L'Ermitage Beach, Saint-Gilles
Plage de l'Ermitage
Réunion's longest lagoon beach, sheltered by a coral reef, shaded by casuarina trees, with shallow, calm water ideal for snorkelling. Nearby Saint-Gilles is the island's centre for holidays and nightlife.
L'Ermitage beach lies south of Saint-Gilles-les-Bains on the west coast. An outer coral reef blocks the waves further out, creating a lagoon several kilometres long, with water mostly waist to chest deep. The sea is calm and clear, so you can snorkel among corals and tropical fish, which makes it suitable for families. Along the shore is a casuarina forest, where locals often picnic and barbecue on weekends. Thatched-roof restaurants stand on the beach. Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is the liveliest seaside town on the island, with a marina, bars and seafood restaurants. Activities include boat trips to watch dolphins, whale watching from July to October, deep-sea fishing and semi-submarine tours. The nearby Boucan Canot beach is better for watching the sunset. Note that because of shark risk, swimming and surfing are prohibited outside the lagoon, so check the lifeguard flags before going in and stay in supervised areas. The coral reef is fragile, so do not walk on it. The drive from Saint-Denis takes about 40 minutes.
Opening hours
Open all day (lifeguard hours vary; check on site)
Nearby sights
- Boucan Canot Beach
- Mascarin Botanical Garden
- Kélonia
- Stella Matutina Museum
- Maïdo Viewpoint
- Cirque de Mafate
- L'Étang-Salé Beach
- Cirque de Cilaos