The route
From the centre of Cilaos, past the old spa, turn left onto the D242, the Îlet à Cordes road. It runs down to the bridge over the Bras Rouge, 4 km further on. The car park is on the left 600 m after the bridge, and the trailhead 100 m further on, on the right, at about 1,250 m. Spaces are few, and it is best not to leave a car there overnight. Alternéo bus 62, between Cilaos and Îlet à Cordes, stops at the trailhead, at the "Sentier Marla" stop. On foot from the village, the Porteurs and Bras Rouge waterfall paths add about two hours.
The path starts with a staircase and climbs steeply at once through eucalyptus. After a little under a kilometre, a fork leads to the Îlet des Salazes. Abandoned for years, it was taken over by an association that grows herbs there and serves herbal teas to hikers. Higher up, the Gobert ravine has a spring, then the Plaine des Fraises gives a short level stretch. The vegetation changes from highland native forest to the low scrub of the heights. A last steep stretch leads to a small shrine just below Col du Taïbit. Behind you, on the Cilaos side, the whole cirque is in view, with the Bonnet de Prêtre and the Trois Salazes.
A few steps beyond the pass, almost all of Mafate opens up, with Marla about 500 m below. The descent crosses an acacia wood, then a grassy slope, before dropping in tight switchbacks. A tricky stretch runs along a steep rampart where gravel rolls underfoot: take care. After a spring and a wood of filaos, you reach Marla.
The way back is the same, with almost 500 m to climb back to the pass before the long descent to the road. The path is part of the GR R1, the tour of the Piton des Neiges, and of the GR R2, the crossing of the island: many hikers carry on to La Nouvelle and Col des Bœufs, a day's walk away.
Staying overnight
Marla, home to about twenty families, has some ten gîtes and guest rooms. In 2026, a night in a dormitory costs €20 to €26 on reunion.fr, where most of them are booked. Dinner and breakfast are ordered with the night. The îlet also has a snack bar and a grocery, and a self-service tap runs all year, though its water is not stated to be drinkable.
Good to know
Two springs mark the climb: the captured spring of the Îlet des Salazes, described as drinkable, then the Gobert ravine, higher up. Fill up at Les Salazes: beyond it, the climb is long and in the sun. Set off early, before 8 am, as cloud and fog often cover the ridge by late morning. At the pass, mobile coverage depends on the Maïdo masts and is not guaranteed. RandoMafate keeps the map and the climb offline from one cirque to the other. It shows the ONF trail closures and the forecast for the hike before you leave, and your close ones follow your outing on a simple web page, with a notification if your announced return time passes.
Plan this hike in RandoMafate
The trail map offline, elevation to the metre, ONF closures and the weather for the day, and the people close to you told when you set off and when you are back.
RandoMafate
