Îles de Lérins
Barely a mile off Cannes yet a world apart — pine-scented islands and the clearest anchorage on the coast.
A short crossing from Cannes
The Îles de Lérins lie barely a mile off the Bay of Cannes — close enough to be a morning's destination, far enough to feel like another world. The two islands, Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat, sit in clear, sheltered water that makes them the classic anchorage for a day charter out of Cannes. Public navettes cross in roughly 15 to 20 minutes; by private yacht it is a short hop to a quiet mooring for swimming and lunch.
The channel between the islands offers protected water in most conditions, and the pine-scented shores are a world away from the Croisette. For many guests this is the single most rewarding day on the whole coast — and it begins within sight of the Vieux Port.
A typical Lérins day from Cannes is gentle: anchor in the channel for a morning swim, lunch aboard at slack water, then a walk ashore on Sainte-Marguerite before the run home. It suits every craft, from a fast day-boat to a crewed motor yacht.
What is there to do at the Îles de Lérins by yacht?
The Îles de Lérins are the closest and most rewarding destination from Cannes, barely a mile offshore yet a world apart. The channel between Sainte-Marguerite and Saint-Honorat holds the clearest, most sheltered water on this stretch of coast, which makes it the benchmark anchorage for a swim and lunch aboard. On Sainte-Marguerite, the larger island, you can go ashore to walk the pine and eucalyptus paths and visit the Fort Royal, while Saint-Honorat, still home to a community of Cistercian monks, keeps a quieter, wilder south shore and produces its own wine. A day here is the simplest, most beautiful outing on the Riviera — ideal for families, for a relaxed swim day, or as the first stop of a longer charter. Because it is so close, even a half-day works. Our skippers know exactly where to drop anchor for calm water whatever the wind is doing.