station balneaire
Saint-Gilles
Réunion's flagship beach resort: turquoise lagoon protected by a coral reef, white-sand beach under the filaos, and humpback whale watching boat trips from June to October.
Saint-Gilles-les-Bains and its beach satellite L'Hermitage-les-Bains form the main beach resort of Réunion — and the only one to offer the truly beach experience in the classical sense of the term: white sand, protected lagoon, hotels at the water's edge, restaurants open to the sunset, lively marina. The secret lies in the coral reef that borders the coast for 25 kilometres between Saint-Gilles and Étang-Salé, creating an inner lagoon with calm, shallow turquoise waters (1 to 3 metres deep), away from the risks of ocean swell and the shark presence that weighs on other coasts of the island.
Saint-Gilles-les-Bains is the tourist heart of the west coast. A former fishing port converted into a beach hub in the 1970s, it is today a lively resort of about 8,000 inhabitants intra-muros, which sees its population double in high season. The marina concentrates the animation: seafront restaurants (Le Manta, Loca Lova, Bonne Marmite), tourist shops, departures of whale and diving outings. The Roches Noires beach is an urban beach of blonde sand, supervised but outside the lagoon: swimming authorised under vigilance but not recommended for children (presence of currents).
L'Hermitage-les-Bains, 2 km south of Saint-Gilles, is the purest beach setting: fine white-sand beach bordered by filaos (casuarinas) under which Réunionese picnic at weekends, shallow turquoise lagoon, more family and quiet atmosphere than Saint-Gilles. This is where the best resort hotels on the island are concentrated: Lux Saint-Gilles (5 stars, private beach, spa), Hôtel Le Récif (4-star superior), Iloha Seaview Hotel (4 stars). La Saline-les-Bains, even further south, extends the lagoon zone with an equally beautiful but even less frequented beach.
Snorkelling is the highlight activity: the Marine Reserve of Trou d'Eau at La Saline-les-Bains (access from the beach) is one of the best spots accessible on foot — parrotfish, angelfish, clownfish, leopard rays, sometimes green turtles. Scuba diving is exceptional outside the lagoon: world-class spots around Cap La Houssaye, the Drop-off at Pointe au Sel. And from June to October, humpback whales come up from Antarctica to give birth and mate in these protected waters: observation outings from Saint-Gilles and Saint-Leu (€60-80/person, 3h) are among the world's finest cetacean observation experiences.
What we love
- ✅Only lagoon in Réunion: calm turquoise waters, safe swimming and snorkelling
- ✅White-sand beach at L'Hermitage and La Saline-les-Bains, bordered by filaos
- ✅Humpback whale observation from June to October: exceptional boat trips
- ✅Best hotel offer in Réunion: 4-5 stars, resorts, spa, private beach
- ✅Dry and sunny climate year-round (west coast microclimate, 300 days of sun)
What to know
- ❌Very busy during school holidays (July-August, Christmas): packed beaches
- ❌Shallow lagoon (1-3 m), no diving experience inside
- ❌Shark risk outside lagoon: swimming banned at Boucan Canot, Trois Bassins, Saint-Leu
- ❌Most expensive area of Réunion: hotels and restaurants at tourist prices
Situation
Où se situe Saint-Gilles ?
Ouvrir la carte en grand sur OpenStreetMap →Frequently asked questions
Is the L'Hermitage beach really beautiful?+
Is snorkeling worth it?+
When to see humpback whales?+
Why is swimming banned in places?+
Which hotels to choose in Saint-Gilles or L'Hermitage?+
What to do during 2-3 days in Saint-Gilles?+
Where to eat in Saint-Gilles and L'Hermitage?+
Our verdict
Saint-Gilles - L'Hermitage is the essential beach setting of a stay in Réunion. This is where you decompress from the long-haul flight, where you savour sunsets over the lagoon from Boucan Canot, where you swim with humpback whales from June to October and where you treat yourself to the tropical resort experience with French comfort. The protected turquoise lagoon is the only truly safe swimming area on the island, and the snorkelling quality at L'Hermitage and La Saline is remarkable. Plan 2 to 3 nights on site as part of a complete 10-14 day stay — enough to enjoy the lagoon, do a whale outing (season) and a paragliding lesson at Saint-Leu, without locking yourself into just beach comfort when the cirques and volcano await.
Nearby
"Été austral chaud-humide, cyclones possibles."
Expert on Saint-Gilles · 1 contributions
Africa & Americas Desk — Mowando·Editor