Mafate 3-Day Hike

Planning a 3-day hike in the Cirque de Mafate is an excellent way to discover spectacular landscapes, authentic hamlets, and enjoy a unique experience far from any roads, in the heart of unspoiled nature. It is also the ideal choice for a first discovery, allowing you to experience the cirque in different atmospheres, from sunrise to nightfall, with ever-changing scenery throughout the day.

This route forms a loop of about 20 km, with a total elevation gain and loss of +1100 m and -1100 m, spread over 3 days.

Below you will find the detailed itinerary for each day.

Où dormir dans Mafate ?

Durant cette randonnée, vous passerez par les îlets de La Nouvelle et Marla, où plusieurs gîtes de montagne proposent hébergement et repas. Il est fortement conseillé de réserver à l’avance, surtout en haute saison.

 Day 1: Col des Boeufs → La Nouvelle

Duration: 2h
Distance: about 6 km
Elevation gain/loss: +100 m / -500 m

From the Petit Col parking lot, follow the trail towards Col des Bœufs, one of the most popular access points to reach the Cirque de Mafate.
It is always recommended to start early in the morning (around 6:30 am, an ideal departure) to fully enjoy the views, as fog tends to rise later in the day and can reduce visibility.
After crossing Col des Bœufs, the trail gradually descends through dense, lush vegetation.
The path is generally easy to follow, but it can become muddy and slippery during the rainy season, so proceed with caution.
After about an hour of walking, you will reach the Plaine des Tamarins plateau, an ideal spot to take a break, drink, and have a snack before continuing your hike.

After the Plaine des Tamarins, continue straight ahead until you reach the place called La Découverte and begin to see the first houses of the village of La Nouvelle. Then, allow about another hour of walking to reach the village.

 Day 2: La Nouvelle → Marla (or Trois Roches)

Duration: 4 to 5 hours
Distance: about 8 km
Elevation gain/loss: +530 m / -330 m

This route is not the most direct way to reach Marla, but it allows you to discover an exceptional place: Trois-Roches.
From La Nouvelle, follow the GR® R1 towards Marla until the Bord de Mars marker.
Then take a right towards la Plaine aux Sables, a grassy plateau, and begin a fairly steep descent to the bed of the Rivière des Galets, up to the intersection "Croisée Plaine aux Sables - (alt. 1245 m)" with the GR® R3.
Turn right to reach Trois-Roches in about 15 minutes. It’s a perfect spot to take a break and cool off in the river water.
Be careful on the slabs around the waterfall, which can be slippery.
To continue to Marla, turn back and follow the GR® R3: allow about 2h30 of walking to reach Marla.

 Day 3: Marla → Col des Boeufs

Duration: 2h30
Distance: about 6.6 km
Elevation gain/loss: +470 m / -250 m

This final stage of your hike in the Cirque de Mafate takes you from the isolated village of Marla to the Col des Bœufs, the starting point.
From Marla, follow the GR® R3 towards the Col des Bœufs.
The trail begins with a descent to reach the river, which must be crossed twice. However, it is possible to use the Passerelle Etheve to avoid walking in the water.
In our itinerary, we suggest crossing the river, as it is the fastest route. Just after the river, the ascent becomes quite steep over about 1 km until the plateau of the Plaine des Tamarins. You will then cross the Plaine des Tamarins to the intersection marked "Croisée Chemin Marla" and turn right towards the Col des Bœufs.
The final climb takes about 1 hour to reach the summit.