Senior travel: Saint-Gilles
An easier pace for an older traveller: how many stops fit in a day, which places are step-free, and what the guide says about getting around, medicines and stairs.
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Pace for a day
About 2 stops a day. 5 h out − 45 min rest, divided by an average visit of 81 min (from this city’s guide) + 30 min to move.
Places, easiest access first
- Saint-Gilles port and promenadeStep-free: yes · about 45 minNone on the promenade; a step onto boats.
- Saint-Paul marine cemeteryStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 40 minA few steps at the gate; uneven paths.
- Boucan Canot beachStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minA few steps to the beach from the road; sand is heavy.
- Roches Noires beachStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minA few steps to the sand; rocks are uneven.
- Saint-Paul marketStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 60 minLevel ground but uneven paving and stall gaps.
- L'Hermitage lagoonStep-free: partial (check before you go) · about 120 minNone on the paved path; the sand and the lagoon entry are the difficult parts.
- Whale watching and boat trips from the portStep-free: no (check before you go) · about 180 minA step and a gap onto the boat; uneven deck.
Getting around in Saint-Gilles
Saint-Gilles is workable on wheels on the port promenade and around the L'Hermitage back-beach path, but sand, steep kerbs and hillside roads add friction. Most resort hotels have lifts and ramps; the older guesthouses and the market do not always.
- Promenade and marina:
- Paved and flat, wide enough for wheelchairs and strollers; shade is limited.
- Beaches:
- Sand is heavy for wheels. Some lagoon access points have ramps or mats (check); the main lifeguard post at L'Hermitage is close to the paved path.
- Transport:
- A hire car is the practical option; ask the rental desk for an adapted vehicle. Buses have low floors on some lines (check).
- Toilets:
- Beach toilets and showers at L'Hermitage and Boucan Canot; an accessible toilet is not guaranteed (check).
Medicines and health on the ground
The Réunion guide lists no medicine paperwork. Check the official customs page for your medicines.
- Tap water:
- Generally safe to drink across the coast; after a cyclone or heavy rain, ask locally and use bottled water.
- Mosquitoes:
- Dengue and chikungunya occur on Réunion, most often in the hot wet season; use repellent (DEET or picaridin), long sleeves at dusk and a fan or AC. Check current health advice for your country before you fly.
- Sun and heat:
- UV is strong all year. Use SPF 50, a hat and a rash guard, and drink water. Use reef-safe sunscreen in the lagoon.
- Sea:
- Wear reef shoes for the lagoon: sea urchins, sharp coral and stonefish are possible. Jellyfish can sting after a wind shift.
- Freshwater:
- Do not swim in streams or river pools after rain; flash floods and leptospirosis are real risks.
- Insurance:
- Buy travel insurance with medical cover and evacuation; a Réunion hospital stay is charged at French rates.
More: how much medicine to pack, medicine times across time zones.
Ask your insurer
Age limits and prices differ by policy and the guides do not hold them, so put these to the insurer before you buy.
- What is the oldest age the policy covers, at purchase and on the last day of the trip?
- Does the price or the cover change after a certain age?
- Are existing conditions covered, and what must be declared?
- Does the cover include medical evacuation and trip interruption?
Not medical advice. This page does not know anyone’s health. Ask a doctor before the trip, and carry a list of medicines and conditions.