THINGS TO DO · SUNSET
On the ocean side, facing west: our 6 favourite spots, from big beaches to little secret corners.
All these spots are on the ocean side, facing west. On the Bassin side, people come for the sunrise instead. Time calculated for Cap Ferret, to within a few minutes.
In Cap Ferret, the sun sets on the ocean side. All the beaches on the west coast look out to sea: that is where you want to be, feet in the sand, when the sky turns orange. On the Bassin side, people come for the sunrise instead. Here are our 6 favourite spots for a Cap Ferret sunset: well-known big beaches, and a few little secret corners that locals keep to themselves.
SPOT 1 · SECRET SPOT
A few minutes’ walk north of L’Horizon beach, you climb the dune and the ocean opens up wide. No bar, no music: just the sound of the waves and the sun going down.
Our tip: the dunes are fragile, so stay on the existing paths. Directions to the spot.
SPOT 2 · BIG BEACH
On L’Horizon beach, an old blockhouse sits in the sand. Settle on top, facing the ocean, and watch the sun sink. A summer evening classic.
Our tip: the concrete can be slippery and the sand shifts around it: be careful climbing up, especially with children. Directions to the spot.
SPOT 3 · SECRET SPOT
Right next to the Sail Fish, an old German bunker from the Second World War stands at the water’s edge. The setting is raw, the sunset spectacular, and La Pointe du Cap-Ferret is not far away.
Our tip: check the tide times before you come, as at high tide the water can come right up to the bunker. Directions to the spot.
SPOT 4 · SECRET SPOT
Our little secret spot. The landmark is the cemetery, on the Cap Ferret road (D106), at the junction with the Truc Vert forest road, between L’Herbe and La Vigne.
Our tip: bring a torch for the way back, the forest is very dark after sunset. Directions to the spot.
SPOT 5 · BIG BEACH
A big ocean beach, reached by the Truc Vert forest road, near L’Herbe. In the evening, anglers stay in the water until the last light: a perfect picture.
Our tip: only park in the marked spaces. Directions to the spot.
SPOT 6 · BIG BEACH
The surfers’ beach. Sitting at the top of the dune, you watch the last waves in the setting sun. A relaxed atmosphere, wide open spaces and a huge sky.
Our tip: in summer, the car park fills up fast on fine evenings, so come by bike. Directions to the spot.
On the ocean side, on the west coast beaches. Our favourites: the blockhouse on L’Horizon beach, the bunker near the Sail Fish and Le Truc Vert beach.
The Bassin mostly faces east: people come for the sunrise. For a drink at the end of the day, see also our review of Le Mirador (in French).
It changes every day: from about 5.30 pm in December to after 9.30 pm in late June. Our map shows today’s sunset time live. Arrive 30 to 45 minutes early to enjoy the golden hour.
Photo credits. Banner: Grand Parc – Bordeaux, France from France, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 licence (cropped). The other photos are credited under each image.
