🚶 Walks · La Preneuse / Tamarin
Beach walk: La Preneuse → Tamarin
Straight from the villa, north along the sand: past the Martello Tower and the fishing boats of La Preneuse, along the quiet beaches of La Mivoie to the river mouth and the surfers' bay of Tamarin.
The other direction from the villa's beach: walk north along La Preneuse beach, past the Martello Tower, then along the long, quiet stretch of sand in front of the houses and small hotels of La Mivoie, with Le Morne behind you and the Tamarin mountains ahead. The beach ends at the mouth of the Tamarin River, with Tamarin Bay, its surfers and its fishing boats on the other side.
About 4 km each way. At the river mouth, wade across only when the water is low and calm (ask the fishermen); otherwise walk up the bank to the Royal Road bridge (a 10-minute detour) to reach Tamarin public beach. Coffee in Tamarin, then walk back, or carry on to Flic en Flac.
- Starts at the villa
- Quiet beaches of La Mivoie
- Ends at the surfers’ bay of Tamarin
Trail map
Traced along the shoreline from La Preneuse to the Tamarin River mouth and Tamarin public beach.
Trail traced on OpenStreetMap paths: check the signs on the ground, and take the OSM or an offline map app (Organic Maps, maps.me) with you.
What to expect on this walk
- 📍 Where it starts
- La Preneuse public beach, a few minutes' walk from the villa.
- 🧭 The route
- North along La Preneuse beach past the Martello Tower, then the long beach of La Mivoie to the Tamarin River mouth; across the river (wade at low tide, or the Royal Road bridge) to Tamarin public beach (≈ 4 km). Back the same way.
- 🪨 Terrain
- Sand, with coral rubble in places; the river mouth to cross.
- 👁️ Views
- Le Morne behind you, the Tourelle and the Trois Mamelles ahead, the reef offshore.
- 🌅 Best light
- Sunrise towards the mountains, or late afternoon with Le Morne behind you on the way back.
- 🚧 Obstacles
- The Tamarin River mouth: wade only when it's low and calm, otherwise the Royal Road bridge
- 🌊 Tide
- Easier at low tide (firmer sand, rocky points and river mouths easier to pass): check the tide table.
- 🏊 Swimming
- At La Preneuse and in Tamarin Bay (away from the river mouth).
- 👟 Footwear
- Water shoes: wading, coral rubble or sea urchins on the way.
- 🔁 Getting back
- Same way back to the villa, or along the Royal Road (≈ 45 min).
- 🦟 Insects
- None.
- 💧 Water
- Cafés and snacks in Tamarin.
- 👥 Crowds
- Very quiet until Tamarin.
- 📶 Phone signal
- Good coverage.
- 🎒 Bring
- Hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen · 1–1.5 litres of water each · Sandals or water shoes (some rocky bits) · Swimsuit and a towel · Cash for a drink or a taxi back
- La Preneuse beach
- Martello Tower
- Tamarin River mouth
- Tamarin public beach
Getting there
🚗 By car: 5 min (1.3 km) off-peak. None needed: walk from the villa. Directions in Google Maps ↗
- 🚶 On foot: a few minutes' walk from the villa.
Tips
- 💡 The river mouth: wade only when it's low and calm, never in a swell or after rain; otherwise use the Royal Road bridge.
- 💡 Water shoes help on the coral rubble near La Preneuse.