The sand does not have the colour of postcards. It is whiter, finer, almost grainless. The water makes no sound as it advances — it slides, indolent, over a coral floor you sense without seeing.
In Sainte-Marie, some beaches remain empty all year round. Not for lack of charm: simply because they are unknown. Here is our notebook of secret spots, passed on by word of mouth, all reachable from Kokoa Serena in less than half an hour.
IN BRIEF
- Île aux Nattes: the jewel of the south, 3 km², car-free
- Betouna lagoon: walkable from Kokoa Serena
- La Crique beach: reachable only by outrigger
- Best period: May to November (dry season)
- Coral reefs 30 m from the shore on most spots
Île aux Nattes, the jewel of the south
Ten minutes by outrigger from the southern tip of Sainte-Marie, Île aux Nattes covers three square kilometres. Not a single car, not a single paved road. You move on foot, by outrigger or by bike.
The full loop takes two hours. On the east coast, waves crash on shallow coral reefs. To the west, a lagoon protected by a coral barrier forms a natural pool one kilometre long, where you can stretch out in shoulder-deep water.
The seabed brims with multicoloured fish accessible from the beach. Mask and snorkel are enough to discover clownfish, butterflyfish, gorgonians and anemones. At low tide, sandbanks emerge in the middle of the lagoon: you can sit there as if on a terrace.
OUR ADVICE
Leave early, around 7:30 a.m. You will have the beach to yourself for two hours before organised tours arrive. Ask your chef to prepare a picnic basket (fresh coconut water, marinated tuna sandwich, fruit): the day becomes perfect.
Betouna lagoon, right at your door
A few minutes’ walk from our villas, Betouna lagoon is our daily playground. The tide reveals a narrow strip of white sand, lined with coconut and casuarina trees.
The reef sits 30 metres from the shore. At high tide, you can swim to it without difficulty. The fishermen’s outrigger canoes cross the lagoon in the early morning — a sight not to miss from the sand.
The water stays at 26-28°C all year round. Ideal for young children, who paddle safely in 50 cm of water for hours.
La Crique, our best-kept secret
Reachable only by outrigger, La Crique is a small pocket beach encircled by forest. No one knows it outside the local fishermen’s circle. The sand, almost pink, slopes gently into a translucent lagoon.
Fifteen minutes of navigation from Betouna is enough. We organise the outing on request: outrigger, cooler, lunch prepared by the chef, parasols. You are alone from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
REAL LUXURY
On this beach, there is no vendor, no bar, no music. Just the sound of waves and the wind in the coconut trees. Bring a book, a snorkelling mask, and forget your watch.
Season and swimming conditions
| Period | Climate | Sea |
|---|---|---|
| May – Nov. | Dry, 24-28°C, clear skies | Calm, ideal for swimming and snorkelling |
| Dec. – Feb. | Hot and humid, 28-32°C | Choppier, cyclone risk |
| Mar. – Apr. | Transition, still humid | Variable week by week |
The best period runs from May to November. It is also the whale season (June-September), which makes it an ideal window to combine beach relaxation and offshore cetacean watching.
Gentle activities on the lagoon
Beyond swimming and snorkelling, the lagoon lends itself to motor-free activities. Stand-up paddle at sunrise, silent outrigger at sunset, yoga on a sandbank that emerges at low tide.
We insist on restraint. No jet-ski, no towed banana, no amplified music. The beauty of Sainte-Marie lies in its quietness, and we want to preserve it. This philosophy draws a certain kind of traveller — those who seek reconnection, not distraction.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Île aux Nattes: a must-see, leave early
- Betouna lagoon walkable from our villas
- Secret cove on request (private outrigger)
- Best season: May to November
- Slow approach: motor-free activities, respect for the calm