Cliff walk: Gris Gris → La Roche qui Pleure

From the car park at Gris Gris, walk east along the grassy cliff top above the ocean. There's no reef here: the waves come straight from Antarctica and smash into the black basalt. After about 500 metres you reach La Roche qui Pleure, the 'rock that weeps', where seawater pours from the cracks after each wave, like tears.

Short and easy, but stay well back from the edge.

• The wildest coast of the island
• The crying rock
• Short and easy

Trail map

Traced along the cliff edge: walk on the grassy path a few metres inland.

Trail traced on OpenStreetMap paths: check the signs on the ground, and take the OSM or an offline map app (Organic Maps, maps.me) with you.

What to expect on this walk

📍 Where it starts

Gris Gris car park, at the southern tip of the island (≈ 1 h from the villa).

🧭 The route

East along the grassy cliff top to the viewpoint over La Roche qui Pleure (≈ 500 m). Back the same way.

🪨 Terrain

Grass and rock.

👁️ Views

The cliffs, the surf and the crying rock.

🌅 Best light

Any time with a big swell (that's when the rock 'cries'); morning light on the cliffs.

🚧 Obstacles

• Cliff edges: stay well back

🌊 Tide

Fine at any tide.

🏊 Swimming

Never swim at Gris Gris: no reef, strong currents.

👟 Footwear

Proper shoes with grip: rock, roots or mud (not flip-flops).

🔁 Getting back

Same way back.

🦟 Insects

None.

💧 Water

Chez Rosy and snacks at Gris Gris.

👥 Crowds

Busy at weekends.

📶 Phone signal

Good coverage.

🎒 Bring

Shoes with grip · Hat · Water

1. Gris Gris
2. La Roche qui Pleure

Getting there

Tips

• 💡 Never swim here.
• 💡 Stay back from the cliff edge, especially when the swell is big.