Where to park your van with a shower in Réunion
Farm campsites, local hosts and free areas with running water: our pick of places to sleep in your van and still enjoy a proper shower.
In Réunion, a van gives you incredible freedom: you can sleep facing the lagoon, at the foot of the volcano or deep inside a cirque. But after two or three nights of wild camping, our travellers always ask the same question: “Where can we get a proper hot shower and refill our water?”
Good news: between the farm campsites in the Highlands, small family-run sites and a few well-equipped areas, there are some great places to mix wild nights with comfort nights. Here is our selection, tested and recommended by our team and our customers.
Farm campsites & local hosts
This is our favourite option: a warm welcome, a quiet spot in the Highlands, a hot shower, often a shared kitchen and sometimes farm produce. Perfect for a comfort break in the middle of your road trip, especially in the cirques where nights are cool.
Le Relax farm campsite
Set on a family farm in Bras-Sec, above Hell-Bourg, facing the cirque’s cliffs. The perfect base to discover one of the most beautiful villages in France, just 2 km away.
- 💶 Price: from €12/person/night
- 🏠 Address: 21 chemin Bras Sec, Ilet à Vidot, Hell-Bourg
- 📞 Contact: +262 692 66 58 89
Camping Chez Julien
A small family campsite in the heart of the cirque, with electric hook-ups, parking and views of the peaks. E-bikes for hire on site to explore Cilaos effortlessly.
- 💶 Price: €12/person/night
- 🏠 Address: 27 chemin du Brûlé Marron, Cilaos
- 📞 Contact: +262 692 37 12 62
Damayanti & Marc’s place
A fenced 6,000 m² property with a tropical garden and ocean views, close to the Wild South. Only four pitches for tents, vans or rooftop tents: shared toilet and hot shower, electricity, drinking water, wifi and an infinity pool during the day.
- 💶 Price: from €25/night
- 🕐 Check-in: between 4:30 pm and 7 pm
- ℹ️ Good to know: ages 13+, no pets, no fires
- 📅 Booking: See the Campspace listing →
These small places only have a few pitches. A phone call the day before is usually enough to book and check that your van can access the site.
Free areas with water or showers
Between two campsite nights, some public spots let you freshen up under a beach shower or refill your water tanks. No booking: first come, first served.
Roche Merveilleuse
At the end of the forest road, a very quiet spot overlooking the cirque. Water point and shelters at the lower car park, an ideal base camp for hiking.
Grande Anse
Golden sand, coconut palms and a natural pool. Wild camping is not allowed, but you can park in the car park below the site.
Manapany-les-Bains
The authentic feel of the Wild South, away from the crowds. Very quiet on weekdays, lulled by the sound of the waves.
Cap Homard
Facing the lagoon, with easy beach access and all of Saint-Gilles’ shops nearby. Perfect for a west coast evening.
In public areas, no chairs or awnings out, no soap in nature, and leave no trace. Find all our rules in our guide to responsible wild camping.
Pitfalls to avoid
Some places come up often in apps and forums, but are not necessarily suited to a van trip as a couple or a family.
On Rue Octave Bénard, a sign now bans parking for motorhomes, vans and campervans. Also note: the nearby municipal campsite only accepts tents, not campervans.
A lovely farm campsite, but only for groups of 8 or more and by reservation only. Not suitable for a couple travelling by van.
Our tips to plan well
Treat yourself to a campsite night now and then. Places to stay are rare on the island, so no need to make it a rule: simply slip a comfort night into your road trip whenever you’re craving a hot shower. It’s the perfect chance to refill your water… and recharge your spirits!
Plan your comfort nights in the cirques. In Cilaos and Salazie, nights are cool and damp: a hot shower and an electric hook-up are especially welcome there.
Always check before you go. Prices, check-in times and conditions change regularly: a call or a message the day before avoids unpleasant surprises.
Our vans are equipped for self-sufficiency. Discover our tips for washing and doing laundry in a van.
The secret to a successful van road trip in Réunion? Knowing when to treat yourself to a hot shower… so you can head off again to the next wild spot.
— The Location Van La Réunion teamGot some land? Become a host
A garden, an orchard, land with a shower or a power socket: our customers are looking for local hosts all over the island. Get in touch to join our partner network.
💬 Offer my landReady to hit the road?
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