Harbour

Port-Cros

4.0Hyères, FranceVar

Maximum length: 49 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 8 ft

Small harbour on Port-Cros island, within the Port-Cros national park, off Hyères in the Var.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the north through the Passe de Bagaud between Port-Cros and Bagaud islet. Entrance open to the north, sheltered from the mistral. Anchoring is banned inside the park, so pick up one of the fitted moorings; the buoys are easier and less stressful than the tight pontoon, where space between fingers is narrow and boats lie only about halfway along for depth. Dinghies land at a dedicated dock on the starboard side. VHF 9.

Practical

Around 110 berths, 2.5 m maximum draught. Harbourmaster office on the quay. No water or electricity on the pontoons, only about 20 litres per boat by the toilets, and no fuel on the island. A night is roughly 46 to 48 euros for an 11 to 14 m boat, though the pontoon and moorings are free by day until 1800, and the outer buoy field from Bagaud to the southern beach costs less than the harbour buoys. Rats have come aboard along the mooring warps, so fit rat guards. Small grocery, bakery and a few restaurants along the single lane behind the quay.

Ashore

Sentier des Plantes loop from the quay to Fort de l'Estissac, 20th century battery now hosting the park visitor centre, 1 km. Plage de la Palud at 1.2 km with a marked underwater snorkelling trail along the posidonia meadows. Mont Vinaigre summit at 196 m, 2.5 km south.

History

Port-Cros became the first marine and terrestrial national park in Europe in 1963. Forts d'Estissac, de l'Éminence and du Moulin date from the 16th to 19th centuries and defended the Hyères roadstead.