Sainte-Marie-Plage lies on the Mediterranean coast of Sainte-Marie-la-Mer and is defined by an almost three-kilometre-long sandy beach. There is more to its character than beach days: water sports, local history and outdoor activities each offer a distinct focus for a stay.
Sandy beach and varied sections
The central beach is accessible to people with reduced mobility; check the arrangements again before your trip. Plage du Camping is considered the wildest and best-preserved beach at the resort. Check the seasonal information on lifeguard supervision before visiting. Plage du 4ème Épi is near Place L. Guibert.
Water sports and trips
A range of activities are available on the water. LE SPOT is a beach club and sailing school offering activities including stand-up paddleboarding, windsurfing, sea kayaking, pedal boats, and wing surfing or wing foiling. Courses and instruction are also available. Kitesurf School 66 offers kitesurfing lessons and progression training for beginners and advanced participants. Fishing 66 organises full- and half-day sea fishing trips focused on big game, sea bass, vertical fishing and cephalopods, and also offers courses.
For boating-related training, Bateau Ecole offers a range of local courses with a focus on safety, as well as training for and the issue of the coastal boating licence. The training programme also includes the issue of a personal watercraft licence.
Outdoor activities on land
On land, the pump track is open year-round for bicycles, scooters, skateboards and roller skates. Street workout facilities are also free to use for residents and visitors. They include six fitness machines, among them an elliptical trainer, a cross-country skiing machine, and pull and push machines.
From seaside resort to local history
The history of Sainte-Marie-Plage as a seaside resort began when fishermen built huts on the beach for their equipment from 1890 onwards. A historical trail, with a discovery and leisure guide and historical panels, leads visitors to details along the seafront and in the village lanes. Église Notre Dame de l’Assomption in Sainte-Marie-la-Mer is another historical landmark. Its foundations are Romanesque; the central apse is the oldest part of the building and dates from the 13th century.
In Sainte-Marie-la-Mer, the marina has 500 berths and eight floating pontoons for boats from 4 to 12 metres long. Alongside the beach and water sports, this puts marina facilities and boating instruction among the area’s distinct nautical attractions.
Market and seasonal events
For 2026, a market is scheduled at Parking Agora on the seafront on Saturday mornings throughout the year. Check the dates before your trip. Catalan sardanas take place on Fridays and Sundays during the season; the seasonal programme may change, so it is advisable to check the specific dates.
Discover more destinations: Saleilles, Nohèdes, Bompas, Pia, Los Masos, Cassagnes, Latour-Bas-Elne, Saint-Nazaire
For the broader travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.
