Sardinia and Corsica across the Strait of Bonifacio
A week between two countries and one strait: start in Sardinia, cross to Corsica through the La Maddalena archipelago and come back along the Costa Smeralda. In seven nights — Italy, France, a Sardinian farm, a medieval town on a cliff and several islands, though most of the time you never leave the cockpit. A loop of about 95 nm with short legs of 8–22 nm; the main day is the crossing of the Strait of Bonifacio.
Day by day
Olbia → Marina di Portisco
- Portisco41.034, 9.537
Fly into Olbia and transfer to Marina di Portisco, where you take over the yacht. The marina itself has a small shop and restaurants, but the main provisioning is easier at a big supermarket on the way from the airport. In the evening, a calm handover, dinner and preparation for the first leg.
Portisco → La Maddalena
- La Maddalena41.213, 9.405
The main town of the archipelago of the same name. A good place simply to walk among the old Mediterranean streets, sit in small cafés, eat pizza and switch from airport mode to island mode. Neighbouring Caprera is tied to Garibaldi: he lived here from 1856 until his death, and his house is now a museum.
La Maddalena → Spargi → Santa Teresa Gallura
- Spargi41.240, 9.340
- Santa Teresa41.243, 9.190
A passage through the most beautiful part of the archipelago. Spargi and its granite coves make the best swimming stop of the day, and from there you carry on to Santa Teresa Gallura at the very north of Sardinia. In the evening it is worth getting out to an agriturismo, a real Sardinian farm: cheeses, pasta, local wine and the famous porceddu, roast suckling pig. After a dinner like that, go back to the yacht with no ambitions of athletic achievement.
Santa Teresa → Bonifacio
- Bonifacio41.387, 9.157
This crossing is largely what the whole route is for. Cross the Strait of Bonifacio and enter an extraordinary natural harbour with the old town hanging above it on limestone cliffs. Arrive early — the marina is in great demand — then give the whole day to the stairways, the ramparts, the little streets, fish and Corsican cooking.
Bonifacio → Cavallo
- Cavallo41.365, 9.262
Île de Cavallo is a small private island in the strait. There are almost no cars; people get about on foot, by bicycle and in electric golf carts, amid granite, gin-clear water and small beaches. The approach needs careful navigation among rocks and shallows: this is exactly where you forget the pretty photos and look at the chart.
Cavallo → Budelli
- Budelli41.280, 9.358
Back into Italian waters and into the heart of the park. Remember: off the famous Spiaggia Rosa, swimming, transit, anchoring and mooring are all prohibited, and you may not set foot on the Pink Beach itself — it can only be viewed from the marked path. Spend the night on an authorised buoy off Santa Maria or Razzoli, in water whose colour looks edited in photographs.
Budelli → Poltu Quatu
- Poltu Quatu41.140, 9.493
Out of the archipelago and on along the Costa Smeralda. Poltu Quatu is a marina in a narrow fjord between cliffs next to Porto Cervo: dearer than the average for this route, but sheltered from any wind and ten minutes' walk from the coast's main shop window. The final dinner is easiest here.
Poltu Quatu → Portisco
- Portisco41.034, 9.537
A short last leg along the shore. Refuelling, handover and the flight home from Olbia.
Coordinates are approximate, for the harbour or bay. Paste them into Google Maps or a chartplotter, and check the chart and pilot book before you moor or anchor.
Good to know
- The Strait of Bonifacio is the windiest place on the route: the mistral and the libeccio funnel through it at 25–30 knots with a short, steep sea. Plan the crossing to Corsica and back for the morning and only on a good forecast; in bad weather the Corsican part is replaced by two more days in the archipelago.
- Corsica is France: both countries are in Schengen and there are no border formalities, but the fleet must allow the boat to leave Italian waters — check at booking, some companies charge extra for it or restrict the cruising area.
- The La Maddalena archipelago is a national park: transit and mooring are paid, the permit is arranged online or through the base, some bays are closed to anchoring, and at Budelli's Pink Beach everything is prohibited, including transit. Check the route through the archipelago against the current park zone map.
- Berths: Bonifacio, Cavallo and Poltu Quatu are marinas — in season berths are booked ahead and a night is expensive. Budget for berths separately from the boat; the Costa Smeralda is most expensive in August.
When to go and what it costs in Italy
Median € per berth per week from the agent's latest check, monohulls; each month's page has both boat types, a chart and boats departing that month.
Discounted boats in Italy
All boats in Italy
How long is the Portisco — Bonifacio route and where do you stay overnight?
8 days and about 95 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Portisco. Overnight stops in order: Portisco, La Maddalena, Santa Teresa, Bonifacio, Cavallo, Budelli, Poltu Quatu. The longest leg is day 7, 22 nm.
When is the best time to sail the Portisco — Bonifacio route?
Italy's season runs May to October. June and September give the best balance of weather and price; July and August are the peak, with expensive, busy marinas, which is why in Sardinia you anchor out. May and October are the shoulder months: cooler water, cheaper boats. By the agent's latest checks (monohulls), the cheapest month is November: a median of ≈€254 per berth per week. The most expensive is January, at ≈€280. The most boats with 20% off or more are in November: 52%. The agent checks the current month and the next five; each month has its own page with the numbers.
How much does a yacht for this route cost?
A whole boat in Italy for a week starts from €934 in the agent's current selection: the cheapest discounted week departing in the next three months. Prices per berth by month are higher up the page; the boats are under “All boats in Italy”.
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht?
For a bareboat charter (no skipper or crew provided), yes: a skipper's licence and, as a rule, a VHF radio certificate. Without a licence, we add a skipper, paid separately from the boat price.
What's included in the boat price?
Just the boat, for a week. Usually paid separately: transit log and final cleaning, fuel, marina fees, the security deposit (or deposit insurance), a skipper, cook and hostess if you need them, and extras (SUP board, on-board Wi-Fi, coffee machine, child safety netting).
