Camping La Puerta del Sol

A spectacular beach awaits at the small seaside town of Saint-Hilaire-de-Riez, stretching all the way to Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie in one direction and Saint-Jean-de-Monts in the other. Watersports and swimming are popular at all three of these resorts; most of the local beaches are family-friendly and lifeguarded in summer. Around Saint-Hilaire, walk or cycle the forest paths and trails behind the town, or bike to the marina and seafood restaurants and sardine specialities of Saint-Gilles. The town's also home to the Feeling Forest park, one of several Vendée adventure parks that include more treetop adventuring at Moutiers le Mauxfait's Indian Forest, and paintballing at 201 Forest Avenue in Sion-sur-l'Ocean and Le Grand Defi in St Julien-des-Lande. Within 50 minutes' drive is Les Sables d’Olonne zoo, a couple of hundred metres from the sea at Les Sables d'Olonne. Have a morning here to say hi to its endangered species and other animals, then take to the beach for the afternoon, or amble around the many swish restaurants, shops and bars in town. Horse riding, golf, casinos and canal trips on the Marais Poitevin are all in the area too: ask the Puerta del Sol team for its top tips.