ANSE PARNEL
A relaxed local beach on the south-east of Mahé, near Takamaka. Real village life, calm shallows on settled days and a genuine taste of the island beyond the resorts.
A real south-east beach
Anse Parnel sits on the south-east coast of Mahe, in the gentle stretch between Anse Royale and the Takamaka district. It is a proper local beach, backed by homes and everyday island life, and it offers travellers something the big-name beaches cannot, the ordinary, welcoming feel of a Seychelles that is lived in rather than laid on for visitors.
The sand is pretty, the water clear, and the pace is slow. Fishermen work the coast, children play after school, and the whole bay has the easy, unhurried rhythm of the south-east. It is a lovely place simply to be, away from any crowd.
Swimming and setting
Sheltered in parts by the coast and the reef, Anse Parnel can offer calm, shallow water that is pleasant for an easy swim on settled days, though as always on the south-east it pays to read the sea when the trade winds are blowing. There is a scatter of small local guesthouses and eateries nearby, which adds to its authentic, low-key appeal.
With Anse Royale, the spice garden and a string of quiet beaches all close by, it makes an easy and characterful stop in the warm south-east corner of the island.
Know before you go
| Where | South-east coast of Mahe, near Takamaka |
| Type | Relaxed local village beach |
| Swimming | Calm and shallow on settled days, judge the sea in windy months |
| Good for | Local life, an easy swim, an authentic south-east base |
| Nearby | Anse Royale, the spice garden, quiet neighbouring beaches |
| Best time | Calm days, the drier northwest-wind season |
What visitors say
★ 4.7 · 47 Google reviews★★★★★The most iconic beach in Mahe, the most easily accessible, with the least number of people, a very good restaurant, and parking with the use of the restaurant. Palm trees leaning into the sea, coconuts everywhere, it has…
Lucia Petroianu · via Google
★★★★★This beach is an absolute hidden gem. Incredible views. Plenty of space. Very quiet. A restaurant Infront which serves terrible food I’d avoid the restaurant but not the beach!
Abdul A · via Google
★★★★★We loved this this small beach with famous declined palm trees, it is really beautiful and best this is also very good restaurant which we highly recommend In my view is this beach must see in Mahe
Hachim · via Google
★★★★★Cute little beach with nice view of palm trees and granite boulders. Rocky and shallow but very scenic, almost always empty
Alana Shuvalau · via Google
Anse Parnel is a relaxed stop on a tour of the south-east and its beaches, close to Anse Royale and the spice garden. Stay in the south-east to settle into the gentle local pace of this coast.
Traveller favouriteWild South full-day guided tourfrom €128 per groupBook this tourTours via Viator, stays via Booking.com. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Nearby Anse Royale · Anse Machabée · Le Jardin du Roi
Slow down and stay local. The pleasure of Anse Parnel is its everyday village life, so pair a calm-day swim with a simple meal at one of the small nearby eateries for a real taste of the south-east.
