Rekindle your senses with... Our early summer 7-day cruising itinerary throughout the northeast Sardinia coast and beyond

Sardinia provides pleasurable cruising, with miles of natural white beaches and small coves that lie in the wild corners of the crystalline seas.

However, North-East Sardinia is the most popular area, with the airport of Olbia just 25 km away from the heart of the Costa Smeralda, this location offers a unique scenery enriched by sheltered anchorages and small islands.

The must-see areas are Porto Rotondo, Costa Smeralda (consists of Cala di Volpe, Porto Cervo, Poltu Quatu, and Baja Sardinia), and the astonishing Maddalena Archipelago composed of 60 islands and islets made of granite and schist rock, form a precious land and marine environment.

Since the islands have been put under the protection of National Parks one has to be aware of the restrictions. Basically, a few small islands are completely off-limits: Spargiotto, the “Pink Beach” of Budelli (Spiaggia rosa), the islands of Li Nibani just south of Porto Cervo.

Winds: From May to September, NW winds are predominating, and often blow around Force 5 or 6 around the Strait of Bonifacio and La Maddalena archipelago.

Please find below some suggestions for mooring or dropping anchor with some well-recommended activities according to the location.

DAY 1

Golfo di Marinella: 41°01′00″N, 9° 34' 00" E 

Marinella bay is located just 4 Km from the renowned Porto Rotondo. It extended over a kilometer of white sand a place that offers the main facilities for water sports, hotels and restaurants, and a splendid view on the islands of Soffi and Mortorio

What to do: Beach facilities and bars, windsurfing, stand-up paddle, and jet ski.

Porto Rotondo: 41°01′32″N 9°32′36″E  

Porto Rotondo is sheltered by a small natural semi-circular bay between Punta Nuraghe and Punta Volpe. The port and the village both built by the Venetian family Dona Delle Rose in 1967 aimed to be a milieu for artists and intellectuals.

Nowadays is still possible to admire the artistic work of Andrea Cascella and Giancarlo Sangregorio as Piazza San Marco, Vecchia Darsena, and the” Food Chain” by E. Chapalain, a mosaic which Via del Molo is paved with. Furthermore, Porto Rotondo is home to shops and showrooms of the international fashion world.

What to do: Shopping, restaurants, Visit the village, Porto Rotondo train, kids club with playful activities at the “Sassi Beach”.

DAY 2  

Cala Liscia Ruja: 41°04’15.37” N - 9°31’44.54” E  

Liscia Ruja Beach lies in between the villages of Portisco and Cala di Volpe. It is one of the most beautiful Costa Smeralda beaches. It is a wide arc of sand that glimmers a subtle shade of pink and is enclosed by cistus and junipers which almost caress the water. Lounge beds and umbrellas are available for rent. Just before Liscia Ruja located on the bay of Petra Ruja, you can find Nikki Beach, this stunning beachfront property is an exclusive, one-of-a-kind venue frequented by a fashionable set.

What to do: Beach facilities and Bars; kayaking and Stand-Up Paddle, kids’ area with Inflatable aquatic games, Water Ski.

Cala di Volpe: 41° 5'10.19"N, 09°32'28.16"E

Cala di Volpe is a large inlet, which includes four beaches among the most beautiful bays of the Costa Smeralda, rich in vegetation with an emerald-colored sea.

There is a small marina and the famous luxury hotel "Cala di Volpe" designed by Jacques Coulle inspired by the feature of traditional Sardinian up-country villages. The gulf is protected from the winds, anchoring is possible only at a private buoy. Here you can enjoy a relaxing experience at the brand-new Shiseido Spa renowned leader in health and beauty solutions since 1872, SHISEIDO. The spa’s approach takes a holistic perspective, combining scents and textures while, offering treatments and products inspired by an alliance between Eastern traditions and philosophies, and Western science and technology.

Along with the state-of-the-art structure, you will also enjoy a sumptuous menu of Mediterranean specialties daily thanks to Executive Chef Maurizio Locatelli and his stellar team. His legendary buffets boast an unrivaled selection of appetizers, inspired by regional recipes using the freshest local produce, cheeses,

meats, and seafood. There is also the option to eat in the swimming pool area with a rich buffet served on massive slabs of Sardinian marble, the daily selection of fresh salads, local cheeses, homemade pastas, grilled meats, succulent seafood, fresh fruits, and indulgent desserts is a veritable feast to both the eyes and the palate.

