At 1,800 metres, the Plaine des Tamarins is one of the most renowned camping spots on the island. From the Maïdo road car park, the view over the Cirque de Mafate at sunrise is an unforgettable spectacle that very few hotel travellers can enjoy.

Nights are cool (8-12°C), the highland tamarind forest creates a unique atmosphere, and the darkness is total — perfect for stargazing. Bring a good blanket.

The Pas de Bellecombe car park is the starting point for hikes to Piton de la Fournaise. Sleeping here in a van lets you set off at dawn, before the day-trippers arrive. On a clear night, you’ll watch the stars set over the caldera.

If the volcano is erupting, some evenings the sky turns red on the horizon — a rare, unforgettable sight from your van’s roof.

The village of Bourg-Murat, at 1,500 m, is an ideal base for exploring the highlands. Car parks and green spaces around the village let you park the van for the night in a peaceful setting.

In the morning, you’ll be 15 minutes from the volcano and a few steps from the best Creole bakeries of the highlands for a homemade-bread breakfast.

Grande Anse is one of the most beautiful black-sand beaches in Réunion, in the Wild South. Far from the tourist areas, it offers a wild, preserved setting. Waking up facing the Indian Ocean, with the sound of the waves as your only alarm, is one of the strongest memories of the trip.

Picnic tables and basic toilets are available in the park. Entry to the site is free.

In the Saint-Leu highlands, forest roads lead to quiet viewpoints overlooking the west coast. The altitude (600-900 m) guarantees a pleasant night temperature, neither too hot nor too cold. The sunrise over the ocean is spectacular.

The Maïdo car park (2,200m) is van-accessible and offers an exceptional view over the Cirque de Mafate. Sleeping here before sunrise gives you one of the most breathtaking sights on the island.

Warning: nights at Maïdo are very cold (3-7°C). Make sure your van is well insulated and that you have enough to keep warm.

The east coast, wilder and less frequented, offers camping spots among waterfalls and tropical forests. The areas around Saint-Benoît and Sainte-Rose are particularly beautiful, with roads winding between cane fields and wooded cliffs.

In the Cirque de Salazie, some trail car parks allow you to park overnight with a view of the waterfalls and ramparts. Humidity is high, but the atmosphere is magical — mists, birdsong, the cool of altitude.

A few basic rules for a peaceful overnight stay: arrive before sunset to choose your spot, always leave the place cleaner than you found it, don’t make noise after 10pm.

Keep your valuables out of sight in the van. Lock up. Réunion is a safe island, but caution is still advised in isolated places.

Overnight parking in a van is tolerated in the ONF forest car parks and at rest areas. Camping on Réunion’s beaches is forbidden (municipal order). Prefer marked car parks.