Beacon Island Resort

Beacon Island Resort is the big, six-storey hotel that sits on a rocky outcrop in the middle of Plettenberg Bay’s seafront, between Main Beach and Robberg Beach. The site was a whaling station in the early twentieth century and had a small hotel from 1940. The current building, then called the Beacon Isle Hotel, opened in December 1972. Its location is the main draw: you walk straight out onto the sand on either side.

What to expect

There are 200 en-suite rooms, which face either the sea or the lagoon, plus eight suites with their own lounges. The building was designed by André Hoffe around a tall, skylit atrium, with open galleries on six levels leading to the rooms. It was the first building in South Africa designed around a large multi-storey atrium.

Facilities include an indoor and an outdoor heated pool, the Jiwu spa and salon, a gym, a children’s play area and conference rooms for up to 150 people. Food and drink are spread across the Beacon Café, Captain’s Cabin, the Robberg Room for seafood and steaks, and the Sea Lounge Bar. Wi-Fi is included.

Practical details

The address is Beacon Island Crescent, Plettenberg Bay. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out by 10am. Telephone +27 44 533 1120 or email beacon@southernsun.com. A shuttle service is available.

Good to know

Most of the resort is timeshare, occupied by owners, so ordinary hotel rooms can be scarce in school holidays. Book well ahead for December and January. Ask for a sea-facing rather than lagoon-facing room, since the view of the bay is the point of staying here.

Last updated 6 October 2026. Sources: Southern Sun, Tourism Update.