What to do: At the Hotel “Cala di Volpe”: Spa, Beautician, Hairstylist, and shopping.

Onboard: Kayaking, Stand-up paddle, and jet skiing

 Capriccioli: 41°04'52.93" N - 09°32'50.21" E 

The beach of Capriccioli is located along the Costa Smeralda, distant 8 km from Cala di Volpe. The beach is characterized by fine, white sand and transparent, emerald-green water, set against a frame of pink granite rocks, which have been sculptured by the wind, and lush Mediterranean scrub. 

The small bay is surrounded by an abundance of Mediterranean brush, with mastics, rockroses, olives, and pines, and it is divided into two by enormous, round granite rocks. 

DAY 3-4

Pevero: 41°06’51.77” N - 9°32’26.69” E

Pevero bay is located just 3 km south of Porto Cervo, in this area you will find two beaches “Piccolo Pevero beach” and "Grande Pevero beach”. It is a beautiful bay protected from the Mistral wind. The landscape is a delight to the eyes, two beautiful sandy beaches on the hill the famous Costa Smeralda’s villas with their green gardens.

What to do: Beach facilities

Onboard: Snorkeling, Kayaking, Stand-up paddle; Personal training

Porto Cervo: 41°08’230 N; 009°32’560 E

Porto Cervo rises on a cape formed from the bay of the Arzachena Gulf and was built in 1962 by prince Karim Aga Khan who remained fascinated by the beauty of these coasts. Porto Cervo has the look and the atmosphere of a real village, in the center you can enjoy a fascinating walk full of alleys, windows, balconies, constructed according to the typical Costa Smeralda style. There are many prestigious international boutiques and characteristic bars. Moreover, the picturesque church of "Stella Maris" offers an extraordinary view of " Marina di Porto Cervo".

What to do: Luxury Boutique Shopping, Spa & Beauty Treatment, Kids play Clubs, Porto Cervo Train, Wine & Food Testing, Tennis, Golf, and Personal Training.

DAY 5

Poltu Quatu: 41°08',48 N 09°29',70 E

Poltu Quatu is a fjord of incomparable beauty, with rocks sinking in the sea, without beaches, and with granite rocks covered with rosemary and myrtle and other wild plants.
It is protected from the winds, this makes it an ideal mooring place. Equipped with fine dining restaurants and vibrant nightlife makes Poltu Quatu a perfect destination for charters during the summer season.

What to do: Shopping, exclusive restaurants, diving & snorkeling, whale watching, Tennis, beauty center.

Baia Sardinia: 41°07',65 N 09°28',06 E

Baia Sardinia is a nice village that overlooks the Gulf of Arzachena.  The beaches are well known for scuba diving and the bay's ideal position makes it perfect for water sports and activities such as sailing and windsurfing. The surrounding area of Costa Smeralda has a reputation for lively nightlife and is home to luxury hotels, clubs, and restaurants. Phi beach is particularly popular with visitors looking for a unique sunset experience as it is an Open-Air Club located near the military battery of Forte Cappellini.

Phi beach provides mooring service and tender shuttle (41°08'500''N 9°27'900''E) VHF9.

What to do: Stand up paddle and jet ski.

DAY 6

Porto Palma: (Caprera Island) 41°11'19"N   9°26'56"E

Porto Palma is found on a part of the southern coast of Caprera, one of the islands that make up the Archipelago of La Maddalena. Sheltered to the west by the Monte Fico rock and to the east by the narrow “Punta Rossa", it is covered with golden sand lapped by an extraordinarily limpid sea. The beach is not lacking in buoys and jetties where boats can be moored. Not far from the bay, following the road towards Punta Coda, one reaches the renowned Caprera Sailing Centre.

Cala Portese: (Caprera Island) 41°11'3.59"N, 09°27'57.44"E

This bay on the eastern coast of the island of Caprera is very well protected and its sandy bottom makes it a perfectly safe anchorage. It has a long beach and enough space to make it an ideal place to dock for the night after spending the afternoon in Cala Coticcio only 1.5 nm north of Cala Portese.

Cala Coticcio: (Caprera Island) 41°13'2.28"N, 09°29'6.72"E

Cala Coticcio, a.k.a "Tahiti Bay" consists of two coves, quite deep whit crystal blue waters, and the most exciting one is the West one. It is a very popular anchorage for jet setters during summer. A little out at sea, the islets of the "Monaci" emerge, the name of which is the alternative to the more poetic, islets of the "Sperduti of Caprera (The Lost Ones)". The cove is under the strict preservation order relating to zone A of the Park of La Maddalena: bathing is allowed, but fishing is severely forbidden.

