Port-Miou, Riou, Cassis bay and La Ciotat: where you can still anchor in the Calanques National Park, and which calanques are closed.
The Calanques are narrow limestone inlets between Marseille and Cassis, protected since 2012 as France’s first periurban national park. East of Cassis, the cliffs of Cap Canaille lead to the Bay of La Ciotat and Île Verte.
Many people still expect to anchor in En-Vau or Port-Pin. Both are now closed to anchoring and stopping for every boat, and the park allows anchoring only in designated zones. This guide shows what remains open, for small boats and for large yachts. Our Provence Yacht Services team in La Ciotat looks after yachts in this area all season.
Last reviewed November 2026
A planning guide drawn from pilot sources. Swell, gusts off high ground and local effects can change the picture, so check the forecast and ask us before you commit.
| Anchorage | MistralNW | LibeccioW / SW | Levant & SiroccoE / SE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port-Miou | Good shelter | Good shelter | Partial |
| Riou archipelago | Exposed | Check locally | Check locally |
The first calanque west of Cassis
A long, deep calanque with buoys and pontoons, sheltered in almost all weather and a short walk from Cassis.
Anchoring is prohibited throughout the calanque. Boats moor on buoys (under 17 m) or pontoons (under 12 m). Vessels over 20 gross tonnes are not admitted.
Not accessible to large yachts. Anchor in the zones off Cassis and come in by tender.
Between Port-Miou and Sugiton
The most famous calanques, with white cliffs and small beaches. They are now protected from boat traffic and are best visited on foot from Cassis.
Anchoring, stopping and drifting are permanently prohibited for all vessels in En-Vau and Port-Pin (AP 101/2021, amended by AP 11/2023).
Closed to all vessels.
Islands off the Calanques, south of Marseille
Uninhabited limestone islands in the national park, with small coves and a sandy beach at Monastério on Riou.
An authorised anchoring zone is designated on the north coast of Riou (AP 100/2021). Anchoring, fishing and dredging are prohibited in a zone in the north-east of the island.
Yachts of 24 m and over anchor only beyond the national park limit line (AP 099/2021).
La Ciotat, east of Cap Canaille
A wide bay below the red cliffs of the Bec de l'Aigle, with Île Verte offshore and two ports a short tender ride away.
Yachts of 45 m and over use the mandatory zones La Ciotat Ouest and Anse des Lecques (AP 099/2021 and AP 157/2024). A derogation zone in the Anse des Lecques is open to yachts of 24 to 30 m.
Anchorage Intelligence, our map of the French anchoring decrees, shows whether a rule applies to your length overall and links straight to the official text. Access is by waitlist.
Calanques National Park. The park and the prefectoral orders allow anchoring only in designated zones. Yellow buoys mark prohibited zones and white buoys authorised ones. Speed is limited to 5 knots inside 300 m of the shore, and black-water tanks are required.
Yachts of 45 m and over declare (45 to 80 m) or request authorisation (80 m and over) from the signal station at least one hour before arrival and anchor in the mandatory zones (AP 157/2024).
The park plans several new buoy fields over the coming seasons. We keep track of what is open each year.
Port-Miou: buoys for boats under 17 m and pontoons under 12 m, booked with the harbour master on VHF 9.
Île Verte: a buoy field is planned.
For larger yachts, a berth in La Ciotat, which has one of the best superyacht refit yards in the Mediterranean, is often the easiest base for the area.
The Mistral is strongest in this part of the coast and can blow for days. The north coast of Riou and the open calanques become uncomfortable, while Port-Miou stays sheltered. South-easterlies make the Cassis coast and the entrance to Port-Miou difficult.
No. Since 2021 anchoring, stopping and drifting are permanently prohibited for all vessels in En-Vau and Port-Pin. The calanques can be visited on foot from Cassis.
Yachts of 24 m and over anchor beyond the national park limit line set by AP 099/2021. Yachts of 45 m and over use the mandatory zones, such as La Ciotat Ouest and the Anse des Lecques, after declaring to the signal station.
No, anchoring is prohibited in the calanque. Boats under 17 m can take a buoy, and boats under 12 m a pontoon, through the harbour master.
Yellow buoys mark zones where anchoring or navigation is prohibited. White buoys mark authorised zones.
This guide is for planning only and does not replace official charts or notices. Anchoring rules in French waters change from season to season: check the arrêtés in force on premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr and the SHOM charts before anchoring, or ask our team.
Tell us your yacht, dates and where you would like to anchor. Our local team will confirm what the current rules allow for your length, suggest the best spot for the forecast and arrange buoys, tenders, provisioning or a berth if the anchorage is closed.
We offer services all over the world. Below you will find a list of companies representing Catalano Shipping Services in different countries.
