Au Coeur du Paradis

Arriving at Au Coeur du Paradis means climbing to the upper floor of a private house above Cilaos, where the owners have lived and welcomed guests since March 2020. The house looks over the mare à joncs, a small lake ringed by mountains, and the terrace gives an open view across the cirque. It is a compact stay: three doubles, each around 12 square metres, decorated around local themes such as lentils, grapes and the town's thermal water. A fourth option, the six-person suite, spans 75 square metres across three rooms with its own kitchen, veranda and library corner, for a stay entirely apart from the rest of the house. Breakfast runs to home-made jam, crepes and waffles, taken on a terrace that looks straight at the surrounding peaks. Downstairs, a small games library holds strategy titles alongside lighter ones, kept for guests who want to sit and play rather than talk. Cilaos itself sits a short walk away, and paths from the house lead out toward Roche Merveilleuse and the wider trail network the region is known for. The owners, who moved here in 2014, run the place themselves, dog and cat included. Check rooms directly for current rates and availability.