Day 1: La Rochelle and the island of Ré, two jewels of the Atlantic to discover…

For this new experience we offer you a tasty cocktail…
To begin with, we invite you to take the direction of La Rochelle.
This charming port city is located only 35 kilometers from Cariot Island.
And believe us, it is worth the detour!

See you at the Aquarium of La Rochelle.
It is undoubtedly among the most beautiful in France.
Discover the seas of the world and more than 600 species that evolve in the spaces provided. It is a great immersion that fascinates adults and children alike.
You will discover a colorful universe…
Fishes more astonishing than the others…
The clown fish will remind you of Nemo, the stone fish is so discreet, the parrot fish shines with a thousand lights, 12000 creatures of the sea are waiting to meet you. Among them, the legendary sharks and the mischievous turtles are not missing!

To know : The Aquarium of La Rochelle is also a place of scientific and technical culture which is dedicated to research and which offers many animations and temporary exhibitions, in order to allow the public to better understand the sea.

Duration of the visit : between 1h30 and 2h30

After this morning appetizer, and before going to the table, you can stroll in the picturesque districts of La Rochelle and enjoy the iodized air of the city.

Close your eyes for a moment and remember the pirate stories that lulled your childhood dreams… Here you are going back in time… The fish sellers at the fish market and the roaring sailors’ songs in the evening bars are echoes of the past that will not move you.
To immerse yourself in this fabulous history, we invite you to discover the monuments mentioned below:

• The Towers of La Rochelle: The entrance ticket gives access to the 3 towers.
  The visit to these towers will allow you to walk in the footsteps of the lighthouse keepers or those of the prisoners. Indeed, the Lantern Tower was used as a lighthouse before becoming a prison. It contains many graffiti that testify to the passage of English sailors in these jails. Frozen in stone, these drawings speak to us and let us imagine what these men endured.
  The Saint Nicolas tower is a delightful labyrinth that you climb to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city and the ocean.
• The Porte de la Grosse Horloge and the Saint-Louis cathedral are worth a visit.
• The Saint-Nicolas district, with its narrow streets and numerous shops, is an ideal place for a stroll.

Where to have lunch in La Rochelle ?
There are a multitude of restaurants in this port city. The cuisine is naturally oriented towards the ocean… Seafood platters, shellfish, fish are all local specialties that we can’t recommend enough.

But maybe you prefer to bring your picnic and go to the island of Ré…

I must admit that if you hadn’t thought of it, I would have kindly suggested it.
There are many spots where you can rest in the shade of tamarisk trees or simply on the beach if you have something to protect you from the sun.

Cariot Island Council:

Take the direction of Les Portes-en-Ré in the North of theisland.
Go to the beach of Trousse-Chemise, one of the most beautiful and wildest of the island.
In this idyllic setting, between beach and forest, you will have all the leisure to relax.
Walk, play petanque, swim… Here, everything is allowed!
However, beware of the current, which can be powerful (do not leave your children unattended). It is also a beach that makes the happiness of kite surfers.

To finish the day in beauty… A small tour on the side of Saint-Martin de Ré is necessary

Before returning to the campsite, you can make a stop at Saint-Martin de Ré.
Strolling along the port or/and sipping a drink on the terrace, whatever your program, I am ready to bet that this village with its incomparable charm will not fail to seduce you.
A flowery and inspiring citadel, a postcard landscape, the Dolce Vita à la française…
This is in a few words what characterizes this city.

Before returning to your homes, the bravest or most romantic among you may push to the sunset … To attend the most beautiful free show in the world.