Praslin & La Digue

Baie Sainte Anne

Baie Sainte Anne is Praslin's most populous district, on the island's east side. It is where the Cat Cocos ferries from Mahé and La Digue arrive at the Praslin jetty.

Last verified 16 September 2026

Baie Sainte Anne

Baie Sainte Anne is one of Praslin's two districts and one of its main settlements. It is the more populous district, with 4,272 residents in the 2022 census against 3,610 in Grand Anse Praslin. The bay itself is on the east side of the island.

Ferries

Cat Cocos catamarans stop at the Praslin jetty in Baie Sainte Anne. The operator gives journey times of 1 hour 15 minutes to or from Mahé and 15 minutes to or from La Digue, and some Mahé to La Digue sailings call here on the way. For anyone planning to split a stay between the two islands, this is the crossing point.

Beaches nearby

The tourism board describes Anse Takamaka as the last reachable beach at the end of Baie Sainte Anne. It is long and narrow, with little sand at high tide, sheltered by takamaka trees and close to a kayak rental. The board suggests it for couples marking an occasion. Anse La Farine, off the south-east of the island, can only be reached by boat. It lies in front of a hotel and has calm, shallow water behind a coral reef, used for snorkelling, kayaking and swimming.

Getting around

The Seychelles Public Transport Corporation runs public buses on Praslin and keeps a bus depot on the island. Taxis and hire cars are also available.

The bay

Baie Sainte Anne, on Praslin's east coast, is the island's main transport hub. Ferries from Mahé and boat shuttles to La Digue dock at the jetty in the village, and reclaimed land has created Eve Island, now joined to the village by bridges. SeyVillas notes that the village lacks a direct beach and is primarily residential, with grocery shops, banks and pharmacies.

Beaches around the bay

Two named beaches inside the bay are used mainly by fishermen.

Anse l'Amour is a small, sheltered bay protected by a small artificial island, so the water stays calm, flat and shallow. SeyVillas says seaweed is in the water most of the time, and a retaining wall built against erosion can cause strong tides. There is parking and a bus stop nearby.

Anse Madge, about 1 km of narrow sand, has fairly deep water with plants on the seabed, and currents often push seaweed and flotsam ashore. Fishing boats are sometimes pulled up for repairs. A bus stops nearby and there is parking.

Who it suits

SeyVillas presents both as places to watch the fishing fleet rather than beach-day destinations, close to the shops of the village. For a beach holiday, it says travellers tend to prefer Anse Volbert or Grand Anse.

Best for

  • Watching local fishermen at work (SeyVillas)
  • Ferry connections and village services (SeyVillas)

Getting there

Ferries from Mahé and shuttles to La Digue use the jetty in the village (SeyVillas). Anse l'Amour is beside the main road with a bus stop and parking, and can also be reached on foot or by boat; Anse Madge has a bus service nearby and ample parking (SeyVillas).

Facilities

Village services including grocery shops, banks and pharmacies (SeyVillas Baie Sainte Anne guide); shops and some restaurants around Anse l'Amour and Anse Madge (SeyVillas beach pages).

Swimming

The village has no direct beach (SeyVillas). Anse l'Amour: calm, flat, shallow water sheltered by a small artificial island, with seaweed in the water most of the time and relatively strong tides linked to a retaining wall. Anse Madge: fairly deep water with seabed plants and frequent seaweed and flotsam pushed ashore by currents; the beach can disappear at high tide (SeyVillas).

Map of Baie Sainte Anne

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Beach

Baie Sainte Anne

Map of Baie Sainte Anne with nearby beaches and places to stayCoastline © OpenStreetMap contributors. Positions are approximate.
The 22 places on this map

Places to stay near Baie Sainte Anne

  • Chalets Cote Mer

    Hotel in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    A family-run small hotel on the waterfront at Baie Sainte Anne, a short way from the Praslin ferry jetty, with sea-view rooms, family suites and villas. It has an infinity pool, a restaurant and bar, and direct access to the water from its sun deck.

    • Honeymoon
    • Couples
    • Families
    • Self-catering

  • Colibri Guesthouse

    Guesthouse in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    A Creole-style guesthouse in a garden above the water at Baie Sainte Anne, on the same grounds as Chalets Cote Mer. Guests use the neighbouring hotel's pool, restaurant and bar, and rooms take guests aged 12 and over.

    • Honeymoon
    • Pool

  • Morry's Self Catering Apartment

    Apartment in Pointe Cabris, Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    Morry's Self Catering Apartment is a family-sized self-catering unit at Pointe Cabris, Baie Sainte Anne, on Praslin, with a master bedroom, a connecting children's room, a kitchen and a veranda. The owners serve breakfast and a Creole or international dinner on request.

    • Families
    • Self-catering

  • Le Port Guest House & Boutique

    Guesthouse in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    Le Port Guest House & Boutique is a small self-catering guesthouse at Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin, with a souvenir shop in the same building. The owners describe sea views from the balconies.

    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • Cavern Apartments

    Apartment in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    Self-catering apartments in Baie Sainte Anne village, about 1 km from the Praslin ferry jetty. Shops, restaurants, car hire and a bus stop are close by.

    • Self-catering

  • Baie Ste Anne Maison des Vacanze

    Self-catering in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    One- and two-bedroom self-catering houses in a tropical garden at Baie Sainte Anne on Praslin, near the ferry jetty. Shops and supermarkets are within walking distance, and SeyVillas recommends a hire car for the beaches.

    • Families
    • Self-catering

  • Belle Rose Vue

    Apartment in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    Belle Rose Vue is self-catering accommodation with four bedrooms in two units at Baie Sainte Anne, the ferry village on Praslin's east coast. The owners pitch it at couples and families and say the jetty is easy to reach.

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

    Affiliate link

  • Balcons Sur Mer Apartments

    Apartment in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    Self-catering apartments in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin, about 400 m in a straight line from the ferry jetty; the owners say every apartment has a sea view. The property was known as Maison Belle Baie until the owners rebuilt it and reopened under the new name.

    • Self-catering
    Check availability on Booking.com

    Affiliate link

  • MC Self Catering

    Self-catering in Baie Sainte Anne, Praslin

    MC Self Catering is a family-run guesthouse in the centre of Baie Sainte Anne on Praslin, close to the jetty, bus stop and shops. The same owners run MC Seychelles, which arranges airport and jetty transfers, car hire and island tours.

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

    Affiliate link

Where to stay on Praslin

Questions

Is there a swimming beach in Baie Sainte Anne?
SeyVillas says the village lacks a direct beach. The nearby Anse l'Amour and Anse Madge are fishermen's beaches with frequent seaweed, and SeyVillas says travellers wanting a beach holiday tend to prefer Anse Volbert or Grand Anse.

Sources

Details last verified 16 September 2026.