Port Launay

The beach is part of Port Launay Marine National Park, which was given protected status in 1979. It is the only marine park in the Seychelles that can be reached both by road and by boat, and it takes in six beaches. On the way here you drive through the Port Launay Coastal Wetlands, a mangrove area protected as a Ramsar site since 2004, which is home to all seven mangrove species found in the Seychelles. You can read more on the page Port Launay Coastal Wetlands.

From the Clock Tower in Victoria, drive to the traffic lights and turn left into Revolution Avenue. Pass the police headquarters (on your left) and take the first road on the left after it, Bel Air Road. Follow it over the mountain to the other side of the island, past the Everglow shop, the Mission Lodge viewpoint and the tea factory. At Port Glaud you meet the coast road and turn right. Follow it past Eden's Holiday Resort and the church (on your right) and through the mangroves until you reach the end of the two-lane road. Look out for the "Marine Park" sign on the left, which points the way to Port Launay. The whole journey takes about an hour.

If you are coming from the southern tip of the island, you can also follow the coast road north, past Grand Anse beach. The road over the mountain has plenty of bends, but it makes up for that with its viewpoints.

Route 13 (via La Misère) and route 14 (via Sans Souci) both go to Port Launay. From Victoria the bus takes longer than the car. Current timetables are published by the bus company SPTC. Above all, check the last return bus in the afternoon. There are bus stops and parking spaces on the road by the beach.

The neighbouring Baie Ternay marine park has no direct road access. If you want to visit it, book a boat trip, which usually combines snorkelling with a barbecue. A trip along the west coast also shows you beaches that cannot be reached by land. You can read more on the page Baie Ternay.

The water is shallow, deepens only gradually and is usually calm in the sheltered bay, which makes the beach a good choice for families with children. The reefs on either side of the bay are good for snorkelling. During the south-east monsoon the west coast lies in the lee of the wind, so the sea here is especially calm in those months. Beach guides report algae and seagrass in the water at the south beach, mostly between June and September. After stronger winds there can be more drifting debris at other times of year too.

During whale shark season the park draws these animals in, as they feed on the plankton here. A sighting can never be guaranteed. Ask about the current situation when you book a trip.

The marine park has rules: motorised water sports such as water skiing are banned. Spearfishing, fishing tackle and fish traps are not allowed in the park. Anchors and boats belong only at the designated spots, so that the reef is not damaged. Do not take away any shells, corals or other marine life.

This is not a developed hotel beach. Large takamaka trees on the beach provide shade. You can get food and drinks at the restaurants of the Constance Ephelia and in a few small shops nearby. If you are a day visitor, check in advance whether you can hire sunbeds or snorkelling gear. To be safe, bring your own equipment, sun protection and drinking water. At low tide you can hire a kayak near the mouth of the mangroves to explore the landscape.

Nearby you will find:

• Anse Port Glaud, a few kilometres further on, with a view of Thérèse Island and the Port Glaud lagoon
• Baie Ternay, the neighbouring marine park with particularly well preserved coral reefs
• Morne Seychellois National Park for hikes in the hills behind the coast
• Tea factory and Mission Lodge on the way back over the mountain