留尼汪白鹭潭 Bassin des Aigrettes 坐落在圣吉尔莱班 Saint-Gilles-les-Bains 附近,这处由玄武岩石柱环绕的蓝绿色深潭是岛上西海岸极具人气的野外游泳点。尽管政府早在 2003 年就因落石风险颁布了禁止进入的法令,但每天依然有大量游客和当地人翻过围栏前往。这道瀑布落差大约 15 米,池水清澈见底,在阳光直射下呈现出一种梦幻的蒂芙尼蓝色,由于海拔不足 100 米,这里的气候比中部内陆温润许多,适合安排在西海岸环岛行程中。
说到白鹭潭,最避不开的话题就是那道铁门。受 2003 年 2 月颁布的县长令影响,通往白鹭潭及其周边水池的步道在法律意义上属于关闭状态。官方给出的理由是岩壁不稳定以及 1990 年代发生过的溺水事故。这意味着如果你选择进入,一旦发生意外,保险公司可能会拒绝赔付。现场那道锈迹斑斑的铁门侧面已经被踩出了一条小径,虽然入口处贴着醒目的禁止入内告示,但实际上这里处于一种无人看管的半公开状态。
虽然步道本身不算陡峭,但由于常年缺乏维护,靠近水潭的地面湿滑且布满青苔。尤其是刚下过雨后,原本平缓的土路会变得泥泞不堪。岩壁上的玄武岩石柱虽然壮丽,但也确实存在松动掉落的可能。建议在潭边休息时避开紧贴岩壁的位置。这里的池水温度常年维持在 20 到 22 摄氏度之间,比起南半球的海水要凉快不少,入水前最好做足热身,免得被山间的泉水冰到抽筋。
想去白鹭潭,定位点要选在鸬鹚路 Rue des Cormorans 附近的休闲酒吧或剧院 Teat Plein Air 停车场。从圣吉尔市中心开车过来也就 5 分钟路程。到了之后你会发现路边很难停车,最好早点出发抢占剧院附近的空位。入口就在那个不起眼的零食摊 Snack Bar Cormoran 旁边,顺着被踩出痕迹的小路走一段,你会看到被破坏的铁丝网和水管。顺着巨大的黑色运水管道往前走,这根管道就像天然的向导,能带你直达水潭。
这段路单程走下来大约只需 15 到 20 分钟,几乎没有海拔爬升。与其说这是徒步,倒不如说是林间散步。由于要跨过一些裸露的水管和乱石堆,穿人字拖绝对是个坏主意。建议脚踩一双防滑性能好的运动鞋或者溯溪鞋。说真的,这一路上的植被非常茂密,蚊虫叮咬是个大问题,出发前一定要喷足防蚊液。如果打算下水,记得带一条大毛巾,因为树荫浓密,上岸后山风一吹还是挺冷的。
这条步道实际上通往三个相连的水池:鸬鹚潭 Bassin des Cormorans、白鹭潭 Bassin des Aigrettes 和不幸潭 Bassin Malheur。白鹭潭是三者中景色最出众的,瀑布呈现扇形散开,水面最宽阔。鸬鹚潭就在最下游,虽然容易到达但水质略逊。最上游的不幸潭则需要多走 10 分钟,那里环境更幽静,适合冥想或避开人流。如果时间有限,直接锁定白鹭潭就行,没必要在其他两个地方浪费体力。
想拍出那种蓝得发绿的通透感,选对时间比什么都重要。建议在上午 10 点到下午 1 点之间抵达。因为白鹭潭被深邃的山谷和高大的树木环绕,如果去得太早或太晚,阳光会被山体挡住,水色会显得阴暗沉闷。只有当太阳处于高位直射池底砂石时,那种清澈的层次感才会显现。用手机拍摄时,可以尝试降低一点曝光补偿,这样能更好地还原玄武岩石柱的深色纹理与亮蓝色水面的对比。
白鹭潭完全不需要门票,它是大自然中的免费场所。不过考虑到周边停车位极其紧张,如果你停在私人经营的临时停车场,可能需要支付大约 2 到 5 欧元的停车费。这里的公共交通并不发达,还是建议租车自驾前往。
这里没有任何基础设施,包括更衣室、厕所或垃圾桶。这纯粹是一片荒野区域,建议在出发前就换好泳衣穿在里面,离开时也要把所有垃圾带走。最近的公共洗手间位于几公里外的圣吉尔莱班市区或加油站。
强烈建议下雨天或大雨过后的 48 小时内不要前往。降雨会导致瀑布流量暴增,水质会从碧蓝色瞬间变成浑浊的土黄色。更危险的是,留尼汪的山洪爆发非常迅速,原本平静的水潭可能在几分钟内水位猛涨,且雨天岩石滑落的风险会成倍增加。
虽然当地人和许多游客经常在这里游泳,但白鹭潭并没有救生员驻守。水潭中心区域的水深超过 3 米,且靠近瀑布跌落处有较强的旋涡。对于游泳水平一般的人或携带小孩的家庭,建议只在潭边浅水区戏水,不要轻易尝试游到瀑布正下方。
Mariana Bondu Absolutely stunning place - go visit all three Bassins, the hike is not very hard :)
Vojkan Dimitrijevic Definitely one of my favorite place in Reunion. Water is little a bit cold, but that’s normal, and is super clean. We was swimming all day. It’s starting to be popular place. Worth to visit.
Gabriel D. (Vader) Beware that this location access is forbidden you will have to get around fances, follow unmarked and unmaintained paths and be very careful of hazards (falling rocks, broken ridge, ...). That being said, the bassin des Aigrette is well rewarding and definitely worth the trip. It's the best of the 3 by far (hence also the most crowded). If you plan a hike here, come prepared with good shoes! Avoid flip flops or coming with too young children, it is dangerous and not reasonable.
F SB An enchanted place with an impressive waterfall. The small pond in front invites you to swim. Since the water there is important for the local water supply, access is officially forbidden. Therefore, please treat nature sustainably when you visit, do not pollute anything and leave no dirt behind. This is the only way to preserve a wonderful place. Street parking available. Important to know: On the way to the waterfall you either have to use a short climbing passage or get wet passing a gate.
John I saw the reviews that access was easy despite being closed and decided to go. You should absolutely go, it is beautiful but the access is quite hard and lots of people couldn't make it. It is a short hike from the parking lot but the city installed a gate to block access. A small river flows underneath the gate but they installed a metal bar about 20cm above the water level so you'll have to go in the water and for a lot of people almost dive in to go underneath the metal bar. Backpacks do not fit and will get wet. Other than that, the water is beautiful and refreshing. Recommended but not for everyone!