Praslin & La Digue

Anse Patates

Anse Patates is a small cove at La Digue's northern tip, beside the road near Patatran Village and next to Anse Gaulettes. It is shaded and good for a swim or snorkel close to shore, but with no reef the water deepens quickly and currents strengthen further out.

Last verified 16 September 2026

What it is

Anse Patates is a small beach at the northernmost point of La Digue, close to Patatran Village and bordering the longer Anse Gaulettes. Rock formations line the cove, and trees give plenty of shade.

Getting there

The road passes right by, so this is an easy stop on a ride around the north of the island. Walk, cycle or take a taxi from La Passe; SeyVillas notes plenty of places to leave a bicycle by the road.

The water

The Tourism Board describes calm seas and good conditions for swimming and snorkelling close to the shore. SeyVillas adds the important detail: there is no coral reef protecting the bay, so the water deepens quickly and currents get stronger the further out you go. Stay near the beach, and keep children supervised in the water at all times. Snorkelling follows the same rule: the Tourism Board rates it close to shore, where conditions are calmer. SeyVillas also notes that waves can sometimes be high.

Practicalities

There are no public facilities listed on the sand, but the adjacent hotel means restaurants and toilets are close by, according to SeyVillas. It is a peaceful beach that sees relatively few visitors beyond hotel guests.

Best for

  • a swim close to shore
  • shade
  • a stop on a cycle round the north of the island

Getting there

Beside the road at the northern tip of La Digue, near Patatran Village: on foot, by bike or by taxi; bike parking along the road (SeyVillas; the Tourism Board notes only that the beach is close to the road). Neither the Tourism Board nor SeyVillas lists an entry fee.

Facilities

Restaurants and toilets at the neighbouring hotel (SeyVillas). Plenty of natural shade (Tourism Board).

Swimming

Calm seas and good swimming close to shore (Tourism Board). No reef protection: the water deepens quickly and currents strengthen in deeper water, and waves are sometimes high, so stay near the shore and supervise children (SeyVillas).

Snorkelling

Suitable for snorkelling close to the shore (Tourism Board; SeyVillas).

Map of Anse Patates

222242633325242

Beach

Anse Patates

Map of Anse Patates with nearby beaches and places to stayCoastline © OpenStreetMap contributors. Positions are approximate.
The 68 places on this map

Places to stay near Anse Patates

  • Patatran Village Hotel

    Hotel in Anse Patates, La Digue

    Patatran Village Hotel is a 30-room hotel at Anse Patates on La Digue, opened in 1992 by an owner from the island. The hotel says every room has an ocean view, and it has a pool, a restaurant serving Creole dinners, a bar, beach weddings and candlelit dinners on the sand.

    • Honeymoon
    • Pool
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Hotel L'Ocean

    Hotel in Anse Patates, La Digue

    A small licensed hotel of eight rooms at Anse Patates, on the northern tip of La Digue. Guest reviews from 2026 mention sea views from the balconies and breakfast served on site.

    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Anse Sévère Beach Villa

    Self-catering in Anse Sévère, La Digue

    Anse Sévère Beach Villa is a set of six self-catering villa units facing Anse Sévère beach on La Digue's north side, open since 2017 and about 15 minutes' walk from the jetty.

    • Beachfront
    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Le Relax Luxury Lodge

    Hotel in Anse Gaulettes, La Digue

    Le Relax Luxury Lodge is a six-chalet hotel in a beachside setting at Anse Gaulette on La Digue. It has a pool, a restaurant serving Creole, international and Indian dishes, a bar and in-villa dining.

    • Beachfront
    • Pool
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • O'Soleil Chalets

    Chalet in Anse Sévère, La Digue

    O'Soleil Chalets is a group of air-conditioned self-catering houses in a tropical garden a few steps from Anse Sévère beach on La Digue, a few minutes by bicycle from La Passe.

    • Families
    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Island Bungalow

    Chalet in Anse Sévère, La Digue

    Two self-catering bungalows and a small villa in a garden about 300 m from Anse Sévère in the north of La Digue, with continental breakfast served each morning. The largest bungalow has three bedrooms and sleeps six.

    • Families
    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Villa D'Amour

    Self-catering in La Passe, La Digue

    A licensed self-catering property on La Digue with five rooms and ten beds on the Tourism Department register, which lists it under La Passe. Its map pin is north-east of the ferry terminal, inland near Anse Sévère.

    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Bethel's Villa

    Self-catering in Anse Sévère, La Digue

    A licensed self-catering property at Anse Sévère on La Digue, with five rooms and ten beds on the Tourism Department register. Few details are published, so check rooms, meals and facilities with the owners.

    • Self-catering

  • Villa des Flots

    Villa in Anse Gaulettes, La Digue

    Villa des Flots is a six-room villa at Anse Gaulettes, on La Digue's north-east coast, where each double room has a sea-view balcony and breakfast is taken at the nearby Patatran hotel.

    • Families

Where to stay on La Digue

Questions

Is Anse Patates safe for swimming?
Close to shore, yes, according to the Tourism Board. SeyVillas warns that there is no reef and the water deepens quickly, with stronger currents further out, so stay near the beach.
Where exactly is Anse Patates?
At the northern tip of La Digue, beside the coast road near Patatran Village, next to Anse Gaulettes.
Can I get to ÃŽle Cocos from La Digue?
Yes, by boat. The Seychelles Parks and Gardens Authority (SPGA) describes Ile Cocos Marine Park as a 10-minute boat ride from La Digue, with visits organised through tour operators and boat charters from La Digue or Praslin. Non-residents over 12 pay Rs200 entry (SPGA, checked 16 September 2026), and tour operators normally include the fee. SPGA's Ile Cocos page lists opening hours of 9am to 5pm, seven days a week; its visitor-information page gives 8am to 5pm daily for the marine parks (both checked 16 September 2026). The park takes in Ile Cocos, Ile La Fouche and Ilot Plate, and the Tourism Board notes that Anse Peniche on Félicité falls inside its boundary.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.