Day 52 - Calanque d'en Vau

On Monday night when I checked the calanques website, I couldn't believe it was orange in July, meaning that the calanques were open and unlimited all day!  That meant we had time to hike 2.5 hours (round trip) to the "most beautiful" Calanque d'en Vau!

The calanques are #22 on the map

Check calanque access on website:  http://www.paca.gouv.fr/files/massif

Other than a brief very steep decent (and Kate complaining), our hike into the calanque was painless.  I overheard Kate tell her friend, "We walked there on rocks and I was slipping."  It was already hot when we started before 9:00am but the sun wasn't intense yet.  The reward is an amazing view and a perfect swim in crystal-clear water.  Imagine the glory of having this highly-rated beach to yourself!  For us, though, it was already too crowded at 10:00am and by 11:00am it was covered by 41 kayaks.  This place is no secret hideaway!

Calanque d'en Vau is beautiful!

The beach at the calanque is rocky

We headed for the only shady spot

A perfect swim!

Logistics:  (view below for more pictures!)

There are three calanques you can access from Cassis:  Port Miou, Port Pin, and d'en Vau.  En Vau is the most spectacular and beautiful of these three calanques and also the most difficult to get to.

How to get to Calanque d'en Vau from Calanque Port Miou:

Time: 1:15 hours one way (30 minutes to Port Pin and 45 additional minutes to En Vau)
Distance:  3.5 km one way

Take the wide path marked GR98-51.  After 800m, when you come to a building on your left, you can choose the smaller path on the left of the building.  The smaller path, which winds along the edge of Port Miou, is slightly longer and more difficult due to all the slippery rocks.  We prefer the easy main path.

The majority of the trail to Port Pin is very easy

After 20 minutes on the main path, you come to a fork.  The bigger trail heads right - don't take it.  You want to go left, following the red-and-white painted "x".  This brings you down into Port Pin.

Continue straight through Port Pin and exit via the path on the other side:

For the next 25 minutes, the trail is an unchanging steady climb:

"Why are we walking up if we are going to the beach?" --Kate

At the top you come to a junction.  Continue straight (do not go left or right).

Three-way junction at the top

This rock tells you to continue straight to En Vau

At this point, the trail becomes significantly more difficult as you descend quickly down 170 meters of steep rocks and gravel.

We are at the top and have to get to the bottom

It is not an easy path.  I hear the guide behind us ask his old friend, "Did I trick you into danger?"

Grab on to whatever you can to help you down.  The rocks are smooth from being grasped so much.

At the bottom when you reach the fork, turn left.  It is a flat 5-10 minute walk to the beach along the access road from Col de la Gardiole.

At the bottom, the path is easy again

Arriving to the En Vau beach

My biggest regret is that we did not achieve the splendid viewpoint overlooking the Calanque d'en Vau.  On your return journey, you get there from the junction after the sharp ascent from d'en Vau.  Instead of going straight at the junction, you turn right.  If you continue to Point d'en Vau, after the overlook of Port Pin you will connect back onto the trail into Port Pin.

Note:  The easiest way to get to d'en Vau is via the access road from Col de la Gardiole, which is closed to vehicles during the summer months.

If you are kayaking into the calanques, definitely go on a day when access is red or black!  There were so many kayaks on our orange day in July that they had to anchor in the bay.