3 Days in Plettenberg Bay – Our Favorite Stop on the Garden Route – Where to Stay
We spent three days exploring Plettenberg Bay, a small coastal town on South Africa’s Garden Route.
In this post, I’ll share everything we experienced during our visit.
We also share below where we stayed along the route and why these accommodations were perfect for our journey.
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At Robberg Beach
The serene beauty of this town, the sound of ocean waves, and the calmness of nature all made us feel like we were in paradise. If you love undisturbed beauty of nature, this is the place to go.
We drove from Cape Town to Plettenberg Bay along the breathtaking Garden Route. If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to travel this route, you can read all about our drive from Cape Town to Garden Route here
Day 1 – Arrival and Robberg Beach
We stayed in a seaside villa close to Robberg Beach with a view of it. On the day we arrived, we walked down to Robberg Beach, which was about a seven-minute walk down the hilly lanes.
It was only a few hours before sunset, and the late August sun was shining bright on us. We were mesmerized by the beauty of this place. The small stretch of ocean curved around the
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The road leading to the beach
surrounding hills with beautiful houses on top. Instantly, we fell in love with this beach.
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Seaside houses in Plett
This region is full of sharks, and we didn’t take a swim even though the signs said there were no sharks at that time.
As we walked along the wide stretch of sand, the houses came into view from a gentle rise in the distance. They weren’t
pressed up against the shore, but set back just enough to feel peaceful and removed, overlooking the beach rather than crowding it. From afar, they seemed perfectly placed, close enough to take in the sweeping view of the sea, yet far enough to let the beach breathe in its full, open expanse
The beautiful design that the crawling seashells made at Robberg Beach
We walked as the glittering water of the Indian Ocean touched our feet. We saw sea shells crawling on the beach around us and walked carefully not to
step on them. Each time a wave came in, the live sea snails were buried under the sand by the force of the water, and when the wave receded, they slowly crawled back to the surface, leaving behind a completely new design as they moved across the sand. This was probably the first time we saw sea shells crawl, and it was really awesome to watch.
Day 2 – Robberg Peninsula Hike and Evening Beach Visit
We started our day with an early morning hike on the Robberg Peninsula. This trail is one of the most stunning hikes we’ve ever done, winding along the spectacular Indian Ocean coast. The hike itself takes about four hours, but we spent a little extra time enjoying the views. I’ve written a separate blog that goes into detail about exploring the Robberg Peninsula.
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Seagulls resting end of the day
After the hike, we explored Plettenberg Bay town for the evening. Later, we made a point to visit the beach again after sunset. It was a little after sunset and a completely different experience. We saw thousands of seagulls resting on the beach. It was not crowded, and the ocean waves, resting birds, and white sand kept us very relaxed.
There is a lagoon formed where water from the ocean cuts through the beach to the other side. Throughout the day, low and high tides cause the lagoon to drain mostly into the ocean during the day and fill again during high tide in the evening. We couldn’t cross the beach to the other side because the water was very deep and rapid. We walked until that point a few times, soaking in the calm nature and beauty.
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Ocean cutting through the beach to form a lagoon the other side
There is a bar and a pizza shop on top of the hill with an ocean view. It was full when we went there, so we decided to have dinner in town instead. There are plenty of restaurents in the Main st. of Plett (near Robberg Beach) but remember we are in a small town and they close early. We tried in a different restaurent each day and the food was delicious in all.
Day 3 – Morning Beach Walk and Town Exploration
The next morning, before we left for Knysna, we went to the beach early to feel the ocean waves on our feet one more time. Later, we explored the town for breakfast.
We visited The Smoothie Bar for a smoothie. The owner was very friendly and greeted us warmly. He explained all the different smoothies they had. Each of us tried a different flavor, and they were all very good. We chatted with him, and it was clear that the shop was not just a business but his way of keeping Plett alive.
We left Plettenberg Bay with wonderful experiences and memories, and our three-day trip on the Garden Route continued to Knysna.
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Enjoying fresh smoothies at The Smoothie Bar in Plett, a friendly spot
Where we stayed
Plettenberg Bay – Best View @ No 2
Best View @ No 2 was perfectly located near Robberg Beach with amazing beach views, walkable to Robberg Beach and just a 5-minute drive to the Robberg Peninsula trail and on the main street with great restaurants. This apartment (acrtually extemely large three bedroom with kitchen and huge living area) can easily hold 5 to 6 people and if you are a large group this place is a deal. It felt like home.
Knysna – Falcons View Manor
If you are driving from Knysna this is a place we recommend.
Falcons View Manor offered stunning views, incredible staff, and a flawless stay, everything was perfect!
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