L’Escalet & Cap Taillat Beach Review

Unlike the beach of Pampelonne, which is one of the longest and busiest beaches in Saint Tropez, L’Escalet beach is surrounded by nature, making it a great place to hike as well as to relax. The nature area and coastline are protected by Conservatoire National du Littoral which is an organisation, a bit like the British National Trust, created in 1975 to protect unique environmental zones along the French coast.

The first beach you walk to is a mixture of pebbles and sand, and can get quite crowed, mainly because many people don’t want to walk too much farther for their sunbathing spot. However, it only takes about 5-10 minutes to arrive at the next beach cove, which has the clearest water and perfect white sands. This cove is covered with massive logs, with one actually positioned on the rocks to act like a diving board, for those who have a more adventurous streak at least! But you should take care if you have young children as it can be dangerous around the rocks.

The logs on the beach can be fun for children to play with or for making a much needed shelter from the midday sun. The beach is smaller because of this and it can be hard to find a place to lay down your towel and spread out. The further you walk though the quieter the beach becomes. Due to the long walks, it may not be ideal for young children, however, if they are willing to make the journey, they will have the best day.

What to do

When visiting L’Escalet, you don’t just have to sunbathe on the beach. This is the perfect area and, in our opinion, the best place to hike thanks to the nature reserve and the breath-taking views of the sea.

There is a small café and shop in the parking area, but there is very little after that, so make sure you have a backpack filled with picnic treats.

Unlike Pampelonne, which offers water-sport activities and restaurants, L’Escalet is ideal for simply relaxing on the beach with a picnic.

Best time to go

At the height of the summer, as with many other Saint Tropez beaches it can be difficult to find a spot on the sand. But if you know when to go then you're sure to find a good place.

The busiest time to go to any beach is at the weekend, so if you do plan to go to L’Escalet, plan to go at an early hour to reserve a spot (around 10:30am), or plan to go earlier in the week. You will have to pay for parking if you want to park close to the beach (parking cost 4.40€), however there is free parking- you will have to walk up a steep hill which we wouldn’t recommend in the heat.

Alternatively, you can go to L’Escalet later in the afternoon. You may even find that your don't have to pay for parking after 14:00, and where better to settle for a sunset view...

Not just a summer destination

This beach isn’t just a summer destination. you will often find that people walk their dogs through the nature paths and enjoy a picnic of the deserted sands during the winter and autumn time. The bonus of going at these times is free parking and no crowds, so you can arrive at a time that suits you, and not be part of the summer-rush madness.

If you fancy owning your own slice of this paradise at L'Escalet beach then this stunning villa with unbeatable views might just be the place for you!