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District · Saint-Gilles

Boucan Canot

A busy cliff-backed beach with a row of restaurants; the sea is rough and swimming is only allowed when the beach signs say so.

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Key facts

Suits
Sunset drinks, watching the surf
Sights here
1
Eats here
1

What it's like

Feels:
Dramatic and windy: cliffs, a rough sea and beach restaurants
Suits:
Sunset drinks, watching the surf
Best time:
Late afternoon
Watch out for:
Swimming unless the beach is marked open.
In short:
A busy cliff-backed beach with a row of restaurants; the sea is rough and swimming is only allowed when the beach signs say so.

About these names

There are no street-level neighbourhoods to memorise: choose the port for restaurants on foot, L'Hermitage for the lagoon, and use the car for everything else.

Saint-Gilles is a coastal strip about 6 km long from north to south. The marina and the seafront promenade sit in the middle. North is Boucan Canot, a beach with restaurants under the cliffs. South is L'Hermitage-les-Bains, the long lagoon beach and quieter hotel zone. Inland, on the hills above, Saint-Gilles-les-Hauts is a separate village with the botanical garden. Saint-Paul, with the big market and the cemetery, is a 20-minute drive north-east.

Where exactly

This district is highlighted. Shapes follow this guide's walking areas and places, not official boundaries.

Boucan Canot on the Saint-Gilles mapTap an area for what it is like and who it suits. Shapes follow this guide’s walking areas and places, not official boundaries.
L'Hermitage · $$Saint-Gilles port · $$$

Boucan CanotBoucan Canot

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A busy cliff-backed beach with a row of restaurants; the sea is rough and swimming is only allowed when the beach signs say so.

Suits: Sunset drinks, watching the surf

On the map: Boucan Canot beach

District guideWalk: Boucan CanotIn the districts table

Off the map: Roland Garros Airport (RUN) (55–80 min by the usual route).

Where’s what, as a list:

  • Saint-Gilles port and seafront (Port de Saint-Gilles): The marina, the promenade, dive and whale desks and the restaurant strip; lively in the evening, hot at midday. Suits: First stay, dinners on foot, boat trips. Price band $$$.
  • L'Hermitage lagoon (L'Hermitage-les-Bains): A 3 km lagoon behind the reef, calm water, shaded beach road and hotels close to the sand; fewer restaurants late. Suits: Swimming, snorkelling, families, quiet nights. Price band $$.
  • Boucan Canot (Boucan Canot): A busy cliff-backed beach with a row of restaurants; the sea is rough and swimming is only allowed when the beach signs say so. Suits: Sunset drinks, watching the surf.
  • Saint-Paul (Saint-Paul): The commune's seat: seafront market, marine cemetery, a grid of old streets; a car ride from the resort. Suits: The Friday market, old-town history.
  • Sleep area L'Hermitage: suits Swimming, snorkelling, families, quiet nights, price band $$.
  • Sleep area Saint-Gilles port: suits First stay, dinners on foot, boat trips, price band $$$.
  • Roland Garros Airport (RUN), 55–80 min by the usual route.

Stay here?

Not a base in this guide

No sleep area here has scores. The best-placed bases are Saint-Gilles port and seafront, L'Hermitage lagoon.

See

Opening hours and prices from each place page; (check) means typical hours, not yet verified.

  • Boucan Canot beachBook a time

    Come at 16:30 for the sunset view and a drink; swim only if the beach signs and flags say it is open that day.

    Hours:
    The beach is open at all hours; swimming rules and lifeguard cover vary by day, so check signs on arrival.(check)
    Entry:
    Free

Eat

What to order and what locals pay, from each eat page. Prices are estimates; check the menu.

  • Boucan Canot sunset terrace

    A beach-front terrace for a Dodo beer or rhum arrangé at sunset: arrive by 17:00 for a table facing the sea, and book if you want dinner.

    Order: Dodo: Une Dodo, s'il vous plaît.

    Price: A Dodo is €3–5 (≈ US$4–6); a cocktail €8–12 (≈ US$10–14).

Drink and nightlife

Lines from the Saint-Gilles drinking guide that name this district.

  • Sunset bars at Boucan Canot · Beach-front drinks and dinner · until about 22:00–23:00 (check)Arrive before 17:30 to get a table facing the sea in season.

Getting there and around

Where to get off

  • Car park behind the beach or the road along it · for Boucan Canot beach
  • Boucan Canot beach road · 4 min walk to Boucan Canot sunset terrace

Walks inside the district

  • Boucan Canot beach (look, swim only if open) → Boucan Canot sunset terrace: 4–7 min on foot (Walk to the beach-front terrace)

On to the next area

Minutes are this guide’s typical walking and ride times (p50–p90); traffic and heat stretch them.

Photo and sunset spots

  • Boucan Canot at sunset

    Light: 17:00–18:15

    Shoot from the beach or the terrace with the cliffs in the frame; sunset is early, so arrive 30 minutes before.

Safety at night and noise

  • Boucan Canotday: cautionnight: ok

    Rough sea and swimming bans; break-ins to parked hire cars.

Nearby districts

Built from this guide’s Saint-Gilles districts table, place, eat and sleep pages, route graph and city notes. Hours, prices and rules change: anything marked (check) is typical, not verified. checked: 2026-09.