This little-known island in the Mediterranean rim offers an ideal setting in spring for nature lovers.
The sunny days are coming and with it, a desire to recharge your batteries by the Mediterranean Sea. But the idea of finding yourself on a beach where tourists are lined up in rows doesn’t make you want it at all, and we understand! What if we told you that even in the most popular Mediterranean national park in France, stormed by tourists in the summer, there is a protected site where you can picnic in the shade of the pines and relax in small coves, hiking in peace in “a forest in the open sea” while enjoying a sunny day? As long as you get there now, in spring!
Entirely covered with Aleppo pines, it is the only truly wooded island in the Calanques National Park and the entire coastline of the Bouches-du-Rhône department. This strip of land with an area of 13 hectares separated 400 meters from our continent will delight nature lovers. It has become the refuge of seagulls and is home to many fragrant plants and small mammals. Every year, many scuba diving enthusiasts come to discover its seabed, home to numerous fish at shallow depths that can be caught: scorpionfish, moray eels, sea bream, red mullet, wrasse, etc.
And yet, the name of this true Garden of Eden is not very well known… It is Green Island, integrated into the classified site of Cap Canaille. Its enchanting coastline is dotted with secret coves that hikers will discover along an easy path that allows you to go around the island in an hour, with panoramic views of the Bec de l’Aigle and the shipyards of La Ciotat. and the blue hills of Provence. Swimming enthusiasts will be able to enjoy its three intimate beaches: Saint-Pierre beach near the landing stage, Seynerolles beach in the south-east of the island and Plageolle, a small pebble beach with translucent waters and protected from winds, located in the north of the island. At the highest point of the island located at an altitude of 49 meters, the walker discovers the ruins of Fort Saint-Pierre and the remains of blockhouses, testimonies of the past of Île Verte as a military site during the Napoleonic wars and the Second World War.
Motivated to spend a great day on the Green Island? From La Ciotat, the crossing only takes 15 minutes. On site, near the landing stage, a small Mediterranean cuisine restaurant, the only one on the island, awaits you for a gourmet break on the terrace with a breathtaking view of the sea. From April to September, the Aquilade shuttle provides the connection between the Port Vieux de La Ciotat and Île Verte, offering a return trip every hour and a quarter between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. and between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., and a return every hour and a quarter between 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. and between 2:15 p.m. and 5:15 p.m. . The return fare is 14 euros for an adult and 9 euros for a child under 10 years old.