This 3-hour hike for 9km passes through the 3 calanques of Cassis: Port Miou, Port Pin and En Vau. The level of difficulty is easy until the calanque of Port Pin, then a little bit difficult until the calanque of En Vau. Indeed, to reach the beach of En Vau, the descent is a bit dizzying with rocky outcrops. Don't forget to take walking shoes, your swimsuits and snorkels, sunscreen and water. Provide at least 2 liters of water per person, especially in summer.
You can park at parking de la Calanque from Port Miou, paying in summer (about 8€ per day), on the Notre Dame Avenue or in the surrounding streets. The cove of Port-Miou marks the start of the hike. A former limestone quarry, it is now a natural port that accommodates more than 600 boats. The high number of boats and the absence of a beach does not make this calanque a suitable place for swimming. To enjoy a nice swim, take the direction of the calanque of Port Pin and En Vau.
The markup is green-dotted between points 1 and 2, then white-red between points 2 and 3 up to the calanque de Port Pin. To get to the calanque of En Vau you must follow the blue route between points 3 and 4 then go down to the calanque following the signs (it adds 1 hour to the hiking to do the round trip). Finally, to return to the calanque of Port-Pin by land, the loop follows a white-red route between points 4 and 5.
The calanque de Port Pin is a heavenly place where I love snorkeling. The seabed is very beautiful, there is a lot of life in the rocks. Do not hesitate to swim a little further than the beach to avoid the tourists and enjoy in the middle of the fish.
Continue hiking towards the Calanque d'En Vau, the best known of the 3 creeks of Cassis. The different viewpoints of the panoramic path offered by the route from Port-Pin are just exceptional. You will find many places to have lunch, with a view of the cyan blue canyon.
Once in the calanque, take the time to swim and sunbathe before heading back inland towards Port Pin, so as to make a loop. This time the scenery changes, you will meander between the arid vegetation, sometimes in the shade. Once back in Port Pin, take the same path as on the outward journey to return to the car.
For the return to Marseille, do not hesitate to go through the route des Crêtes before returning to the motorway. This route snails from Cassis to La Ciotat along the Mediterranean coast and offers spectacular views, especially at the hour when the sun is setting.
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