Cala Garibaldi: (Caprera Island) 41°13'24.79"N, 09°27'27.24"E

This cove on the northern coast of the island of Caprera where the famous hero "Giuseppe Garibaldi" landed to reach his house, it is very well protected from all the winds except for Mistral and SW wind. At north, there are wonderful beaches like Cala Napoletana, Cala Serena, and Cala Caprarese. The island of Caprera, other than its inestimable naturalistic value, preserves the memory of the long-stay made by Giuseppe Garibaldi, in the last 26 years of his life: a must-see is the Garibaldi Compendium with his grave and the White House, which was his residence.

What to do: Visiting Garibaldi Compendium, Hiking to Fort Arbuticci; Caprera Biking, Kayaking, and Stand-up Paddle,

DAY 7

La Maddalena: 41° 12',57 N 09° 24',57 E

La Maddalena looks like a small and peculiar village crossed by "carrugi", the Genovese name of its narrow alleys, which climb to the hillside above Cala Gavetta, the port town around which has developed throughout the years. Here you can find charming and intimate restaurants, all kinds of shops, where you can buy handicrafts, jewelry, and other items made by local artisans.

What to do: lounge and restaurants

Porto Massimo: (La Maddalena Island) 41° 15’ 29’’N   9°25’ 44’’E 

Porto Massimo is a private harbor on the eastern coast of the island of La Maddalena. Very handy for a stop on the island provides as it provides a safe harbor in case of a strong Mistral. A must, if you are here, is Restaurant La Scogliera. You can drop anchor in front of Porto Massimo they will come to pick your guests up with their own tender. The view is amazing, and the food is delicious.

Cala Santa Maria: (S. Maria Island) 41°29’,30N 09°37’,34E

To the southeast, Santa Maria bay overlooks the island with the same name. The beach of Santa Maria is an extended spit of fine light-colored sand, which is about 200 meters long and one of the longest in the whole Archipelago. This island is characteristic because it is the only one of the minor islands of the Archipelago to be inhabited. Its strong point is the sea: a stretch with a thousand shades of blue. Right behind the bay, lies a little lake of brackish water with coots, wild ducks, moorhens, oystercatchers, ducks, and stilt plovers.

 Spiaggia rosa: (Budelli Island) 41°17'1.76"N, 09°21'33.22"E

Budelli is part of the Maddalena Archipelago, is famous for the legendary “Spiaggia Rosa”. The coral sand color, the deep blue of the sea, and the shape of granite rocks that surround the set are a unique spectacle in the world, a natural monument. It is so-called because of the blushing pink color of the sand, caused by a microorganism that lives on the seagrass (Neptune grass). This area is completely forbidden.

Lavezzi Islands and Ile de Cavallo: 41°20′27.3″N 9°15′14.8″E

Heading to the Lavezzi Islands, a natural reserve since 1982, you will discover an archipelago of small islands and granite reefs. Anchor at the Cala Lazzarina where you can use your snorkel to explore the seabed or relax on the beautiful sandy beaches or even walk along the few roads available. The fauna and flora of these islands are exceptional, which makes this area a pleasant discovery.

Just north of the Lavezzi Islands, you can find the Ile de Cavallo a private island, characterized by the presence of many houses designed by the famous French architect Jacques Couelle. It is still a very exclusive destination given its paradisiac setting.

Hôtel & Spa des Pecheurs is a luxurious structure characterized by quality and elegance. The restaurant offers a menu that alternates traditional French and Italian dishes, along with other international recipes, accompanied by an excellent selection of Corsican and Italian wines giving special attention to Sardinian wines.

The Spa represents beauty and sustainability on top of a dream-like atmosphere. Let yourself go and enjoy the perfect harmony between physical and mental relaxation. The Spa is equipped with a swimming pool for thalassotherapy, a gym, a sauna, and a wellness center with special treatments.

What to do: snorkeling and dolphin watching

What to visit: Hotel & SPA des Pêcheurs

Stay tuned for more exciting itineraries and news of other areas of our island. For further information do not hesitate to contact us at info@staryachtgroup.com. We are constantly working on keeping you up to date with the latest information regarding cruising throughout Sardinia.