Plage de la Palud
La Palud is a small coarse-sand beach on the north shore of Port-Cros, shaded by tamarisks and backed by a reed bed, about 30 minutes on foot from the harbour. It is the start of the national park's underwater trail, six buoys with submerged panels that lead over posidonia meadows from about 2 m deep.
WhatBeach, Port-CrosFrench Riviera
WhenJune to October17° in Nov
Getting there Boat On foot30 min walk-in
CostPublic shoreFree
AccessNational park core: no dogs, fires, smoking or camping; the massif closes on top fire-risk days
- 13°J
- 13°F
- 13°M
- 14°A
- 17°M
- 20°J
- 23°J
- 24°A
- 21°S
- 19°O
- 17°N
- 15°D
Expect the sea at about 24 °C in August and 13 °C in January, going by the 1991 to 2020 averages. The swimming season runs from June to October.
Getting in
- Access
- A small coarse-sand beach shaded by tamarisks, about 30 minutes on foot from Port-Cros harbour (park; the tourist office gives 45 minutes). Fencing divides it between areas for visitors and protected vegetation. The park advises against swimming on days of strong mistral and warns that jellyfish are possible; the underwater trail is busiest midweek in July and August. Port-Cros National Park core area: dogs banned from the beaches, no fires or smoking outside the village, no camping, no motor vehicles. On Port-Cros dogs are banned everywhere outside the village. From June to September the Var prefecture sets access to the forest massifs day by day (order of 19 June 2018 as amended); on the top levels access is banned.
- Parking
- No cars on Port-Cros; the island is visited on foot only.
- Public transport
- TLV-TVM ferry from Hyères harbour (Port Saint-Pierre) to Port-Cros, 45 minutes, then the path from the village.
- Also here
- Snorkelling
Cost and facilities
- Entry
- Free, public shore
- Official site
- cotedazurfrance.fr