Introduction
Anse Cocos is the beach you need to work to reach, and the effort is entirely justified. Hidden on La Digue’s remote southeast coast, accessible only by a 20-30 minute walk or bicycle ride past the famous Anse Source d’Argent beach (itself one of the world’s most photographed), Anse Cocos rewards those who continue past the crowds and the easy option to reach something genuinely extraordinary.
La Digue is the smallest and most characterful of the Seychelles’ main inhabited islands — a small plateau island of granite with no cars (ox carts were the traditional transport; bicycles are now universal), a small population of about 3,000, and an unhurried pace that feels genuinely removed from the 21st century despite the island’s global fame. The granite boulder landscapes — enormous, rounded, salmon-pink rocks sculpted by millennia of erosion into fantastical formations — define La Digue’s visual identity and make it one of the most photographically distinctive landscapes on Earth.
Anse Cocos sits in a shallow bay on the island’s southeastern shore, protected by an offshore reef and framed by the inevitable La Digue granite boulders on both ends. The beach is long for this island — approximately 400 metres — with very fine white sand that has the talcum-powder texture characteristic of the finest Seychelles beaches. The water is shallow over the sandy bottom and glows with the vivid turquoise colour that has made the Seychelles Inner Islands legendary among tropical beach destinations.
The relative difficulty of access keeps Anse Cocos significantly less crowded than the more accessible beaches of La Digue. While Anse Source d’Argent (the beach en route to Anse Cocos) has become heavily visited due to its extraordinary boulder scenery, Anse Cocos typically sees a fraction of the visitor numbers. Arriving here to find the beach largely empty — or shared with a handful of other visitors who made the same effort — is a genuinely rare Seychelles experience.
The Indian Ocean swell at Anse Cocos is more exposed than at the sheltered western beaches of La Digue. Swimming conditions should be assessed on the day: on calm days the water is exceptional for swimming and snorkelling; on days with swell, caution is required. Ask locally about conditions before entering the water.
The Granite Boulders
The landscape that frames Anse Cocos — and all of La Digue’s more remote beaches — consists of the Pre-Cambrian granite that forms the foundation of the Seychelles Inner Islands. This granite is approximately 750 million years old and has been shaped by erosion into formations of extraordinary beauty: smooth, rounded, salmon-to-orange-pink in colour, they loom over the beaches and in the shallow water of the coves in shapes that seem deliberately artistic. The granite formations at Anse Source d’Argent (the beach en route) are the most famous and most photographed in the Seychelles; those at Anse Cocos and Anse Marron (further south) are comparable in beauty with significantly fewer people.
How to Get There
Getting to the Seychelles
Seychelles International Airport (SEZ) on Mahé island receives direct flights from:
- UK: London Heathrow (British Airways, Air Seychelles)
- France: Paris CDG (Air France, Air Seychelles)
- Germany: Frankfurt (Condor, Air Seychelles)
- UAE: Dubai (Emirates, flydubai)
- Doha: Qatar Airways
- Ethiopia: Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines)
- Kenya: Nairobi (Kenya Airways)
- Various other African and Middle Eastern cities
From Mahé to La Digue
La Digue is a 15-minute helicopter or seaplane flight, or — more commonly and very pleasantly — a 50-minute catamaran ferry ride from Praslin island. Praslin is the second island (30 minutes by inter-island ferry from Mahé).
The typical routing is:
- Fly into Mahé
- Inter-island ferry or Air Seychelles flight to Praslin (30 minutes by fast ferry)
- Inter-island schooner ferry from Praslin to La Digue (15 minutes, very frequent)
All boat connections are managed by Cat Cocos, Inter Island Ferry, and other operators. Booking in advance during peak season is recommended.
On La Digue: Getting to Anse Cocos
- By bicycle: Hire a bicycle in La Digue village. The ride to the entrance of the Anse Source d’Argent path takes approximately 20 minutes through the flat island interior. Lock the bicycle at the car park/entrance, pay the park entry fee, and walk through Anse Source d’Argent toward Anse Cocos.
- On foot from Anse Source d’Argent: The path to Anse Cocos continues past Anse Source d’Argent, through a section of light forest and over a rocky headland, approximately 1.5–2 km (20–30 minutes). The path is clear and manageable but requires reasonable fitness.
When to Go
Seychelles has a year-round tropical climate, but two distinct wind seasons affect beach conditions:
- April to October (southeast trade wind): The northwest-facing beaches (Grand Anse, Petite Anse on La Digue) become rough; the southeastern Anse Cocos tends to be calmer. Better diving visibility on some sites.
- November to March (northwest monsoon): The northwest-facing beaches become calm and very beautiful. Anse Cocos can have more exposed conditions in this period. This is the main tourist season.
La Digue is beautiful year-round. The specific beach quality at Anse Cocos in a given month depends on which wind pattern is dominant and the resulting swell exposure.
Sleeping Nearby
La Digue has boutique accommodation rather than large resort hotels — the scale of the island makes large developments impossible.
- Zil Pasyon (Félicité Island): A extraordinary private island resort just offshore from La Digue, one of the most exclusive and spectacular properties in the entire Seychelles, with its own beaches and helipad.
- L’Union Farm Chalets: Simple, beautifully positioned chalets within the historic L’Union Estate (which encompasses Anse Source d’Argent).
- Château St. Cloud: A charming small hotel in the island’s interior, in a renovated colonial building.
- Various small guesthouses (pensions) and self-catering villas throughout the island.
On the Beach and Beyond
Anse Source d’Argent
Impossible to avoid and entirely worth the visit. The most photographed beach in the world in certain analyses — the combination of the pink granite boulders, the shallow turquoise lagoon, and the white sand has appeared in more travel photographs than virtually any other single landscape. It is on the route to Anse Cocos and worth spending time at before and/or after.
Cycling Around La Digue
The flat terrain of La Digue makes it the ideal cycling island. A circuit of the entire accessible coast road takes approximately 2–3 hours at a leisurely pace and passes the main villages, the plantation (L’Union Estate), and several beach access points. A relaxed way to see the whole island.
Giant Tortoise Viewing
The L’Union Estate (through which you pass to reach Anse Source d’Argent) has an enclosure of Aldabra giant tortoises — the massive, prehistoric-looking land tortoises that once roamed the Seychelles islands. Watching and (carefully) touching these ancient creatures is a memorable experience.
Common Questions
Is Anse Cocos safe for swimming? Variable. The beach is exposed to southeast swell at certain times of year, and when the ocean is active, swimming can be challenging or dangerous. On calm days (common in the northwest monsoon season) the swimming is excellent. Ask your accommodation or beach staff about current conditions. Do not swim when a warning has been given.
Is there any shade at Anse Cocos? Limited. The beach is largely open sun, with some shade at the granite boulder ends of the beach. Bring sunscreen, a hat, and enough water — there are no facilities at Anse Cocos itself (no drinks, toilets, or shade structures).
How does Anse Cocos compare to Anse Source d’Argent? Anse Source d’Argent has more dramatic granite boulder scenery and more developed access (beach facilities, rental chairs, more shade). Anse Cocos is wilder, longer, and less visited. Both are extraordinary. The standard La Digue visit should include both.
Is La Digue expensive? The Seychelles generally is among the more expensive Indian Ocean destinations due to the limited land, import costs, and the premium on exclusivity. La Digue is slightly more affordable than Mahé or Praslin (the big resort hotels are mostly there), but budget travel in the conventional sense is difficult. Guesthouses and local restaurants offer more affordable options.