Ön Port-Cros i Frankrike - Frankrikes exotiska nationalpark

The island of Port-Cros in France is one of the so-called Golden Islands on the Côte d'Azur. It is reminiscent of the Caribbean with its lush green vegetation, beautiful beaches and relaxed bars where you can drink mojitos and listen to good music.

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On the island of Port-Cros in France

The island of Port-Cros in France, together with Île du Levant and Porquerolles, form the so-called Golden Islands off Hyères on the Côte d'Azur. All three islands have different characteristics: Île du Levant is an island for naturists, Porquerolles is the most touristic island and Port-Cros consists mainly of a national park.

The national park status of Port-Cros means, among other things, fantastic wild and protected nature, and there is no smoking on most of the island.

Nice Caribbean atmosphere in the harbour

When you arrive by boat at Port-Cros, which runs from, among other places, the Saint-Pierre Marina in Hyère or from the harbour of La Lavandou (where we took it), you are greeted by the charming little harbour of the island. Here a number of small restaurants are close together and the atmosphere is great. We started with a small lunch in the form of a mozzarella sandwich at L'Hostellerie Provençale, before heading out into nature.

READ MORE: The Abbey of Thoronet in Provence
READ MORE: Le Lavandou - Côte d'Azur in France

Beaches at Port-Cros

There are several beautiful beaches on Port-Cros, including Plage de Port Man, Plage du Sud and Plage de la Palud. We decided to walk to Plage de la Palud, which involved a beautiful walk through intense greenery, which occasionally opened up to magical views of the sea.

If it hadn't been so incredibly hot, we would of course have reached the beach. I (Helena) am very sensitive to heat due to migraines, and it often doesn't matter that I load up with hat, sunglasses and lots of water. However, sometimes the sun and the heat stop us, and after 35 minutes of walking we had to turn around, because I simply didn't know how to get back otherwise.

The tip for you is to still go here in high season if you can tolerate heat better than me - but to choose June or September if you are sensitive to heat like me.

Beaches Plage de la Palud

A series of signs point the way to the Plage de la Palud beach, which is a 45-minute walk from the village. Here, as on the other beaches on the island, there are supposed to be fantastic opportunities to see all kinds of fish in the crystal clear water. We had to settle for looking at the beach from a distance ...

READ MORE: The Giens peninsula in France - outside Hyères
READ MORE: Shopping in Cannes - a quiet day on the French Riviera

Not always as intended ...

Of course, cancelling the walk to the beach was not part of the plan, but we had to do it to keep my migraine from exploding. When we went to cool off at a small pebble beach near the harbour instead, Peter cut his foot. We have washed and bandaged it and so far it seems to be ok, fingers crossed! We're not showing a picture of it, so instead you'll have to make do with two pictures of the Fort du Moulin from 1580, located on the island.

But still pretty good!

After swimming, shade and water, my headache actually got better, and we were able to spend an hour or so at the lovely restaurant in the harbour. Here they played schlager while the guests sang along, and the waiters brought out drinks, seafood platters and coconut ice cream at a fast pace. Shortly afterwards we took the boat to Le Lavandou, where we had an ice cream before continuing by bus to the campsite and our motorhome!

Port-Cros is an amazing island with wild nature, crystal clear waters and a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere in the bars. We thought this didn't exist in Europe - go here if you can!

More golden islands in France

Read also about the other two golden islands in France. Porquerolles is the most touristy island with Notre Dame beach, which has been voted the most beautiful in France. The Île du Levant is a wild island where everyone goes completely naked.

READ MORE: Île du Levant in France - Europe's only naturist island
READ MORE: Porquerolles Island - with the most beautiful beach in France

There are also three small islands in the archipelago of Iles d'Hyères, located in the south of France between Nice and Marseille, which are Saint Honorat, Bendor and Embiez.

Notre Dame vackraste strand — The island of Porquerolles with the most beautiful beach in France

20 Comments

Add yours →

Hasse says:

Ouch, it sounds like an ordeal. Hope the foot heals nicely and the migraine fades away. Exciting island.

06 August 2018 - 8:09

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It's a bit of a struggle sometimes in the heat 😉 The island is amazing!
  
