BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Saint-Tropez and Pampelonne by boat: the iconic day
Renting a boat in Saint-Tropez: anchoring off Pampelonne, rounding Cap Camarat, dodging the July crowds — real prices and insider advice.
From land, Pampelonne is a beach with clubs. From the sea, it is one of the world's famous anchorages: an open bay where rows of yachts face five kilometres of sand. Dropping your own hook there is THE Saint-Tropez day.
The classic route
Out of the mythical port (salute the Bailli's statue), round the citadel, then make for Les Canebiers bay and its villas before doubling the cape towards Pampelonne. Anchor on sand in 4-6 metres, tender or club shuttle for lunch ashore. The curious push on to Cap Camarat and the wilder Escalet cove.
Skipping the July-August zoo
At noon in August, Pampelonne counts hundreds of boats. The workarounds: arrive before 10:30, anchor south towards l'Escalet, or aim for June and September — same clubs open, half the crowd, rental prices sharply down.
What it costs
Saint-Tropez posts the highest prices on the coast: RIB €350-700, motorboat €500-1,200, skippered yacht from €2,500 a day. The smart move: rent in Sainte-Maxime or Cavalaire, 15-20 minutes from the same waters, for 20-30% less — the Boat-Comparator search shows all three bases at once.
Regulations
The 300-metre band at 5 knots (heavily policed in summer), buoyed swimming zones along Pampelonne, and protected posidonia meadows off the bay: anchor on pale sand — the fine stings.