Piton des Neiges
Piton des Neiges is a mountain, dormant volcano, summit, and the highest point in Réunion, located in Cilaos, Salazie, and Réunion. Composed of basalt, it is named after snow and reaches an elevation of 3,070 meters in the Massif du Piton des Neiges. It ranks as the second most looked-up sight in Réunion on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The mountain experiences significant rainfall variations throughout the year. Months from June through November see fewer rainy days and lower precipitation, with September and October recording the lowest rain totals of 93 mm and 77 mm respectively, though daily highs drop to 10 °C to 12 °C and lows reach 5 °C to 7 °C. Warmer months from January to March bring daily highs of 16 °C to 17 °C alongside heavy rain ranging from 419 mm to 608 mm.
The nearest airport is Roland Garros Airport in Sainte-Marie, located 24 km away, and the site is 25 km from the capital, Saint-Denis. Nearby locations to combine with a trip include Réunion National Park at 6.1 km away, Mafate at 7.9 km away, and Piton de la Fournaise at 28.6 km away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is January, with an average high of 17 °C. The wettest is February, with about 608 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| Average low, °C | 12 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 |
| Rainfall, mm | 467 | 608 | 419 | 234 | 163 | 117 | 114 | 102 | 93 | 77 | 108 | 258 |
| Rainy days | 19 | 18 | 22 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 11 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
