The 10 most beautiful beaches in the Pyrénées Orientales

From Barcarès to Cerbère on the Côte Vermeille, the coast of the Pyrénées-Orientales alternates between sandy beaches and a rocky coast ideal for scuba diving. To sunbathe during your camping holiday in the Pyrénées Orientales, take a look at the 10 most beautiful beaches in the 66.

Saint-Vincent beach, Collioure

This sandy and gravel beach near Spain is just after the Church of Our Lady of the Angels. Rent a boat or pedal boats to navigate the turquoise waters, and admire the Royal Castle of Collioure visible from the beach. After swimming, lie down on a rental mattress, close your eyes and let the magic work.

Paulilles beach, Port-Vendres

The largest cove in the Paulilles cove (300 m long), labeled Blue Flag, will appeal to swimmers who love small, discreet beaches with its small size and green setting. A small path near the car park connects it with the neighboring beaches, Forat and Bernardi. Don’t forget your mask and snorkel to explore the seabed.

Lydia Beach, Le Barcarès

The name of this supervised beach in summer comes from the liner of the same name that got stuck in the sand in the 1960s. There you will find a few restaurants, access for people with reduced mobility and mattress rentals. This beach is frequented by families because children can swim there in complete safety. It is also famous for its Electrobeach Music Festival, which takes place every summer.

Le Racou, Argelès-sur-Mer

Racou beach between the port of Argelès and the Porteil coves has a beach volleyball court and a nautical center. It especially attracts athletes and swimmers who want to get away from the crowds. If you like the hippie spirit and small restaurants by the beach, you will quickly fall under the spell of Racou.

Anse Sainte Catherine, Port-Vendres

Return to Port-Vendres for a romantic getaway north of Sainte-Catherine cove, near Cape Béar. This cove nestled among the rocks guarantees a total change of scenery. To reach it, park in the parking lot of Bernardi beach and take the coastal path. The ride is very pleasant and the reward meets expectations. Here too, snorkeling is a must.

Sana beach, Banyuls-sur-Mer

This stretch of sand on the Côte Vermeille is less crowded than most of the beaches in Banyuls-sur-Mer. It is located south of the seaside resort, near the helio-marine center, and is accessible by the D914. After swimming, take the time to stroll through the vineyards towards Port-Vendres.

Ouille Beach, Collioure

Between Collioure and Argelès, Ouille beach is perfect if privacy is your first search criterion. In fact, this beach does not usually appear on tourist guides. Rather good news if you want to swim and sunbathe in peace, far from the summer hustle and bustle of the Côte Vermeille seaside resorts.

Peyrefite beach, Cerbère

Located between Cape Peyrefite and Pointe d´en Cames, this 200 m long pebble cove is one of the most beautiful in the Pyrénées-Orientales. You will leave your towel between the Mediterranean and the vineyards, in a peaceful (two car parks nearby) and protected setting which belongs to the Cerbère-Banyuls marine nature reserve.

Mar Estang beach, Canet-en-Roussillon

This charming beach in the north of the Pyrénées-Orientales is unique in that it is less than 500 m from the Saint-Nazaire pond. Swimming in the sea, strolling on the Charles Trenet promenade, cycling around the pond or hiking in the Albères range are a good program for an active day on the Languedoc coast.

South Beach, Torreilles

The Sud beach or Bourdigoul beach in Torreilles, a small seaside resort between Le Barcarès and Sainte-Marie-de-la-Mer, has a naturist area to the right of the first-aid station. The family zone is on the other side, on the left. So make sure you choose your side well to avoid any inconvenience. For many swimmers, this is one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the Pyrénées-Orientales.