Saint-Cyprien,
the village beach.
Pale sand, an entry into the water that seems to go on forever, an island opposite — and two beaches in one, depending which side of the car park you take.
A sheltered bay, shelving so gently you walk a long way before losing your footing — and two moods either side of the car park.
To the south
The developed stretch: beach bars, private beaches, watersports hire, lifeguard posts in season. This is where the crowd concentrates.
To the north
About a kilometre and a half of undeveloped beach running along the Arasu lagoons. Ten minutes on foot is enough to change your day.
The island
The island of San Ciprianu closes the bay and shelters it from the swell. A Genoese tower stands above the site — the visual landmark of the whole gulf.
The water
Fine white sand, a gently shelving bottom, turquoise water. This is the beach local families choose for children who cannot yet swim.
Access
- ≈ 10 min by car
- Central car park
- Quieter northern access
- Commune of Lecci
The sand
- Fine white sand
- Gentle shelving
- Sheltered bay
- Island opposite
In season
- Beach bars to the south
- Lifeguard posts
- Watersports
- Buoyed mooring zone
Out of season
- No facilities
- Arasu lagoons
- Waterbirds
- Empty on weekdays
Park to the north
The central car park serves the busy stretch. Walk north and the crowd falls away within a few hundred metres, even on 15 August.
An exposed beach
The bay is sheltered from swell but not from the easterly. On libeccio days it stays usable when other beaches in the area no longer are.
Moorings, not a marina
There is no marina at Saint-Cyprien: the commune manages an organised, buoyed mooring zone under conditions set by the town hall.
Cala Rossa
Calmer still, but limited public access. Worth reading before you go.
Pinarellu
Further north, longer, backed by a pine wood. Twenty minutes by road.
Palombaggia
The postcard of the south. More beautiful, more crowded, twenty minutes the other way.
Saint-Cyprien beach, in practice
Where is Saint-Cyprien beach?
In the commune of Lecci, southern Corsica, at the head of the gulf of Saint-Cyprien, some twelve kilometres north of Porto-Vecchio. From Villa Terra, allow about ten minutes by car.
Is Saint-Cyprien beach suitable for children?
It is one of its defining features: fine sand and a very gently shelving entry, in a bay sheltered by the island of San Ciprianu. You can stand a long way out. Lifeguard posts operate in season on the developed southern stretch.
Are there beach bars and private beaches?
Yes, on the southern stretch, either side of the central car park: beach bars, private beaches and watersports hire. The northern stretch, about a kilometre and a half long, has no facilities at all.
Is there a marina at Saint-Cyprien?
No. There is no harbour and no marina at Saint-Cyprien — a common confusion with Saint-Cyprien in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The commune of Lecci manages an organised, buoyed mooring zone. The nearest marina is at Porto-Vecchio.
What are the Arasu lagoons?
A wetland bordering the northern stretch of the beach, behind the sand bar. It explains the wild character of that section and the waterbirds, particularly visible out of season.
When should you go to avoid the crowds?
In July and August the southern stretch is full by mid-morning. Two options: arrive before ten, or walk north — a few hundred metres are enough to find space again. In May, June, September and October the question does not arise.
The beach ten minutes away,
the villa in the quiet.
Tell us your dates and the number of guests — we will confirm availability.