Beach "Anse Bonnet Carré"

Facts:

• 200m x 4m - very few visitors
• Shallow water, however strong tides.
• Seaweed is sometimes present, but usually clear
• Remote, empty beach in the south of La Digue
• A good spot for snorkelling

Map:

At a Glance:

• Wild, isolated beach in the south of the island with shallow water and a partial coralline surface.
• Access is via a granite path, so visitors should be careful not to slip on the surface, as it can be dangerous when wet.
• Most visitors here will come with a guide on their way to visit Anse Marron.
• On-foot access is via the Union Estate. Entrance fee costs 100 Seychelles Rupees per person each day. Anse Bonnet Carré can be found about 1.5 km from the estate.
• The easiest way to access the beach is via the sea at low tide from Anse Source d’Argent or Anse Pierrot.
• Natural shade provides protection from the sun.

Description:

Anse Bonnet Carré is an isolated, quiet beach in the south of La Digue. The area is rarely-visited by tourists, with most people just passing through on the way to Anse Marron, and usually with a tour guide. Anyone coming this way will have to walk on the rocks at certain points, and the granite can be especially slippery when wet, so anyone wanting to walk this way should be careful not to slip, and shouldn’t make the journey solo. In order to access Anse Bonnet Carré on-foot, visitors must pay the entrance fee at the Union Estate, which is 100 Rupees per person per day. Once inside the estate, Bonnet Carré is about 1.5 km south of the entrance, in between Anse aux Cèdres and Anse Marron. Most visitors will not come alone, but will pass through the area on their way to Anse Marron with a tour guide, therefore the beach is almost always empty. Anse Bonnet Carré offers little in the way of facilities, with the nearest being in the Union Estate. However, the shallow water means that it’s possible to snorkel here, although the flat, coral seabed offers little protection from waves, so visitors should be careful. Additionally, the water is too shallow at low tide to swim or snorkel, so this is only really possible at high tide, when the water often covers the entire beach. However, even at high tide, the water isn’t particularly deep. Anse Bonnet Carré is a particularly isolated beach that offers a few possibilities to visitors. The uniquely ‘wild’ atmosphere makes the beach an interesting prospect, at least for guests passing by on their way to Anse Marron, and the complete lack of visitors means that anyone wanting to relax could do so easily here. However, the route can be dangerous, so visitors should avoid coming here alone, and should strongly consider hiring a tour guide.