A hike through the gorges and over the ridges of the "Cirque de Mafate" is overwhelming. We started in the morning on the north side of the huge caldera of the Piton des Neiges, crossed the Col de Fourche (1,946 m) and finally reached the small mountain town of La Nouvelle (1,450 m) before nightfall, although it was hidden in thick fog. Our surprise was all the greater in the morning when we were able to continue the hike to the next mountain town called Marla under a blue sky and bright sunshine. The road to La Nouvell was beautiful. Accompanied by the chirping of birds, we crossed several levels of vegetation on the ascents and descents and saw not only magnificent flowers but also the mighty ferns, whose small relatives in Europe only reach up to the hollows of the knees.
As usual on the Creole island, we were warmly welcomed at La Nouvelle and shared a cabin with a French couple who were also trekking the Cirque de Mafate. Since the place can only be reached on foot, the few residents and hikers are only supplied by helicopter - but the Creole dishes on offer are surprisingly diverse.
