One of the main reasons people visit island of La Digue is Anse Source d’Argent beach. But there are other beautiful beaches, like Anse Cocos, with its stunning natural pool.
This guide will detail how to hike Anse Cocos trail, including what to know before you go, how to get there, what to expect, and why I think is a must do experience on La Digue.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN SEYCHELLES:
• Hilltop Boutique Hotel (I stayed here in Victoria on Mahé)
• Sun Properties & Resort Hotel (I stayed here in Beau Vallon on Mahé)
• Marie Laure Suites (I stayed here in Bel Ombre on Mahé)
• Bambous River Lodge (I stayed here in Bel Ombre on Mahé)
• Palm Beach Hotel (I stayed here in Grand Anse on Praslin)
• Chez Bea (I stayed here in Cote’Or on Praslin)
• Cote D’Or Footprints (upscale stay in Cote D’Or on Praslin)
• La Digue Self Catering Apartments (I stayed here in La Passe on La Digue)
• Le Nautique Waterfront Hotel (perfect beachfront location on La Digue)
• Chalets d’Anse Reunion (perfect paradise stay on La Digue)
TOP EXPERIENCES and TOURS IN SEYCHELLES:
• Mahé: Anse Major hike (I did this fun hike!)
• Mahé: Private Tour on Mahé (I did this)
• Mahé: St. Anne Marine Park with Lunch (I did this!)
• Mahé: Rock pool hike (on my wishlist)
• Mahé: Day trip to Praslin and La Digue (great if you are short on time)
• Praslin: Vallé de Mai and Anse Lazio (I did this!)
• Praslin: cruise to Curieuse and St. Pierre Island (top-rated tour)
• La Digue: Anse Marron (hike to an isolated beach)
• La Digue: Crystal Water Kayaks tour (my favorite!)
Anse Cocos trail is an easy hike on La Digue, perfect for those who want to stretch their legs and enjoy a bit of exercise with stunning views.
Keep reading to learn about this free trail, my experiences, and how to prepare for the hike through a fragrant cinnamon forest.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Never leave for a trip without travel insurance. Unexpected issues can arise so I suggest using insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country. You can buy this travel insurance even if you are already abroad.
Anse Cocos hiking trail
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● This is a beginner-friendly trail that can be done without a guide as a half-day trip in La Digue island.
● There are no shops or facilities along the trail, so bring enough water, snacks, sunscreen, CASH and insect repellent.
● Swimming is only safe in the natural pool area, surrounded by granite formations, due to strong currents.
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Know before you go on Anse Cocos hike
Hike to Anse Cocos is one of the easiest and most popular hikes on La Digue. It is free and it follows Anse Caiman Trail. You do not need a guide to do it.
Anse Caiman Nature Trail is classified as a low-difficulty walk. It goes all the way to Anse Caiman Beach, but you are only going to go up to Anse Cocos.
Plan from 40 minutes to 1 hour to get from Grande Anse to Anse Coco (one way). You will have to go back the same way, so plan at least 3 hours or half-day for this hike. If you are planning your La Digue itinerary, you can combine it with an afternoon of snorkeling and sunset watching at Anse Severe.
The trail gets really muddy when wet. Wear walking shoes as it can be really challenging to do it in flip-flops! (I’ve tried.)
There are no facilities or shops along the way, so bring enough water and snacks. Don’t forget the sunscreen and remember that the beach has strong currents, so swimming is only safe in the natural pool area.
Where is Anse Cocos beach
Anse Cocos is a secluded beach located on the eastern side of La Digue, the fourth biggest island in the Seychelles.
If you search for it on a map, you will find it between Petit Anse and Anse Caiman, or on the opposite side of the La Digue jetty.
One of the most beautiful La Digue beaches is only accessible by foot, just like Anse Marron. It requires a hike through a forest and along a scenic coast.
INTERESTING FACT
Now a secluded beach was once one of the first settlements on La Digue, with a small coconut plantation and a copra kiln used to dry coconuts for oil production. Though the plantation is long gone, remnants of the old kiln can still be found near the beach.
How to get to Anse Cocos Trail
The Anse Cocos hiking trail is part of a longer Anse Caiman trail.
The Anse Caiman Natural Trail is 2.52 km (1.56 mil) long and starts at Grand Anse Beach, southeast of La Digue. The easiest way to reach Grand Anse is by bike, or you can arrange a buggy transfer from your accommodation.
I usually need 15-20 minutes from my La Digue self-catering apartment close to the jetty to get there. I follow the road that goes inland and turn left at Ray & Josh cafe takeaway.
After a short downhill, the road starts to gently climb up. Pass Mimi’s Café (a great spot for cheesecake on your way back), and follow the road down to the beach.
The last section of the road, leading to the beach, is full of holes (at least it was in November 2024) because there is a construction site going on, so you might need to navigate around it.
Once you reach Grand Anse Beach, park your bike near the LaDigue Restaurant. Most probably there will be some bikes already parked there. Grab some water if needed, then follow the path on foot.
After a short walk, you’ll find the sign marking the start of the hike from Grand Anse to Anse Cocos on La Digue.
Hike to Anse Cocos on La Digue
The trail is a mix of flat and steep sections.
To reach the beautiful beach on La Digue, you’ll need to walk from Grand Anse via Petite Anse.
