Best Anchorages in the Hyères Islands

Plage Notre-Dame on the NE coast of Porquerolles is consistently rated among the most beautiful beaches in France — 1km of pristine white sand with no development, backed by pine forest and Posidonia seagrass protecting the underwater ecosystem.

Plage d'Argent (Silver Beach) is the closest anchorage to Porquerolles village on the SW coast — a beautiful sandy beach with pine trees that is popular for daytime swimming.

Grand Langoustier at the western tip of Porquerolles is wilder and quieter than the famous Notre-Dame beach — fewer boats, magnificent rock formations, and the restored Langoustier tower (16th century).

Baie de Port-Man on the NE coast of Port-Cros is one of the most beautiful bays in France — wild, protected, and part of the Port-Cros National Park (the oldest marine park in France, established 1963).

Anse de la Palud is famous for France's only underwater snorkelling trail (Sentier Sous-Marin de la Palud) — a marked underwater trail at 5–10m with information boards identifying Posidonia meadows, rocky reef species, and endemic sea creatures.

Le Levant is the easternmost and most unusual of the Hyères Islands — its eastern tip is a French Navy testing station (prohibited access) while the western end houses Héliopolis, one of Europe's oldest and most established naturist villages (founded 1931).

Calanque du Port-Fay is a small, enclosed calanque on the SE coast of Porquerolles — crystal-clear water, dramatic limestone walls, and exceptional snorkelling.

Anse des Salettes on the E coast of Port-Cros is a marine park anchorage with pristine water and excellent holding on clean sand.