43. Post - Cascade Chaudron

Today I realized a trip that I have been dreaming of for a long time: The Cascade Chaudron

Ironically, it's only 20 minutes away from me, and yet I've never gotten around to making the hike.

We got lost on the way there, which is why it took us about 40 minutes to get there, but after asking 3 people we finally found the entrance/starting point. So it wasn't that easy :D

The hike itself was pretty easy, it takes about an hour and is very flat, so you can't really call it strenuous. Nevertheless, there are places that are breathtakingly beautiful and offer a fantastic view. However, you have to climb around a barrier twice because the path is actually closed. Why is that? Because it is one of the most dangerous places on the island.

Ten people have already died here from falling rocks. These are particularly common when it has rained heavily beforehand or when you shout too loudly in the pool. Then it can happen more often that a huge rock falls on you from above. Well, there's nothing you can do, if you want to see something beautiful, you have to suffer :D

But I was actually a little nervous, because almost every Réunionese has a story about how they almost got hit by a boulder in the basin.

But it's really worth it because when you arrive you're greeted by the bluest water I've ever seen in my life. It's a really dark blue and when the sun shines on it you can see how clear it is.

It is also located in a valley with incredibly high rock walls, which makes it a really remote and quiet place. However, this also means that the water is ice cold, as the sun is only high enough to shine over the rock walls for a few hours a day.

There were nine of us there in total and it was really wonderful! After a great dip in the pool, I warmed myself up for a while in the remaining sun, then played a bit of chess and chatted, and after about two hours we started the journey back.

A very nice trip and finally something ticked off my to-do list :)