La Digue, small and car-free, is explored by bicycle. Its star is Anse Source d'Argent, a series of shallow turquoise pools framed by huge granite boulders and one of the most photographed beaches on earth, with gentle swimming and a small entry fee through the L'Union Estate. The wilder east-coast beaches, Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos, are dramatic and beautiful but can have strong water, so they suit scenery more than swimming. Go early to Anse Source d'Argent for the best light, and stay a night to have the beaches at their quietest.
La Digue is small, slow and car-free, and you reach its beaches the way the island intends, by bicycle. What it lacks in size it more than makes up for in beauty, with one of the world’s most photographed beaches and a string of wilder coves on its eastern side. Here are the best beaches on La Digue and how to enjoy each.
Anse Source d’Argent: the world’s beach
This is the one everyone comes for, and it earns it. Anse Source d’Argent is a series of shallow, sheltered turquoise pools framed by enormous, sculpted granite boulders, arguably the most photographed beach on earth. The calm, shallow water makes it a gentle place to wade and swim among the rocks, and the light is loveliest in the early morning and late afternoon. It sits within the L’Union Estate, which charges a small entry fee that also lets you see the old plantation and its giant tortoises on the way.
Grand Anse: the wild sweep
On the wilder east coast, Grand Anse is a dramatic, beautiful sweep of sand backed by green hills. It is glorious to look at, but the water here can be powerful, particularly in the southeast trade-wind season, so it is often more for the scenery than for swimming. Check conditions and take care if you go in.
Petite Anse and Anse Cocos: the reward beaches
A short walk on from Grand Anse lie Petite Anse and Anse Cocos, two more wild, beautiful beaches that feel gloriously remote precisely because you have to walk to reach them. The same caution applies to the water, but the sense of having earned a near-empty tropical beach is hard to beat.
| You want | Go to | Note |
|---|---|---|
| The famous, calm, photogenic beach | Anse Source d’Argent | Gentle swimming, small entry fee |
| Wild scenery and a sense of escape | Grand Anse, Petite Anse, Anse Cocos | Water can be strong, check conditions |
Tips for the beaches of La Digue
- Hire a bicycle. It is how the island moves, and the ride between beaches is half the pleasure.
- Go early to Anse Source d’Argent for the best light and the space before the day boats arrive.
- Respect the water on the east coast. Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos can have strong currents.
- Stay a night if you can. The island, and its beaches, quieten beautifully once the day trippers leave.
Plan your visit
La Digue is reached by a short fast ferry, usually via Praslin, and staying over lets you have the beaches at their quietest. Check the ferry schedule for your crossing, and browse our directory for the island’s guesthouses and small hotels if you are staying the night.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best beach on La Digue?
Anse Source d'Argent, a series of shallow turquoise pools framed by huge granite boulders and one of the most photographed beaches in the world. It has gentle, calm swimming and is reached through the L'Union Estate for a small fee.
Is Anse Source d'Argent good for swimming?
Yes, it is one of the gentler beaches for it. The shallow, sheltered turquoise pools make it a calm place to wade and swim among the granite boulders, unlike the wilder east-coast beaches where the water can be strong.
Are the east-coast beaches of La Digue safe to swim?
Grand Anse, Petite Anse and Anse Cocos are dramatic and beautiful but can have strong currents, especially in the southeast trade-wind season, so they suit scenery and a sense of escape more than swimming. Check conditions and take care.
How do you get around the beaches on La Digue?
By bicycle. La Digue is largely car-free, and hiring a bike near the jetty is how the island moves. The ride between the beaches under the palms is half the pleasure, and the terrain near the coast is mostly flat.
Comment (0)