The adage “stop and smell the roses” has never been more relevant when it comes to exploring the beauty of Plettenberg Bay. More than just its Blue Flag beaches, this picturesque town is renowned for its natural beauty, rugged landscape, and coastal charm.
With so much to explore in this seaside town, travel can sometimes feel rushed, reduced to a weekend filled with travel checklists. Late mornings, sipping coffee on the balcony of your Plettenberg Bay accommodation, are often traded for rushed visits to Saturday markets or a quick trip to snap some pics at Robberg Nature Reserve.
As a result, travel buzzwords like flexcation and slow travel have quickly become part of every traveller’s dictionary. A growing number of people are truly looking to slow down and soak up their surroundings, but this requires time. Plettenberg Bay is certainly a town that needs to be savoured, and a long stay vacation can be a wonderful way to experience its beauty at an unhurried pace.
For many, long stays are a great way to explore every nook and cranny of a town or city. It’s a trip that usually lasts around 20 days; however, a long stay vacation is up to your interpretation. If you can envelop yourself in the culture and charm of your destination while creating unforgettable memories, then you’re doing it right.
So, why is Plettenberg the ideal destination for your next long stay? Here are just a few reasons to slow down and linger a little longer:
Natural beauty that never gets old
Before it was Plettenberg Bay, or Plett to the locals, it was Bahia Formosa to the Portuguese. This directly translates to beautiful bay, which is certainly an appropriate term to describe this little slice of paradise.
Plettenberg offers the perfect combination of lush forests, pristine beaches, spectacular estuaries and rugged mountainscapes. No matter which direction your eyes fall on, there’s something magnificent to behold. Is it any surprise then that a weekend is not enough to explore all its natural splendour?
While Robberg Nature Reserve is favoured as a hiking destination, it’s the area’s flourishing Cape fur seal colony that’s worth spotting. Along with some incredible hiking trails, the area is renowned for its spectacular viewpoints and bustling marine and birdlife. It’s an area that’s well-worth exploring more than once!
You have all the time you need
Enjoying a relaxing weekend in Plett is mandatory if you’re a South African. Whether it’s hiking Robberg Nature Reserve for the third time this week or grabbing your binoculars and attempting to whale watch from the shoreline, longer stays allow you to slow down and enjoy every small and big moment.
It’s a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the heart of the town and explore all of its quirks. A longer stay gives you more flexibility and provides you with more opportunities to be spontaneous. Perhaps you’d love to spend each morning hiking the Kranshoek Coastal trail or relishing a well-deserved nap before learning to surf in the afternoon. Long stays are a great way to remove time from the equation, tossing the travel checklist aside – even if it’s just for a day or two.
Embrace Plett’s Friendly, Welcoming Community
While blue flag beaches and natural beauty is what Plett is famous for, it’s the vibrant community that’s truly the crown jewel of this charming coastal town. Home to a beautiful mix of locals and visitors throughout the year, long stay visitors really have the chance to experience the town’s laid-back nature and welcoming community to the fullest. Spend your Saturdays exploring the local market and chatting to the vendors or join weekday yoga classes before heading to a local cafe for a morning coffee.
Enjoying an extended stay allows you to mingle with the locals, indulge in your hobbies and tick off as much as you can on your Plettenberg Bay to-do list! But don’t worry, Plett’s vibrant community is on full display for those enjoying shorter stays too!
Explore the rich food and wine scene
Plettenberg punches above its weight when it comes to culinary experiences. Whether you’re in the mood for seafood or a farm-to-table experience, there are a variety of local restaurants that capture the unique flavours and charm of the town.
While the Western Cape is famous for its wine routes, Plett is relatively new compared to historic routes like Stellenbosch, making it even more exciting to explore. Stretching from Garden of Eden in the west to The Crags in the east, the wine route was first established in 2015 and includes a range of family-run wine boutiques that are worth visiting. Longer stays are a great way to eat your weight in good food and sample a number of good wines.
Great places to stay
No long stay is complete without a comfortable accommodation you can call home for a few weeks. Only a few minutes from Plettenberg Bay’s famous beaches, tucked between fragrant fynbos and stunning mountain views lies Fynbos Ridge. Our self-catering garden cottages are the perfect home away from home, offering a comfortable and private space.
Each cottage offers a unique view, making it the perfect place to wake up to the sound of crashing waves or birdsong. Our Clivia self-catering cottage offers an enclosed garden for privacy, while Aristea Cottage is wonderful for guests looking to enjoy a built-in-barbeque and uninterrupted panoramic views. If you’re looking to enjoy a more intimate stay, our north-facing studio apartment is suitable for two guests, offering its own amenities and breathtaking mountain views.
Whether you’re eager to explore the beauty of Plettenberg Bay a little longer or prefer a shorter stay, make Fynbos Ridge your next home away from home.
