Car rental in La Saline-les-Bains

The La Saline lagoon and Trou d'Eau

Sheltered by the coral reef, the La Saline lagoon is part of the Réunion marine nature reserve, created in 2007: you can swim freely, but you don't walk on the coral and you don't take anything away. Swimming is allowed here, whereas a prefectoral order bans it outside the lagoon and lifeguarded areas because of the shark risk. The lagoon is shallow, especially at low tide; its southern end, at Trou d'Eau, is well suited to watching fish with a mask and snorkel. At weekends, local families settle under the casuarinas from the morning for a picnic: parking spaces along the beach go early.

Exploring the west coast from La Saline

Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, its harbour and restaurants are about ten minutes away along the coast road; Saint-Leu, its surf spot and the Kélonia turtle observatory about twenty minutes to the south. Saint-Paul and its open-air market are around twenty minutes away, and the Maïdo road, a balcony over the Cirque de Mafate, takes a little over an hour of winding climb. Via the route des Tamarins, Saint-Pierre and the South are about an hour away. Roland Garros airport is an hour to an hour and a quarter away without traffic: getting into Saint-Denis gets very busy in the morning and late afternoon on weekdays, so allow a margin on the day of your flight home.

Renting a car in La Saline-les-Bains: delivery and total price

Depending on the agency, the vehicle is delivered to your accommodation or an agreed meeting point, or a shuttle picks you up: the handover method and any fees are shown on each listing and included in the total displayed before payment. For a stay by the lagoon, a city car is enough for the beaches and shopping; a scooter is handy for short hops in fine weather, and an SUV adds comfort for the climb to the Maïdo. Compare local agencies on Tropiloc: the price shown is the full price, with no hidden fees.

What to see and do around La Saline-les-Bains

• The La Saline lagoon and its beach shaded by casuarinas
• Trou d'Eau, at the southern end of the lagoon, for snorkelling
• The beaches of L'Ermitage and Saint-Gilles-les-Bains, a few minutes away
• Kélonia and the Saint-Leu surf spot, 20 minutes away
• The Maïdo and the view over the Cirque de Mafate

Tips for renting a vehicle in La Saline-les-Bains

• At weekends, get to the beach early: parking along the lagoon fills up fast.
• Leave nothing visible in a car parked near the beach.
• Allow plenty of time to reach the airport: over an hour, more at rush hour.

Frequently asked questions