century.
This is strombolian eruption (semi-explosive) from the Piton de Chisny which is responsible. It has covered the green plain with lapilli, scoria, charred wood or bombs.
The road has covered its aspect of mineral desert that it looks like today. 20 km long, it features a paved straight road that leaves the position to a rocky and dusty track, at only few kilometers from the volcano. This way to the Piton de la Fournaise, which rises to 2,631 meters above sea level, is surrounded by a sands wall and the Pas de Bellecombe. From this wall, the road gets twisty and dusty. The biggest risk, apart from volcanic eruptions of this active volcano is the fog that can fall sharply, plunging the track in a thick fog. Needless to say, it is not advisable to leave the marked trail either by car or on foot.
Nothing is easier than to go astray because no mark can be found in this place where the stones are spread out of sight.
The Rent A Car advice :
To ride on this road that alternates straight line for 20 km, rocky, winding track, it is important to choose the suitable car rental. Rent a car advises you to foster a rental car equipped with a diesel engine as the Clio III DCI or type 4 * 4 or SUV vehicles, such as Hyundai IX 35 or Dacia Duster, rather than a rental vehicle equipped with a smaller engine. So your driving comfort is maintained despite uneven roads as is the road to the volcano.
For further advice, please contact one of our agencies in Reunion. Knowing that the agency of St. Pierre is the nearest agency of the Piton de la Fournaise, but you may also have a rental car adapted from our agency Rent A Car in Saint-Denis, located at the heart of the airport. You can recover your rental car, shuttleless, and you start to conquer the Piton de la Fournaise immediately.
