Where to swim in the Landes: Atlantic beaches, lakes and our tips

With over 100 kilometres of Atlantic beaches and a chain of large lakes hidden behind the dune, the Landes offer two very different ways to swim: the Atlantic breakers for thrill seekers, and the calm, warm waters of the lakes for families. You still need to know where to go, and to understand the safety rules specific to this coast.

Here is our selection of the best places to swim in the Landes, from north to south, with our tips for a relaxed swim.

Swimming in the Landes at a glance

The northern ocean beaches: Biscarrosse and Mimizan

In the north of the Landes, Biscarrosse-Plage and Mimizan offer long stretches of fine sand bordered by dune and pine forest. In summer, lifeguard posts mark out large supervised swimming zones, ideal for families. Further south, Contis and Lit-et-Mixe have kept a wilder character, with large, quiet beaches.

The southern beaches: Vieux-Boucau, Hossegor and Capbreton

Vieux-Boucau is a good choice for families thanks to its lac marin de Port d’Albret, a calm expanse of sea water linked to the ocean, with no waves. Further south, Hossegor and Seignosse are world-famous surf spots, with powerful waves best left to strong swimmers. The lac marin d’Hossegor, fed by the tide, also offers sheltered swimming in salt water. In Capbreton, the beaches line the harbour and the famous estacade.

The Landes lakes: swimming in calm water

Behind the dune, a succession of large lakes offers an ideal alternative to the ocean, with warmer water and no waves:

• the lac de Biscarrosse et de Parentis and the lac de Cazaux et de Sanguinet, huge and clear-watered, with many developed beaches;
• the lac d’Aureilhan, near Mimizan, more intimate and very family-friendly;
• the lac de Léon, starting point of the famous courant d’Huchet, a small wild river that you can descend by boat all the way to the ocean;
• the lac de Soustons and the lac d’Hossegor, to the south, easy to reach from the coast.

Several lake beaches are lifeguarded in July and August. For more ideas, see our selection of the most beautiful lakes in the Landes.

Our safety tips for swimming

The Landes coast is magnificent but demanding: the waves are powerful and the baïnes create currents that carry swimmers out to sea. A few rules apply:

• only swim in supervised zones, between the flags, in July and August;
• respect the colour of the flag and ask the lifeguards for advice;
• never fight a current: let it carry you, signal for help, then swim parallel to the beach;
• with young children, prefer the lakes or the sea lakes of Vieux-Boucau and Hossegor.

To choose your beach, also see our selection of the most beautiful beaches in the Landes.

Where to camp by the water in the Landes?

At Mézos, between forest and ocean, the Village Tropical Sen Yan combines a large water park, ideal on days when the ocean is too rough, with quick access to the beaches of Mimizan and to the lac d’Aureilhan. An ideal base to enjoy both sides of swimming in the Landes. Find all our campsites by the water in the Landes.

Our verdict

In the Landes, the best stay alternates between ocean and lakes: waves in the morning, when the sea is calmer and the beach supervised, then the warm water of a lake in the afternoon. With young children, lakes and sea lakes remain the safest. And wherever you are, never swim outside the supervised zones on the ocean coast.