Water & coast · Cannes Old Port — Île Sainte-Marguerite coastal loop — Fort Royal — Batéguier pond
Escape Cannes for the Lérins Islands
Take the short ferry from Cannes to Sainte-Marguerite, then circle quiet coves, Aleppo-pine forest, Fort Royal and the birdlife of Batéguier pond.
Leave the Croisette skyline behind as the ferry crosses open blue water to Sainte-Marguerite. Once ashore, the island's unpaved coastal loop alternates fragrant pine, pale rock and small swimming coves. Fort Royal adds the story of the Man in the Iron Mask, while the protected Batéguier pond shifts attention toward migratory birds and saltwater ecology.
Check the last return sailing before departure because there is no bridge and evening service varies by season. Carry water, food, sun protection and reef-safe swimming gear; facilities are limited away from the landing. Stay on paths around the pond, take all waste back and never attempt to combine both main islands unless the day's ferry timetable genuinely allows it.