Best Camping in Collioure
Collioure is a wonderful part of the world for camping: you are close to both Collioure and Argeles Sur Mer, as well as natural trails, mountains and beaches.
Fortunately, there are some nice campsites for camping in Collioure for tents, caravans, camper vans, mobile homes and bunglalows, namely Les Criques de Porteils, Les Amandiers and La Coste Rouge.
Les Criques de Porteils Campsite Review
My Rating: Best Campsite For 5 Star Luxury
Cathy, the wife of Laurent Raspaud , the manager of the Les Criques de Porteils campsite , showed me around the 6 hectares of the campsite and we had a coffee together while I learned more about the history of Les Criques.
My first impression of Les Criques was that it was a far superior campsite to any I had ever seen. I would even say it was a luxury campsite. I also liked the cleanliness, the standards and I felt a real commitment to quality and service from the staff - a bit like in a luxury hotel. This campsite is a member of the " LeadingCampings of Europe" chain, a label bringing together the 37 most beautiful campsites in Europe.
For me I would call this a Boutique Camping - I truly felt like I was having a 5 star experience.
Les Criques de Porteils offers a wide range of accommodation, from spacious pitches for tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes to more luxurious mobile homes and cottages, so there is something to suit all preferences.
For those looking for extra comfort, the premium cottages come with air conditioning, modern kitchens and private terraces, perfect for relaxing after a day of exploring.
The facilities are truly impressive: a heated swimming pool, a wellness area and a sports field. There is the friendly restaurant and the 180° bar, as well as a shop where you can buy basic necessities and fresh produce. Finally, the on-site services are numerous, with very clean and modern toilet blocks, a laundry and charging points for electric vehicles.
Les Criques de Porteils stands out in particular for its commitment to sustainable development, with recycling facilities, energy-saving devices and an approach focused on waste reduction.
The campsite also offers eco-lodges designed with environmentally friendly materials.
I also loved the sea views, the fresh air and the tranquility of the place - despite the number of guests, it always feels quiet, calm and with guests respecting each other.
The campsite was established in 1964 and for many years it was a classic campsite with traditional pitches for caravans, tents and motorhomes.
Then, in 2005, Laurent Raspaud bought the campsite. Laurent comes from a Catalan family that has long managed campsites in Argelès and Canet. He had the idea of elevating the campsite to a hotel experience, while retaining the natural beauty of the place.
He gradually started to install high-quality mobile homes there - as you can see from my photos, they are quite beautiful and made of natural wood.
Likewise, the pitches for caravans and tents are spacious, high quality and well organised. For me, this is a campsite where a lot of thought and care has been put into the design of the site.
And a major difference, as Cathy told me during our coffee together, is that you can arrive here with your caravan, your van, your camper. Cathy told me: "At Criques de Porteils , we are talking about traditional camping with a wide choice of bare pitches dedicated to tents, camper vans, converted vans... It is the combination of traditional camping, modernity and service."
The emphasis is therefore on tranquility, cleanliness and sport for those who want to be more active, as well as for those with children. There is no animation or disco.
For those with children, there is a Kid's Club every day for free and all the activities for children are free and I saw lots of happy children running around!
And for those who want to be active, there is paddle, tennis, ping-pong, pétanque, mini-golf, free guided walks, pilates , yoga, paddleboarding and much more.
I was really impressed with the range of activities on offer here - it would be hard to get bored and it's a great way to get to know other guests. Likewise, there are trails that lead to the beaches of Racou and Collioure.
For those who want a more relaxing holiday, there is also a wellness area with à la carte treatments: you can get a massage and a haircut, and the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
It's no wonder, Cathy told me, that there are so many repeat customers who come back every year, and as we walked around the campsite she said hello to quite a few of her customers.
And the mix of customers is nice. As I walked around, I heard a lot of different languages, obviously a lot of French, but also a nice international mix.
When I spoke to the reception team they explained that they all spoke at least three or four languages each, which is also another difference from many other campsites.
Les Amandiers Campsite Review
My Rating: Best For Value
Just as you drive in to Collioure, there’s a little unassuming road with a sign for Les Amandiers and down this narrow road, you will find this surprising gem of a campsite.
The star of the show is it’s setting – in rural countryside, yet only a walk to the secluded Ouille beach and just a little hike up to Collioure. It’s super convenient and close to culture and nature.
Indeed, Les Amandiers has been a campsite for many decades and well known for its unpretentiousness, simplicity and value.
Les Amandiers is also more what I would call a classic campsite with 80 pitches for tents, camper vans and caravans and 16 bungalows – nicely shaded with lots of trees and vegetation for cover. The bungalows themselves are above the campsite and raised, so they have sea views and are nice and clean and well stocked for everything you need on holiday.
At the same time, I liked the fact that it’s got the facilities you need namely clean sanitary blocks, laundry, grocery store and a restaurant & bar. What more do you need?
There are also activities available, such as kayaking and tennis area and it was nice to see that kids had their own play areas of course.
And whilst the amenities might not be as extensive as other campsites, like La Crique, the focus here is on tranquillity and the natural environment – and I could really feel that.
I visited on a busy day during the Season, when Les Amandiers was almost full, yet it wasn’t loud, people were respectful and it felt like a welcoming community.
So, if you're after a simple serene holiday with lots of natural beauty, then this hidden gem on the Côte Vermeille is one for you!
La Coste Rouge Campsite Review
My Rating: Best For Convenience
Not strictly in Collioure, La Coste Rouge is right off the roundabout on the coastal road on the road to Collioure beween Argeles and Collioure.
There aren’t many campsites strictly that close to Collioure, so I wanted to add La Coste Rouge as it’s really not far and it’s also very convenient from a transport and driving point of view.
The other two campsites reviewed here, namely La Crique and Les Amandiers, have quite narrow access points and require some attention and care driving in and out.
So, I wanted to recommend La Coste Rouge for being a great campsite with the added bonus that it’s very easy to get in and out particularly if you have a large caravan.
Also, it’s location, between Argeles and Collioure, not to mention close to Racou Beach, makes it very easy to for day trips!
Spread over 4 hectares, La Coste Rouge is large and spread out with lots of lush tree cover for the 180 pitches, which included over 100 mobile homes some of which are disabled-friendly.
One of things I liked about La Coste Rouge was the variety of options from basic camping pitches to fully-equipped mobile homes complete with kitchens and terraces.
There’s also a lot of facilities to like here, namely a swimming pool with water slides, a heated pool and paddling pool for the little ones. Indeed, for kids, they offer a Kid’s Club and there’s a kid’s playground.
Likewise, it’s got a shop and restaurant, so you’ve pretty got much everything you need for a nice relaxing holiday, as well as Collioure and Argeles on your doorstep. What’s not to like?
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