AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Saint-Leu Beach (Plage de Saint-Leu) is the rare kind of tropical swimming spot that sits in the middle of a town rather than at the end of a long track. On Réunion's west coast, a low coral barrier wraps around a shallow, wave-protected lagoon just south of the small pleasure port, so you can wander from a seafront cafe straight into warm, turquoise water. The shoreline is shaded by filaos, lifeguards are on duty, public toilets and showers are nearby, and entry from the sand is easy and free.↗↗
What makes this beach a genuine highlight rather than just a place to lie down is what lies a short swim offshore: a protected marine reserve where branching coral shelters clouds of tropical fish and, on a lucky day, a sea turtle glides past. Whether you come for an easy family swim, a first snorkel or a guided boat trip out to the richer outer reef, Saint-Leu serves up Réunion's lagoon life in the most convenient setting on the island.↗↗
A town-centre lagoon
The beach hugs the heart of Saint-Leu, bordered on one side by the town's little marina and fronted by a row of filaos (native beach pines) that throw natural shade across the sand. Because the outer reef breaks the swell, the water inside the lagoon stays comparatively calm and the swim is considered relatively safe — which is why it is popular with families and one of the island's busiest beaches, especially at weekends. You can park along the seafront road, and local buses drop you right at the sand at the "Saint-Leu Plage" stop.