  06 August 2018 - 10:19
  
Ama de casa says:

But what bad luck with both migraine and cuts! Hope it is good with both now ...

A schlager bar doesn't sound bad 😀.

PS: It says "ERROR: Sorry, human verification failed" below. I'm taking a chance on commenting without ticking that box which is probably the one that has failed 😉.

06 August 2018 - 8:27

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Our comments section is a bit of a mess, unfortunately! We want it to be easy for everyone to comment of course! But at least your comment came out 🙂
  
  06 August 2018 - 10:57
  
Seija Viitamäki-Carlsson says:

Next trip to France! Thanks again for the inspiration. Hope the migraine stays away.

06 August 2018 - 8:56

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  This is a super nice destination! 🙂 The heat is tough for me, but I do my best to find shade 😉.
  
  06 August 2018 - 10:58
  
Monet says:

Great that you also got the "Caribbean feeling"! It is a fantastic experience with this island so it is a bit of a shame that this most extreme "canicule" in living memory as it is now said, strikes just when you are here! You are certainly not the only one affected by this Helena, French news is totally dominated by how long this will last, what maximum temperatures are expected and of course all the advice on drinking and keeping cool in different ways. Porquerolles today?

06 August 2018 - 10:40

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, the heat is tough! It's ok to be in the shade, I think, but the sun is hard on me! Fantastically nice island anyway, magical! And yes, Porquerolles today (on the boat now)!
  
  06 August 2018 - 11:02
  
Steve says:

What an amazing island. Another place previously unknown to me.
Hope the migraine has subsided and Peter's foot is ok so you can continue to show all the FREEDOM fans the gems along your way.

06 August 2018 - 10:48

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  These islands are not so well known to Swedes, it seems. But they are fantastic! 🙂
  
  06 August 2018 - 10:59
  
Liniz Travel says:

So many beautiful places you visit and so nice articles you write! Enjoy the trip hugs

06 August 2018 - 10:59

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  There are many beautiful places in Europe! Glad you like our reports Lina! 🙂
  
  06 August 2018 - 11:02
  
Our Vantastic Travels says:

Lovely hanging pictures with all the fruit that is so colourful. Nice gems you found, easy to miss these islands as the coastal strip on the mainland has so much to offer.

06 August 2018 - 18:49

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agree that it is easy to miss these gems! But they are worth a little detour ðŸ™'
  
  06 August 2018 - 23:34
  
BP says:

Your photos really convey the Caribbean feeling perfectly! An absolutely marvellous island. Have to admire you and Peter for actually venturing out in this heat. It was well done. As you know, I know exactly how you feel. Worrying about Peter's foot. Hope it goes well.

As a curiosity, I can tell you that I actually cut my knee on a pebble beach in Hyères when I was there. It bled like hell for a long time I can say.

06 August 2018 - 21:00

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  The heat is certainly not to be trifled with! I would probably prefer the islands a little before or after the high season, but it is amazingly beautiful! 🙂 Maybe there are a lot of sharp stones at Hyeres 😉.
  
  07 August 2018 - 12:23
  
Ann-Louise says:

How beautiful it looks! I hope your migraines and cuts are better now.

06 August 2018 - 21:37

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It is stunningly beautiful! And thank you! The migraine is better and the cut will hopefully also be better 🙂 .
  
  07 August 2018 - 12:24
  
Lena - gott för själen says:

Seems like a really nice place! Sad migraine and foot injury!

Hug Lena

13 August 2018 - 6:08

- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Fantastic place! Tough with illness and injury of course, but it gets better!
  
  31 August 2018 - 14:54

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Île du Levant in France - Europe's only naturist island | FREEDOMtravel

Port-Cros Island in France - France's exotic national park

On the island of Port-Cros in France

Nice Caribbean atmosphere in the harbour

Beaches at Port-Cros

Beaches Plage de la Palud

Not always as intended ...

But still pretty good!

More golden islands in France

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20 Comments

Hasse says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Seija Viitamäki-Carlsson says:

Helena says:

Monet says:

Helena says:

Steve says:

Helena says:

Liniz Travel says:

Helena says:

Our Vantastic Travels says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Ann-Louise says:

Helena says:

Lena - gott för själen says:

Helena says:

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