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When I first arrived on the island, I was fully aware of the shark attacks that made this one of the most deadly islands in the world. Therefore I was incredibly conscious that many of the beaches here were prohibited to swim in, but due to the lack of (up to date) information online, I didn't know which beaches they were. So I've compiled this list (organised North to South) on the best beaches specially for swimming, but also perfect for picnics, snorkelling and water sports.
From volcanic black sand beaches to coral white sand – La Réunion has many incredible beaches! The majority of the beaches on Réunion Island can be found on the west coast, around Saint-Gilles les Bains. Both the West and South host an amazing coral reef which stretches along the coast to form several lagoons, perfect for snorkelling. The marine life is rich, with more than 200 different types of coral and 1000 different species of fish, Saint Pierre is ideal to see all this. Beaches around Saint-Gilles are lush and packed with amenities. And many of these beaches are perfect for picnics, especially Grande Anse.
Boucan Canot
Have I mentioned Boucan Canot enough? This is one of the most famous beaches on the island and it is my favourite. Theres no lagoon, but it means you can hear the waves crashing against the sand whilst you sunbathe and you're surrounded by palm trees. There are plenty of restaurants, snack bars and cafés, suitable for lunch, dinner or just a drink. It is safe to swim in the ZoneX protected area, and in the natural/man-made pool, both of which are watched by lifeguards. There are volleyball nets, and the beach is fairly long making it lovely for a sunset walk. On windy days it's also the ideal beach for kiteboarding.
More on Boucan Canot:
L'Hermitage
Part of the big lagoon on the west coast, L’Hermitage has beautiful crystal clear water, perfect for snorkelling, and paddle boarding and certainly safe for swimming. It's covered by many “filao” trees so shade is in abundance. It's a good spot for picnics and has a large number of amenities; supermarket, shops and snack bars.
Saline-Les-Bains
Just down the coast from l'Hermitage, Saline-Les-Bains is also ideal for swimming and snorkelling as it is also part fo the lagoon. Planch’Alizé, a popular beach restaurant, provides paddle boards, kayaks and umbrellas for rent.
Saint-Pierre
Another one of my favourites, this beach is directly located in front of the city center, close to snack bars and public toilets. The water part of a lagoon so perfect conditions for swimming and snorkelling. Most of the time there is a fresh breeze which is nice when its getting really hot in summer, but sometimes this can be too overwhelming.
Grand Anse
Though I only visited Grand Anse briefly, I fell in love. It is such a beautiful and natural beach, located in a bay in the wild South. It is covered with palm trees and grass areas, perfect for picnics. There is a protected natural pool for swimming too.
Other nice beaches suitable for swimming:
Saint Leu
