Escapade Change of scenery at Port-Cros

This week’s excursion is steeped in nature: we’re off to visit Port-Cros Island. Just off the coast of the Hyères, it is one of the few places on the Côte d’Azur to remain unspoilt. It’s approximately twenty inhabitants live there in harmony their environment, and visitors are similarly required to respect some simple but important rules.

Port-Cros Island

Taking the boat from Hyères, we arrive at Port-Cros Island, where we can explore its beautiful cliffs, battered by the waves of the Mediterranean, Palud Beach, and Estissac and Eminence Forts. Similarly we can explore Port-Cros village, tucked away at the back of a bay.

You cannot help but be instantly captivated by the beauty of this island. Port-Cros was also considered to be strategically important, and as such, over time, four forts were built on it. However, the island’s undoubted attraction is its biological richness: owing to its status as a national park Port-Cros enjoys great protection afforded it by the French ministry of ecology.

The island is, therefore, a remarkable haven to the plant and animal life that co-habit its stunning landscape in perfect harmony. Nature-lovers will be pleased to discover many types of migratory birds, such as the Black Kite, European Honey Buzzard, Hoopoe and many passerines. Mammals found on the island include bats, wild cats, rabbits and mice.

Port-Cros is the perfect change of scenery, far from any cars and city noise, and it provides refreshing sea air.

Fancy a little walk?

Despite remaining largely untamed, Port-Cros Island has over 30km of prepared walking paths, offering a wide selection of pleasant routes to choose from.

Port-Man is the longest circuit. It passes inland, giving you an opportunity to enjoy the refreshing shelter of its trees, as well as going close to the seafront. The path also takes you passed some of the island’s historical highlights, in particular, the Bay of Port-Man. The walk is easy, a large part of it being on a tarmacked path.

The Circuit des Crêtes, which goes through the little Valley of Solitude and the island’s most southerly beach, is the shortest, taking about 3 hours to complete.

For a shorter walk, try the Sentier des Plantes, which takes about 35 minutes to complete.