After enjoying a 30-minute boat trip to Port-Cros (from Bormes les Mimosas) and a guided tour aboard our hybrid boat, you'll arrive at the port for your full-day stopover on the island, one of the most beautiful nature destinations in the Var! Wondering what to do on Port-Cros to make the most of your stopover? Discover the must-sees on this wild island.
Just ten kilometers from the mainland, at 4 km long and 2.5 km wide, it is the smallest and wildest of the 3 Îles d'Or. A national park since 1963 and Europe's first marine park, the island of Port-Cros is an unspoilt jewel and an ideal place for lovers of nature, calm and serenity.
The Village of Port-Cros
An essential starting point for your stopover on Port-Cros, the village may be small, but it's so welcoming and full of charm. Time seems to have stood still here, and you can enjoy its authenticity in the midst of a few former fishermen's houses, or on one of the terraces of the few restaurants (open in season).
Don't hesitate to visit the "Saint-Tropez" chapel in the inner harbor, or the island's cemetery, where the island's last owners, Marcel and Marceline Henry, were laid to rest before it was bequeathed to the state...
A paradise for nature lovers and hikers
The island of Port-Cros can only be discovered on foot (no bikes here), along the 30 km of marked trails. In order to explore the island freely, and take full advantage of the trails, we recommend you bring good shoes and water bottles. Please note that the island's paths are impassable for baby carriages and wheelchairs.
Hiking in Port-Cros
The island of Port-Cros boasts several hiking trails offering breathtaking views of the island and the natural riches of the Mediterranean. Before setting off to explore the island, be sure to visit the Maison du Parc National. Park staff will be able to provide you with more information on the various hiking trails, as well as on their missions!
Plant Trail
The plant trail is a discovery trail of the island's main characteristic plants.
Along the coast, marvel at the magnificent views from the village to La Palud beach. The return journey is easier if you go through the interior of the island.
Duration: 45 minutes
Level: Medium
Vallon de la Solitude circuit
This tour winds its way through one of the island's three main valleys, discovering how life used to be between ruins and ancient buildings.
Along a shady path, you'll discover the chapel, the manor house and the cemetery, all the way to the dam.
Duration: 1 hour
Level: Easy
Circuit des Crêtes
Discover the island's wildlife on the Crêtes circuit. This circular, panoramic route culminates at Mont Vinaigre, 193m above sea level.
The crest circuit allows you to discover the little beach of the South, the islet of La Gabinière and the craggy landscapes of the south coast.
Duration: 3 hours
Level: Difficult
Circuit des Forts
Discover the military heritage of Port-Cros island. Follow the coastline to Port-Man beach.
The Port-Man circuit offers a wide variety of aspects: coastal walks, intimate forest settings, traces of history, Port-Man Bay.
Duration: 4 hours
Level: Difficult
Are you lucky enough to be calling at Port-Cros ?
So what can you do in Port-Cros during your stopover? Discover all that this wild island has to offer during a busy day! Here are just a few suggestions:
Its underwater trail
Located on La Palud beach (45-minute walk), this underwater trail is the first of its kind in France! Access is free and open to all (in season)!
Equipped with your flippers, mask and snorkel, you'll discover panels immersed under 6 buoys at depths of between 1 and 10 meters, each describing a marine ecosystem, with its flora and fauna, unique to the Mediterranean.
The crystal-clear waters of Port-Cros are teeming with marine life. You might spot groupers, barracudas, sea breams, corbs, conger eels or moray eels.
Its strengths
If today the island of Port-Cros seduces nature lovers with its beauty, calm and serenity, it wasn't always so. For a long time, it was the target of barbarian pirates, including the notorious Barbarossa, who sowed terror.
In the 1630s, Richelieu decided to protect the island from pirate attacks by building 3 forts: Tour de l'Eminence, Fort de l'Estissac and Port Man.
As soon as you arrive in port, you'll also find the first fort built under François 1er, the Fort du Moulin.
Its natural riches
Arriving by boat, Port-Cros appears as a verdant island covered in thick forest.
The island of Port-Cros is home to rare species and many seabirds, such as the peregrine falcon and Scopoli's shearwater.
The island's terrestrial fauna also includes endemic species such as the Phyllodactyl lizard and the Sardinian discoglossus.
The Beaches
Unlike its big sister Porquerolles, the beaches of Port-Cros are very different. There are no long sandy beaches here, but rather small coves with crystal-clear waters teeming with life. Port-Cros has three beaches:
La Palud beach
Facing the Rascas rocks, 45 minutes from the village, this small beach of coarse sand, shaded by tamarisk trees, is the setting for the underwater trail during the summer season.
South Beach
The most accessible of the Port-Cros beaches ( 30-minute walk), it's also the busiest. This small, white-sand beach is the most sheltered in an easterly wind.
Port-Man beach
Located at the end of the magnificent Port-Man bay, this gravel beach is the largest on the island. Well protected from the Mistral, it offers breathtaking panoramic views. But it has to be earned! It takes 2 hours (and good sneakers) to get there.
These sites are just a few of the many treasures Port-Cros has to offer. Don't hesitate to ask our crew what to do in Port-Cros, and explore the island at your leisure to discover all its hidden wonders! There's plenty to see and do during your day's stopover on the island of Port-Cros. Enough to satisfy the interests of all visitors!
Regulations
- No camping or bivouac.
- No motorized vehicles except service or authorized vehicles.
- No waste outside containers.
- No noise or disturbance to preserve the character of the site.
- Dogs are not allowed in order to maintain the tranquillity of the fauna and the cleanliness of the beaches.
In the village of Port-Cros, between the Fort du Moulin and the statue of St Joseph, access for dogs on a leash is authorized. - No picking, no collecting to conserve biological diversity.
- No fires or smoking outside the village to prevent fires and keep the beaches clean.
In addition, forest areas on the island of Port-Cros may be closed to the public. An information map for access to forest areas exposed to the risk of forest fires is published every day at 7 p.m. for the following day on the https://www.risque-prevention-incendie.fr/var/ website. In the event of very severe fire risk, only one path is open on Port-Cros, in the direction of the south beach. In the event of extreme fire danger, all trails on the island are closed.