Independent guide · Not the national park's official website
Port-Cros, the wild heart of the national park and the Hyères islands
The wildest of the Hyères islands, heart of Europe's first marine national park, with no cars, 35 minutes to an hour by boat from Hyères.
- Every fact is sourced
- Updated 9 November 2026
- Booking on GetYourGuide
Photo: Rundvald, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 1963national park created
- 635 haof forest and coves
- 199 mat the Vigie fort
- €29return from Hyères
Why Port-Cros
A whole island protected, an hour from the coast
Port-Cros is the highest and most wooded of the four Hyères islands, off Le Lavandou, in the municipality of Hyères. Since 1963 it has been the heart of Port-Cros National Park, Europe's first marine park: 635 hectares of forest and coves, with no cars and a single small village around the harbour. You get there by boat from Hyères harbour (35 minutes to an hour, €29 return in 2026) or from Le Lavandou (30 minutes direct). On the island you walk the marked trails, swim at La Palud or Port-Man, and follow the underwater trail with fins, mask and snorkel.
Our pick of Hyères islands trips
Travellers' favourites
-
Hyères: Morning Discovery or Relaxing Afternoon cruise 3 - 4 hours ★ 4.7 (225) from €70 -
Hyères: Signature day with lunch cruise 8 hours ★ 4.7 (111) from €164 -
Boat trip around Porquerolles and Giens 3 - 6 hours ★ 4.6 (34) from €82
See all Hyères islands trips GetYourGuide affiliate links
Boats, trails, beaches, sea life
Port-Cros island
Getting to Port-Cros
Departure harbours, crossing times, 2026 fares and winter timetables.
The national park
Europe's first marine park: its territory, its rules on land and at sea, and why they are so strict.
Underwater trail
The first underwater trail in the Mediterranean: where it is, how to get there, what you will see.
Hiking
The island's marked trails, from 1 to 7 hours: La Palud, Port-Man, La Vigie, the Solitude valley, the forts.
Beaches
Natural beaches reached only on foot or by boat, with no facilities: where to swim and the rules.
Diving
Some of the most protected waters in France: La Gabinière, its groupers, and the CaPeL permit before your first dive.
When to go
Boats all year, the winter days without crossings, closures in strong wind, and the best time to avoid the crowds.
Porquerolles, Le Levant, boat trips
The Hyères islands
Porquerolles
The most visited island in the archipelago: its beaches, cycling and its summer rules, Fort Sainte-Agathe, the village.
Getting to Porquerolles
The 15-minute crossing from Giens, winter timetables, bikes on board and the other departure harbours.
Île du Levant
The easternmost Hyères island: 95% off-limits military land, and Héliopolis, a naturist village since 1931.
Two islands in a day
Comparing the two national park islands, and how to visit two islands in the same day.
Boat trips
Guided cruises, catamarans and sunset trips from Hyères, Giens and Le Lavandou.
Activities
Everything you can do on Port-Cros, Porquerolles and the coast: ferries, cruises, trails, underwater trail, cycling, jet-ski.
Giens, Le Lavandou, getting there, where to stay
Hyères and the coast
Giens peninsula
The double tombolo, L'Almanarre and its kitesurfers, the saltpans, and La Tour Fondue where the Porquerolles boats leave.
Things to do in Hyères
The old town, the outstanding gardens, Villa Noailles, Giens, and the harbours where the boats leave.
Le Lavandou
Twelve beaches along twelve kilometres, and the boats that put Port-Cros 30 minutes away.
Getting to Hyères
Toulon-Hyères airport 7 minutes from the harbour, Hyères station, coaches to La Tour Fondue, car and parking.
Where to stay
The right area for your island: Hyères harbour for Port-Cros, Giens for Porquerolles, Le Lavandou for Port-Cros and Le Levant.
The guide in detail
The island at a glance
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Hyères (Var) |
| Size | 4.2 km by 2.4 km, 635 ha |
| Highest point | Vigie fort, 199 m |
| Status | core of Port-Cros National Park, created on 14 December 1963 |
| Access | boat from Hyères, Le Lavandou, and in season Cavalaire and La Croix-Valmer |
| Getting around | on foot; no cars and no roads |
Sources: Wikipedia, Port-Cros National Park, ferry companies.
A whole island protected
Port-Cros is the steepest and most wooded of the Hyères islands: Aleppo pines, holm oaks, strawberry trees and tree heather cover the hills down to the sea. The national park, created in 1963, is Europe’s first marine park: it protects the island, its neighbour Bagaud, the Gabinière and Rascas islets and a strip of sea around them. Since 2012 it has also included a large part of Porquerolles. The park says it welcomes two million visitors a year, hence strict rules: see the national park.
Things to do on the island
- Walk: the network of marked trails leads to beaches, forts and viewpoints, for walks of 1 to 7 hours. See hiking.
- Snorkel on the La Palud underwater trail, the first in the Mediterranean.
- Swim at La Palud, Port-Man or Plage du Sud: see the beaches.
- Dive at La Gabinière, famous for its groupers: see diving.
Getting there
Port-Cros can only be reached by boat. The simplest options: Hyères harbour (€29 return in 2026) or Le Lavandou, where the direct crossing takes 30 minutes. Timetables, seasons and fares: getting to Port-Cros. In strong wind or drought, access to the island can be restricted: check the day before, see when to go.
The other Hyères islands
Porquerolles, the largest, is explored by bike; Île du Levant is almost entirely military, with a naturist village. You can combine two islands in a day: see Port-Cros and Porquerolles.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Port-Cros?
Only by boat: from Hyères harbour with TLV-TVM (35 minutes to an hour), from Le Lavandou with Vedettes Îles d'Or (30 minutes direct, all year), and in season from Cavalaire and La Croix-Valmer. See getting to Port-Cros.
Port-Cros or Porquerolles?
Port-Cros is wilder and steeper and is explored on foot; Porquerolles is bigger and flatter, with more sandy beaches and bikes. Both work as day trips. See Port-Cros and Porquerolles.
What can you do on Port-Cros in a day?
A walk to La Palud beach and its underwater trail, or the loop via Fort de l'Estissac and Port-Man, a swim, and lunch in the village before the boat back. See hiking.
Can you stay overnight on Port-Cros?
Camping and wild camping are banned in the national park. Most visitors do the island as a day trip and stay on the mainland, in Hyères or Le Lavandou. See where to stay.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Port-Cros: geography, history, wildlife (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia, Port-Cros National Park (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Port-Cros National Park, regulations (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Port-Cros National Park, practical information: crossings (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- TLV-TVM, 2026 fares (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Vedettes Îles d'Or, Port-Cros island (in French), accessed 9 November 2026