Plage de Moya

Plage de Moya is a quiet beach on Petite-Terre, near Labattoir, in Mayotte, a French overseas department in the Comoros archipelago. Backed by dense vegetation rather than resorts, it has calm lagoon water suited to swimming and relaxing, and it is one of the island's known green turtle nesting beaches. By day the beach is peaceful, with soft sand, shade from trees at the back and a view across the lagoon. At night during the nesting season, females come ashore to lay eggs, and in the morning their tracks can be seen in the sand. Visitors who want to see nesting should go with a local guide rather than alone, since torches, noise and crowding can cause turtles to abandon their attempt. The beach is free, with no facilities, so visitors should bring water, food, sun protection and a bag for their rubbish. A typical visit lasts two to four hours, with mornings between 07:00 and 11:00 the most comfortable, or late afternoon when the heat eases. The beach is reached by a five-minute taxi ride from Marcel Henry Airport or a walk of about 20 minutes from Dzaoudzi. It combines well with the nearby Château de Moya ruins, which are on foot from the same area. Photographers find the best light in early morning with the sun behind the vegetation line, and the beach is rarely crowded, though weekends see some local families. Swimmers should watch for variable currents near channels and avoid walking on dunes where turtles may nest.