Around the Mafate Valley (GR R3) - Stage 5

From the small village of Marla, we head north-east, following the signs for Col de B&oeligufs and Plaine des Tamarins. First we hike a long way downhill until we reach the course of the Rivière des Galets. After crossing it, the path climbs again. We come to the Plaine des Tamarins, a plateau overgrown with gnarled tamarind trees. At the fork in the path, take the right fork and shortly afterwards the left fork towards Col de Bœufs. The trail goes steeply uphill to the pass. Alternatively, at the second fork, you can take the right path via Col de Fourche and the GR R1.

About 700 m after the Col de Bœufs we come to a fork in the path. Continue straight on to the guarded parking spaces at the end of the pass road. If you want, you can walk back along the road to our starting point.

But the path that branches off to the right at the fork takes us on a more beautiful route downhill through the forest and through a hollow below the road back to the parking area at the Départ de Sentier Scout where we started our circular hike.