Location and character
Baie Cipailles, also called Anse Cipailles, is a lovely beach lined with palms and granite rocks on Silhouette, the third-largest granitic island of the Seychelles. The beach has some good shady spots and a fine view across to the luxury island of North Island.
The bay lies just beyond the beach of Anse La Passe, at the northern end of the hotel grounds. Only the odd visitor wanders over here, and you will usually have large parts of the beach to yourself. The character is wild: big granite boulders, palms along the edge, and sand and stones in the water.
Getting there and the way to the beach
By boat from Mahé
From Mahé, Silhouette can be reached from Labriz Jetty at Bel Ombre in about 35 to 45 minutes by boat. You can book the crossing directly through the resort on Silhouette. Until the end of 2025 the hotel was called Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, and since 2026 it has operated as Labriz Silhouette Resort & Spa. On booking portals you may also find it under the name NIVA Labriz Seychelles. There is no known public scheduled service to Silhouette; the boats belong to the resort.
| Details | As of November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Departure from Bel Ombre | 10:00 and 16:00 |
| Departure from Silhouette | 08:30 and 15:00 |
| Travel time | about 35–45 minutes |
| Price return trip (as of November 2026) | depending on operator €200–210 per adult until 10.01.2027, thereafter €225 according to booking portal; children aged 3–12 about half |
| Check-in | 30 minutes before departure at the jetty |
On foot from La Passe
Directions
From the harbour at La Passe, head north. You either walk through the hotel grounds or, at low tide, along the beach of Anse La Passe. Baie Cipailles lies just past the end of the La Passe beach, at the northern end of the hotel. It takes a little under 30 minutes on foot.
There are no roads on Silhouette in the usual sense, so there is no bus and no car park. If you are staying at the resort, you can hire a bicycle, as the resort offers bikes for rent.
Swimming and snorkelling
The seabed is rocky, which makes swimming uncomfortable in some places. If you walk a little way along the beach, you will find sandy stretches for swimming. The house reef off the beach is suitable for snorkelling, and at low tide parts of it lie exposed. It is best to plan swimming and snorkelling for mid to high tide.
The waters around Silhouette belong to the Silhouette Marine National Park. Fishing and taking corals, shells or other marine life are forbidden there. You will find more on the subject under Diving & Snorkelling. It is best to bring your own mask and fins, or you can hire them at the resort.
Facilities and tips
Guest reports mention that there is no small shop on the island for picking up things you have forgotten. Bring everything you need from the mainland or the resort, and do not leave any rubbish behind.
Nearby
At the northern end of Baie Cipailles the path to Anse Mondon begins, a former settlement with a sheltered beach and good snorkelling. The hike is steep and slippery when wet, about 3 km with roughly 400 metres of climbing. Allow a good 2 hours each way, counted from the resort. Waymarkers stand every 0.5 km. From April to October, during the south-east monsoon, Anse Mondon is especially good for swimming and snorkelling.
On the south-east of the island are the wilder beaches of Anse Lascars and Anse Patates, where waves and currents call for caution. Other places to visit are the Silhouette National Park, the Plantation House and the Dauban Mausoleum. You can find accommodation and restaurants on the island through the map list further down this page.