From starting point on Grand Anse follow a trail on your left (if facing the ocean).
You will first pass a pond and a small forest before the trail goes up for the first time. After a descent, you will arrive at the Petite Anse beach. Plan around 15 minutes for this portion of the hike.
At the sandy beach of Petite Anse, you can rest and take some photos of granite rocks, but I do not recommend swimming. You will most probably even see a board alerting to strong currents.
The trail goes behind the beach from Petite Anse and after a while, it becomes a bit more challenging. Take the path inland behind the beach and start to gradually lead uphill.
As you leave the beach behind, you’ll enter a cinnamon forest, one of the unique features of this trail. You will be able to smell the warm, and spicy scent of a cinnamon.
Cinnamon leaves are easy to recognize – they’re glossy, leathery, and have a distinctive three-vein pattern. Crush one between your fingers for an even stronger scent!
The trail continues downhill through the tropical forest as you walk towards Anse Cocos. The walk takes about 30 minutes from Petite Anse, but allow some extra time to stop and enjoy the scenery. Along the way, you’ll see stunning views of the ocean, tropical foliage, and maybe even some local wildlife.
What to do at beautiful Anse Cocos
Anse Cocos is almost 500 m long and one of the most beautiful Seychelles beaches. It is more secluded and less crowded than other La Digue beaches like Anse Source D’Argent in L’Union Estate. In worst cases, you will only have to “share” it with a couple of people.
There is a small beach bar called Coco Bar on the south (right) side, serving amazing freshly made smoothies (100 SCR) and preparing delicious BBQ lunch (250 SCR). You can pick the flavor of the smoothies made from local fruits like pineapple, mango, starfruit, coconut, etc., and the BBQ options include grilled fish, rice or noodles, (papaya) salad, dhal, or other local delicacies.
On the other north (left) side of this white sand beach, rock formations create a sheltered natural pool. It is perfect for swimming, as swimming outside of the pool is not recommended due to strong currents.
Spending your day here is ideal, if you want a peaceful day by the sea, away from the more crowded spots on the island.
Tips for hiking Anse Cocos from Grand Anse
START EARLY
Begin your hike early in the morning to avoid the midday heat and enjoy the cooler temperatures. There will be fewer tourists so you can enjoy the beach all by yourself.
TAKE ENOUGH WATER – STAY HYDRATED
You’ll be hiking for up to an hour each way under the tropical sun. There are no shops along the way, so it’s important to carry enough water with you. The last place to buy it is at Ladigue Restaurant on Grande Anse. You can buy refreshments and fruit smoothies at the Coco bar.
BRING CASH
There are no ATMs or card payment options on the trail. If you want to buy drinks or snacks or a delicious lunch from Coco Bar on the beach, you’ll need cash.
USE SUNSCREEN AND COVER UP
You’ll be exposed to the sun for most of the hike, even when it’s cloudy. You will be walking in the forest for some time, but shade is rare on all three beaches. Apply sun protection before starting the hike and reapply along the way and on the beach. Wear a hat and sunglasses to protect your face and eyes from the sun.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
What to apply first, sunscreen or bug repellent? Apply sun blocker first, wait for 10 minutes for it to absorb, and then apply the insect repellant.
DON’T FORGET INSECT REPELLENT
While Seychelles are malaria-free, there might be mosquitos in the forest. There will be more of them during the rainy season and after the rain.
WEAR SUITABLE FOOTWEAR
I’ve done the hike in flip-flops but I do not recommend it. The trail can be muddy, rocky, and slippery, especially after heavy rain. In that case. Leave beach sandals at home and opt for sturdy walking shoes or sandals with good grip. This will make the walk safer and more comfortable, especially on the uphill and downhill sections.
SWIM WITH CAUTION
Before reaching Anse Cocos, you will pass two beaches on La Digue: Grand Anse and Petit Anse. While they may look dreamy, they are not safe to swim due to strong surf and underwater currents. I don’t want to scare you, but two people drowned during one of my visits. Avoid swimming there and only swim in the designated natural pool area at the far end of the beach where it’s safe to swim.
Final thoughts on hiking Anse Cocos trail
Hiking to small beach Anse Cocos is a must-do on La Digue.
It’s an easy and scenic walk that rewards you with a beautiful, secluded beach that feels like your own private paradise. I’ve done it multiple times and recommend it to everyone.
You can spend a whole day there sipping smoothies from a beach bar or only a couple of hours. It’s up to you what else you would like to do in La Digue. If you are a fan of coconut, I suggest that you stop at Mimi’s cafe. And try the best coconut cheesecake and homemade ice cream! It’s to die for!
Check out my other travel tips for La Digue, like the most beautiful beaches, how to get to here and where to stay, or have a look at my other Seychelles guides for islands of Praslin and Mahe to help plan and pack your perfect tropical island adventure!
➤ Read more Seychelles travel guides
• Is La Digue worth visiting? To visit or skip this Seychelles island
• Where to stay in La Digue Island, Seychelles: 10 Best La Digue hotels
• How to spend 10 days in Seychelles Itinerary
• Ultimate Seychelles Packing list: What to pack for Seychelles (+ FREE pdf)
• Best souvenirs from Seychelles: What should you buy?
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