Located between the two mountain ranges of Piton des Neiges and Piton de la Fournaise, the Plaine des Cafres is separated from the commune of La Plaine-des-Palmistes by the col de Bellevue, a mountain pass culminating at 1630 m. The RF5 road leading to the Piton de la Fournaise volcano starts from the Plaine des Cafres.