France · Îles d'Hyères
Yacht Charter Porquerolles
A national park island with no cars, white-sand beaches on one side and cliffs on the other.
Porquerolles is the largest of the three Îles d'Hyères, seven kilometres long and almost entirely national park. The state bought most of it in 1971 to stop it being built on, which is why an island this close to the Côte d'Azur has one village, no cars and beaches that look like they belong somewhere considerably further south.
Two coasts, two characters
The north side has the sand: Notre-Dame, La Courtade and Plage d'Argent, shallow, pale and backed by pine and eucalyptus. They face the mainland and are sheltered from the mistral, which is what makes them usable.
The south side is cliff and calanque, exposed and dramatic, with the Calanque du Brégançonnet and the old semaphore above it. The contrast between the two shores of a seven-kilometre island is the thing people remember.
The village and the vines
The single village was laid out round a parade ground in 1820 for a garrison, and it still looks like it: a square with plane trees, a church, a handful of restaurants and bicycles instead of cars.
Three domaines grow vines on the island under the Côtes de Provence appellation, and the Conservatoire Botanique keeps collections of Mediterranean fruit varieties that were disappearing — figs, olives, mulberries — as a working orchard rather than a museum.
Practical notes
- Almost the whole island is national park; there are no cars and the village is the only settlement
- The north-facing beaches are sheltered from the mistral; the south coast is cliff and exposed
- Anchoring is regulated inside the park and the crew hold the current zoning
- Toulon-Hyères airport is thirty minutes from the mainland embarkation points
Reached from: the Balearics and the western Mediterranean
Where to dine
A table by the water
Le Mas du Langoustier
PorquerollesAt the western end of the island, in a pine wood above the water, and the most serious kitchen on the Îles d'Hyères.
La Plage d'Argent
PorquerollesTables on the sand on the north shore, reached on foot or by tender, open at lunch.
Place d'Armes
PorquerollesThe village square under the plane trees, where the island eats in the evening and nothing hurries.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
Plage Notre-Dame
Pale sand and shallow water on the sheltered north shore, backed by pine and eucalyptus and reachable only on foot or by sea.
The south cliffs
Calanques and exposed rock along the whole southern shore, with the old semaphore above the Calanque du Brégançonnet.
The Conservatoire Botanique
A working orchard keeping Mediterranean fruit varieties that were disappearing — figs, olives, mulberries — rather than a museum.
Fort Sainte-Agathe
Sixteenth century, above the village, built by François I and holding the island's history in its keep.
The fleet
Yachts available for Porquerolles
Vessels that operate here, from flagship motor yachts to smaller crewed boats. Every rate is quoted on enquiry.
Good to know
Questions we are asked about Porquerolles
- Why is Porquerolles so undeveloped?
- The state bought most of the island in 1971 specifically to stop it being built on. It is national park, there are no cars, and there is one village.
- Which side should we anchor?
- The north, in settled weather — Notre-Dame and La Courtade are shallow, pale-sanded and sheltered from the mistral. The south coast is cliff and calanque and is for looking at rather than lying in.
- What does a yacht charter to Porquerolles cost?
- It depends on the yacht, the season, the crew and the positioning, so we quote on enquiry rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most weeks.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
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Enquire about a charter at Porquerolles
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.