Réunion is the largest island in the Mascarene group, lying about 200km southwest of Mauritius and 650km east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The island is not independent, but has the status of a French overseas department.
The capital is Saint-Denis, and the currency there is the French franc broken into 100 centimes (Current exchange Ffranc/US$). The official language of Réunion is French, however Creole is widely used.
The island is mountainous, with a rocky shoreline and very few beaches or natural harbours. The climate is tropical, but temperature moderates with elevation; cool and dry from May to November, hot and rainy from November to April.
There is an adequate telephone system and a tarred road circles the island. The only harbour is Le Port, which is close to Saint-Denis. An international airport is located at Saint-Denis and Air France is the national carrier. There is no rail system. Electricity is derived from thermal and hydroelectric sources.
The time is GMT + 4 and the international dialing code is 262. Contact the French Consular authority for up to date information as passport/visa requirements are subjected to constant change. Citizens of the US, Canada, New Zealand, the European Union and a handful of other countries may enter Réunion for up to 3 months without a visa.
The state of health, the current immunisation status, location and the local disease situation lead to risk of contraction of , malaria (regional), tuberculosis, and typhoid fever in Réunion. A risk assessment is recommended prior to arrival in the country. Vaccinations and medical insurance should also be arranged in advance. Water is untreated and not safe to drink.
The main export commodities of the French Reunion Islands include alcohols,
essential oils, fish, langoustines, various perfume materials, seafood and
vanilla. The main import commodities include chemical products, chemicals, iron
steel, leather goods, petroleum products and pharmaceuticals.
Exchange controls for Reunion are the same as for France and licensing
requirements are generally the same as those for France, except for a few
agricultural products.
