Location and character
Anse Parnel lies in the south-east of the main island of Mahé. It is a fairly small beach with fine, pale sand and crystal-clear water. The reef offshore keeps the water shallow and calm.
It is a pretty beach in a quiet, idyllic corner of the island, hidden from view. With its shimmering white sand and clear water, it works well for a family outing.
At weekends in particular, a few locals come here to surf and bodyboard, which is why the beach is also known as "Surfers Beach". The Surfers Beach Restaurant stands right on the sand.
The bay is manageable, about 275 m long and roughly 15 m wide, and usually only a few visitors come. It lies on the South Coast Road, which runs directly behind the beach. There are no sunsets over the sea on this south-east coast.
Getting there
By car
Directions
From Victoria, head south along Bois de Rose Avenue, continue on the Providence Highway, pass the airport and join the East Coast Road, which turns into the South Coast Road. The beach is just after Anse Royale, and you can park at the Surfers Beach Restaurant.
The restaurant has its own car park by the road. According to visitor reports, parking there is free. There is no separate beach car park.
By bus
Bus: Route 5 Baie Lazare via Takamaka (and Route 5A)
The bus stop is close to the beach. The buses are run by the state company SPTC. On Route 5 and its variants, services are more frequent on weekdays, while far fewer buses run at weekends. Anse Parnel lies between Anse Royale and Takamaka, so the times here are slightly later than the Takamaka times.
| Route 5 from Baie Lazare Depot (Sat and Sun, as of July 2026) | Takamaka | Victoria |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 | 10:13 | 11:20 |
| 12:00 | 12:13 | 13:20 |
| 13:30 | 13:43 | 14:50 |
| 15:30 | 15:43 | 16:50 |
| 16:30 | 16:45 | 18:00 |
| 18:30 | 18:43 | 19:50 |
The table shows only journeys towards Victoria. For the opposite direction and the other days of the week, see the current timetables at sptc.sc.
Swimming and snorkelling
There are, however, some sharp stones and pieces of coral on the seabed in places, so water shoes are a good idea. At low tide the water here is very shallow, sometimes only knee-deep, while at high tide the beach can disappear completely.
The bay is therefore best for swimming when the water is higher. At low tide it is better for wading and strolling. For snorkelling, you can get close to the reef that protects the bay. The waves are usually small.
From June to September, seaweed can wash up. In these months the south-east trade wind blows, and the south-east coast is on the windward side. You can find the calmer months in the fact box above.
Facilities
The beach itself is undeveloped. Palms and trees along the top of the beach give shade, especially from midday into the afternoon. There are no known sunbeds or parasols, so bring a towel.
For food and drink there is the Surfers Beach Restaurant, right on the beach. The menu ranges from Creole dishes and fresh fish to pizza and curry. You can sit on the terrace or on the sand, and swimwear is welcome. To be safe, pay in cash. Ask about opening hours and the closing day in advance: older directory entries give Tuesday as the closing day, but this has not been recently confirmed. The restaurant also has self-catering holiday chalets.
We could not confirm whether there are public toilets on the beach. It is best to ask at the restaurant.
Tips and surroundings
Anse Parnel lies on the coast road between several beaches. Shortly before it you pass Anse Royale, which you can see further along the coast from the bay. Further on are Anse Forbans, Anse Takamaka and Anse Baleine. If you are planning a long drive along the south coast, you will also reach Anse Intendance. For an overview of the island, see the page on Mahé.
