Beach "Anse Caïman"
La DigueHighlights:
The abandoned house and large pirogue shed here make for some interesting scenery, and add to the solitude of the location.
Facts:
- 20m x 20m - no visitors
- Deep water in places, not safe for swimming
- Seaweed present when trade winds change
- Normal tide - high waves
- Very isolated beach off the beaten track
- Suitable for snorkelling and good for photos
Map:
At a Glance:
- This beach is almost always deserted, and can be difficult to reach due to large rock formations.
- Visitors almost always come here with guides on their way to other beaches.
- The route to the beach can be very dangerous, especially from the north-west, as it requires walking across slippery rocks. The easiest access is via Anse Cocos in the south, but most visitors only come here with a tour guide.
- The beach is divided into two sections. The northern section is almost impossible to get to except for at low tide, although this can be very dangerous.
- Pools of water and granite boulders offer good opportunities for photographs.
- Natural shade provides protection from the sun.
Description:
Anse Caïman lies on the east coast of La Digue, in between Anse Fourmis to the north and Anse Cocos to the south. Access to the beach can be extremely difficult, especially from the north, and the northernmost part of the beach is almost impossible to access, except for at low tide, via the sea. Virtually all visitors to this beach come with a tour guide, and the beach itself is almost always empty. The easiest way of reaching the beach is via Anse Cocos to the south. Here, there is a path that takes about 40 minutes to walk, which is safer and easier than attempting to access the beach from the north. We would still recommend coming here with a tour guide, however. For those who manage to access Anse Caïman, there is an abandoned house and a large pirogue (a small, wooden boat) shed that lie behind the beach, adding to the sense of isolation and abandonment. The pools of water that line the sand are also interesting, providing good photo-opportunities, as well as shallow water for snorkelling. The sea water, however, is especially deep in places, and is not safe for swimming. Far from the most popular beach in the Seychelles, Anse Caïman puts some visitors off due to the difficulty of access. However, those feeling adventurous will find a number of interesting features here to make the trek worth it, although we’d definitely recommend coming with an experienced tour guide.