BEACHES · CAP FERRET
Big wild beaches facing the Atlantic, small calm beaches facing the Dune du Pilat: all our favourite beaches in Cap Ferret, rated and explained.
On the Bassin side, beaches are at their best at high tide: check the tide times before you go. On the ocean side, only swim between the flags in summer.
To the west, the Atlantic Ocean: huge beaches backed by dunes, waves, surfing and sunsets over the open sea. To the east, the Arcachon Bay (Bassin): small beaches below the villas and oyster huts, calm and warmer water, with the Dune du Pilat opposite. To go from one to the other, just cycle across the peninsula.
On the Bassin side, everything depends on the tide. At high tide, the water comes right up to the sand: it is the best time to swim at Le Mimbeau, Le Petit Piquey or L’Herbe. At low tide, the Bassin empties and reveals oyster beds and sandbanks. Before you go, check our tide times for Cap Ferret.
On the ocean side, only swim in the lifeguarded areas, between the flags. In summer, three beaches have a lifeguard station: Le Grand Crohot, Le Truc Vert and L’Horizon. Beware of “baïnes”, sandy hollows that create currents pulling out to sea. On the Bassin side, no beach is lifeguarded. Everywhere, dogs, fires and camping are banned on the beach.
For us, Le Truc Vert on the ocean side, for its wildness, and Le Mimbeau on the Bassin side, at high tide. Our full ranking is in the 7 most beautiful beaches in Cap Ferret (in French).
On the Bassin side, around high tide: the water is calm and shallow at Le Petit Piquey, Le Grand Piquey or Le Mimbeau. These beaches are not lifeguarded, so always keep an eye on the children.
Three ocean beaches, in summer only: Le Grand Crohot, Le Truc Vert and L’Horizon, from mid-June to mid-September according to the town hall. The Bassin beaches are not lifeguarded.
No: access to the beach at the Pointe has been banned by prefectoral order since 2016, because of erosion and the very strong currents in the channel. You can enjoy it from nearby, respecting the barriers. We explain everything in our article on the Pointe du Cap-Ferret (in French).
Photo credits: Laguilb video; map and guides: Pierre (Rennes), CC BY 2.0 and CC BY-SA 2.0; Grand Parc – Bordeaux, CC BY 2.0; Mathieu Sonnet, CC BY-SA 4.0; Rundvald, CC BY-SA 4.0; Orikrin1998, CC BY 3.0; Mariette, public domain; Stephane Desmoulin, CC BY-SA 3.0; Artemco, CC BY-SA 4.0; Prométhée33, CC BY-SA 3.0; John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0. All via Wikimedia Commons.
