The Iron Hole
The Abyss at the Edge of the Primary Forest
The drive itself is already part of the journey. After the Plaine des Palmistes, the Bébour-Bélouve forest road winds its way into the island’s most beautiful primary forest: tree ferns, Hauts tamarinds covered in moss and lichens, wild orchids clinging to the trunks, and mist lingering among the branches.
It takes about two hours by car from the residence to reach the Bélouve lodge, and it would be a shame not to stop along the way: this forest is a world unto itself, one of the few ecosystems of its kind still intact in the world.
A remarkably well-maintained trail starts from the lodge: wooden walkways along almost the entire route, a nine-kilometer round trip, about a three-hour walk, with very little elevation gain. The trail then leads to a lookout point suspended above the abyss: below, several waterfalls plunge nearly 300 meters into a steep-walled gorge. It is one of the most impressive landscapes in France, and one of the wettest on the island.
The Trou de Fer is also one of the highlights of Corail Hélicoptères’ helicopter tours, with the “Au Cœur des Cascades” (50 min) and “Excellence” (55 min) routes.
Top tip: Leave very early and arrive at the lookout before 10 a.m. After that time, clouds rush into the cavity and all that remains is a white wall—many visitors hike for three hours only to see nothing at all. Hiking boots are required; the trail is often muddy.