Heading out on a walk in Porquerolles is the promise of an escape from the hustle and bustle of the Côte d’Azur’s seaside resorts. A journey into nature, in a protected and pristine setting, with lush surroundings ready to welcome you.
Certainly, there is little hope of imagining leaving for a deserted island. Quotas are put in place every summer to regulate the number of visitors to the island and to provide everyone with a positive experience. But the island is large, and the most motivated will easily find a small hidden spot where they can enjoy a small cove or beach still wild, just for them.
Be careful, access to the island is regulated in summer due to fire risks. On high-risk days, only a few beaches are accessible. So it's important to check before you go!
It can be found on many postcards: turquoise water, light sand, a large pine forest, and eucalyptus trees. Courtade Beach is a must-see in Porquerolles.
Moreover, it is the closest to the shuttle landing stage. Certainly, it is not supervised. In summer, one should not expect to land on a wild beach.
Whether at sea or on land, it is very crowded, but with its 900m length, one can still find a spot. And even if it gets crowded, you can always go to its little neighbor, Lequin Beach.
Here the saying is wrong: In Porquerolles, Silver brings happiness. Silver Beach is one of the most beautiful in Porquerolles and certainly in Var. It gets its name from the color of its white sand, but also from the reflections of its crystal-clear water.
In terms of measurements, it is 400m long, with a strip of sand that is not always very wide, but it has the advantage of being well sheltered from the mistral and offers some shade with its beautiful pine forest.
It is the only beach that is actually developed on the island: swimming supervision, public toilets, facilities for people with reduced mobility, bar-restaurant. In short, paradise in comfort mode, and certainly not in Robinson Crusoe mode abandoned on a deserted island.
Notre Dame Beach is one of the most beautiful but also the most distant from the village. It is the last of the three large beaches on the northern coast of the island, to the east before Pointe des Mèdes.
Here you can breathe, less crowded and nearly a kilometer long, there is clearly more space to enjoy the white sand and its turquoise waters. And once again, you can also enjoy the shade of its beautiful pine forest for a little nap without risking a sunburn.
Head to the western end of the island to find these two beaches, which stand back-to-back and seem to compete with each other. Each has a small fort nearby: Fort Langoustier for the southern black beach, and Fort Petit Langoustier for the northern white beach.
Then, it’s up to you to choose what appeals most:
To the south, there’s black sand from a former soda ash factory. The beach lies in a small, horseshoe-shaped bay.
To the north, the bay is much more open and the beach longer—nearly 400 meters separated by a small rocky point, perfect for budding snorkelers. The sand is white, and adventurers can seek out the famous “Pirates’ Hole,” hoping to find treasure—or at least a stunning view of the bay. That’s something, at least.
Speaking of competition, someone made their choice this summer: a loggerhead turtle chose the southern black beach to lay her eggs.
A lovely alternative to the above suggestions. This small beach isn’t very large but retains all its charm.
Being quite far from the village, it’s not overcrowded in summer, which is very pleasant.
Porquerolles is vast and offers numerous secret coves and beaches along its coastline, some of which are more or less accessible. For those seeking to escape the crowds, it’s easy to find small paradises for swimming. Small beaches, narrow coves, or rocky spots…
Porquerolles can be divided into four zones:
On the northern coast, you’ll find the large white sand beaches, but also numerous small coves and sandy beaches: Aiguade Beach, Maures, Ivanna, Gallet, Lequin, Mèdes... Some are only a few meters wide, but that’s often enough.
On the southern coast, cliffs dominate the scenery, with narrow coves suitable for swimming as long as the sea is calm. With waves, these spots can quickly become dangerous. Brégançonnet Cove, slightly larger than others, has a bit more space for laying down a towel.
To the east, apart from Galère Cove, there aren’t many accessible spots for swimming. Most of these are ideal for sailors, as the seabed is stunning.
To the west, the mistral wind often blows here, as is typical in Provence. Apart from the two Langoustier beaches, the eastern point isn’t ideal for swimming. However, it’s an excellent spot for diving, with beautiful shipwrecks to explore.
Several companies offer regular connections to the island of Porquerolles. The closest and fastest is from Tour Fondue on the Giens peninsula (Hyères Les Palmiers), but parking there is paid and quite expensive, and access is often congested in summer.
The Bateliers de la Côte d'Azur company offers connections from Toulon, La Seyne sur Mer, and Saint Mandrier. The crossing is a bit longer, but more than compensates for the driving time to Tour Fondue, with the added bonus of free parking.
https://www.bateliersdelacotedazur.com/
