Getting around by boat and ferry Gironde

With departures all year round and rotations every 40 minutes in July and August from the point of Grave, ferries are the opportunity to make a beautiful crossing of the estuary to explore the Royan. You can push exploration to the lighthouse of the Coubre - 365 steps! -located north of the estuary in Charente-Maritime. The lighthouse is automated and houses an authorized guardian to receive visitors. For families, the Palmyra Zoo is one of the most important areas of the surrounding area. The crossing takes about 20 minutes. You can also take the ferry with his car…

The Bordeaux river shuttle (or BAT3, pronounced BatCub) is an excellent way of getting from one bank of the Garonne to the other. Bordeaux Métropole, via the TBM network, provides passengers with two hybrid river shuttles, L'Hirondelle and La Gondole. Each can accommodate up to 65 passengers, plus 6 bicycles per crossing. These catamarans serve 6 pontoons: Stalingrad, Quinconces, Darwin, Les Hangars, Cité du Vin and Lormont Bas. The shuttles are accessible to people with reduced mobility.

Located at the gateway to the Atlantic, but protected by the Pointe de Grave, this attractive marina offers an exceptional position between the Atlantic and the Gironde Estuary. With its 800 berths (eventually 1,200) equipped with water and electricity, on a 15-hectare inner basin, with minimum draughts of 2 and 3 meters, discover a comfortable access and stay. On a single site, you'll find the harbourmaster's office, around twenty food shops, nautical services, a sailing school and 800 free parking spaces, all of which make for a remarkable setting, far from the hustle and bustle of urban life, embellished by almost 6 hectares of green spaces and plantations.

Festive events and regattas punctuate the year: the Tour de Cordouan regatta in mid-April and the Trophée Port Médoc at the end of April; the Sunday market from May to September; the Jet-Ski Estuary at the end of June, the Saturday aperitifs in July and August; the Quai des Vins yachting and wine show every year on the first weekend in May.

Didier Meynard, a former oyster farmer, has become a professional skipper with a qualifying diploma. A local boy, he knows the Bassin and the marine environment like the back of his hand. He'll take you aboard his 11-meter catamaran, which can accommodate up to 17 people in its covered space. Depending on your wishes and budget, set sail for Ile aux oiseaux, Banc d'Arguin or Dune du Pyla. Bonus: oyster and white wine tasting. Privatization available for personal or business events.

With Passe Marée, David, an all-round sailor, offers you a round-trip day trip to Arcachon from Andernos-les-Bains or Cap Ferret. Rates are very reasonable, with discounts for families with a minor child or groups. You can also take advantage of theIntégrale, a day trip from Andernos-les-Bains to discover most of the basin. A number of "event" outings(Grand Tour du Bassin, Marcher sur Arguin, etc.) complete the range offered by this fuel-efficient boat, over 90% recyclable.

In a way, this former oyster harbor represents the living memory of the commune. Nowadays, activity is reduced, but it will soon be redeveloped to enable yachtsmen to moor in this authentic, peaceful setting. The oyster huts, built by the fishermen themselves, add a touch of nostalgia to the charm of this place. They are due to be refurbished. A project for a fishing lake with a small hamlet of light housing is also planned, creating an exceptional leisure haven.

Towards the end of the ^18th century, the cultivation of vines encouraged the expansion of this small port, whose activities were divided between river transport and fishing. Today, it's the pleasure boaters who come to make a stopover and take advantage of the berths (36, including 2 for visitors) available in the port. Good to know: every year in July, the municipality organizes the Goulée port festival, which includes a pétanque competition, a night market, a funfair and the throwing of a wreath into the sea in memory of lost sailors.

Sheltered from the swell and the open sea, the Arcachon marina has 2,600 berths, including 250 for passage, spread over 28 pontoons. Boats must not exceed 30 meters in length, with a maximum draught of 6 meters. Marina staff are on hand to help with mooring. A full range of services is offered to customers: water, electricity, sanitary facilities, fuel, wastewater.