Anchorage

Baie De Saint Jean De Luz

Shelter: NE, W, E, SW, S, SE
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Anchorage of around 15 berths on sand inside the Baie de Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Pyrenees-Atlantiques, protected by three seawalls built between 1864 and 1895.

Water
Visitor buoys
Pontoon
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Enter through the central pass between the digues de Sainte-Barbe, de l'Artha and de Socoa. The Artha breakwater in the middle of the bay breaks the Atlantic swell. Keep clear of the submerged part of the Artha dyke, marked by a cardinal. Drop the hook on sand east of the Socoa pass in 4 to 8 metres. VHF 9 for the harbour office. Shelter is good from the W sector thanks to the breakwaters, but any wind or swell with north in it makes the anchorage roll, uncomfortable through the night even in light N to NW airs; the only refuge from the swell is inside the marinas.

Practical

Water available ashore. About 15 moorings in the bay, with free passage buoys that are not laid for boats over 5 tonnes. Port Larraldenia at 0.4 NM S and Port de Socoa at 0.8 NM W offer full marina services if the swell builds.

Ashore

Land by tender at Port Larraldenia, quai François Turcano, within about three hours of high water and watching the current in the canal; the town beach pontoon is now closed to tenders and the Cale aux Chevaux ferry slip is best avoided. Covered market Les Halles at 300 m, open daily in season. Maison Louis XIV on place Louis XIV, where Louis XIV stayed for his 1660 wedding to Maria Theresa of Spain, at 400 m. A train links the town to Biarritz in a few minutes. GR 8 coastal path to Hendaye starts at Socoa fort.

History

The bay was fortified from 1627 onwards by Vauban, who designed the Socoa fort that still marks the western entrance. The three outer breakwaters were built between 1864 and 1895 under Napoleon III to close the bay after repeated storm damage to the town.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 43.39164, -1.66619 (43°23.50'N 1°39.97'W)
Country: France
Shelter: Sheltered from north-east, west, east, south-west, south, south-east winds
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed
Maximum length: 49 ft
Fees: Paid
VHF channel: 9
Phone: +33559472681
Services: Water, Visitor buoys, Pontoon, Beach
Boaters' rating: 4.3/5
Updated: October 15, 2026

Getting there

Baie De Saint Jean De Luz lies at 43°23.50'N 1°39.97'W, that is 43.39164, -1.66619 in decimal degrees. Call the harbour on VHF channel 9 before entering.

Directions +33559472681VHF 9