Indian summer in the Mediterranean
The Golden Islands are three islands (well, four, but the island of Bagaud is off limits) that are Porquerolles, Port-Cros and Le Levant, all attached to the town of Hyères and located a few miles from the peninsula of Giens. Located less than ten miles from each other, they allow you to enjoy short and peaceful sailings and beautiful discoveries on land.
White sand, warm turquoise waters and luxuriant vegetation are prized by the many tourists who come ashore by the thousands every summer. In Porquerolles, during the summer season, up to 2,000 boats come to anchor every day! This is not the ideal place to enjoy the beauty of the wild landscapes. The agglomeration has just decided to set up a ZMEL - regulated maritime space on ecological anchorage to preserve the posidonia.
If you were to take advantage of the Indian summer and the still mild temperatures of the Mediterranean to discover these three islands now abandoned by tourists, who have returned to work. Here is a small tour of the beautiful beaches and anchorages to discover on the Golden Islands.
First stop at Porquerolles, idyllic beaches
Only 4 miles from Hyères, Porquerolles is the closest to the mainland. It is also the largest of the three islands with an area of 12.54 km and the one that offers the most beautiful beaches on its northern side, embellished with pine forests. To the south, you can discover beautiful coves enclosed by cliffs. On land, there are many hiking trails to go around the island and discover several forts.
Among the "pretty" beaches to discover, the Argent beach is a must as well as the Notre-Dame beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. For a change of scenery, go to the black beach of Langoustier, whose neighbor of the same name has white sand.
Anchoring is a little less regulated than in Port-Cros, but remember to check on the website of the National Park of Port-Cros the different regulations, especially concerning the circulation of motor boats.
In addition to the anchorages along the coast, Porquerolles also has a marina protected from east and south winds by a dike. However, there can be a little chop in case of mistral. 300 places are reserved for visitors for boats of less than 45 m (vessels of more than 24 m are anyway forbidden in the national park) with floating pannes along the dike for boats of less than 13 m. Restricted in the summer, the fresh water is less restricted in the off season. Electricity is available at the dock, but there are also showers.
Port-Cros, an authentic and wild island
Located 7 miles from Porquerolles, Port-Cros is distinguished by its more mountainous and preserved nature. Quiet, it is home to many species of birds, fish and plants. It is also home to the first marine and terrestrial national park in Europe. Here, it's time for a walk along the rocky paths.
Anchoring and navigation are regulated on the island. The marine heartland and the 600 m limit are reserved for clean boats with a speed limit of 12 knots. Personal watercraft and towed vehicles are prohibited, and boats over 24 meters in length may not anchor. It is forbidden to disembark or moor outside the designated areas on the Port-Cros coastline, including the islets of Bagaud, Gabinière and Rascas.
Anchoring is free of charge all day long from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (from April 15 to October 15) in the ZMEL (zone of anchoring and light equipment), which allows anchoring outside the Posidonia. It is therefore forbidden to drop anchor. In the evening - from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. - you will have to pay the harbor tax and, above all, reserve your spot. A total of 68 buoys are available to boaters. However, please note that it is forbidden to leave the boat without anyone on board.
You can visit the beach of La Palud - accessible via dinghy and pontoons - or the beaches of the South in the same way.
Please note that boats anchoring in Port-Cros must automatically be equipped with black water tanks. No waste water must be discharged during your cruise.
Again, if you prefer the port, access and mooring are free from 9 am to 6 pm with a port tax for the night. Be prepared, there is no fuel, no electricity, no shower, but only a sanitary block and a waste sorting area. Mooring is done on a dock.
Le Levant, the ode to naturism
Le Levant adjoins Port-Cros from the east and is located about 6 miles from Porquerolles. This quiet and calm island is almost entirely in a military zone. Nevertheless, you can go for a walk in Heliopolis, a charming village in the west of the island, but... naturist. The beach of the Caves is the only sandy beach of the island, but once again naturism is compulsory. But don't worry if you don't want to live without clothes, the port, the public places and the village square can be visited with clothes on!
