The Tuscan Archipelago: round Elba and on to Giglio
The Tuscan Archipelago without the crossing to Corsica — a week for crews who want more swimming and fewer miles. The first three days belong to Elba: Portoferraio with Napoleon's villas, Marciana Marina below Monte Capanne and sandy Marina di Campo in the south. Then a passage to Giglio, a granite island with a fortress on its summit, and back along the Maremma coast. About 117 miles, with only one day longer than 25.
Day by day
Punta Ala
- Punta Ala42.807, 10.733
Take over the yacht at the Punta Ala marina, a resort village in a pine wood with little to keep you, so buy provisions on the way, in Follonica or Grosseto. The nearest airports are Pisa and Florence.
Punta Ala → Portoferraio
- Portoferraio42.813, 10.330
- Marina di Salivoli (Piombino)marina42.931, 10.506
Across the Piombino channel and round Capo della Vita into Portoferraio bay. Ferries from Piombino run all day — watch for them on the approach. Berth in the Darsena Medicea in the old town; in the evening, the Villa dei Mulini where Napoleon lived.
Portoferraio → Marciana Marina
- Marciana Marina42.809, 10.196
A short leg west along the north coast past Capo d'Enfola, with a swim on the way. Marciana Marina has a pine-lined front and a Medici tower; take the bus up to Marciana, where a cable car climbs Monte Capanne (1,019 m) — on a clear day you can see Corsica.
Marciana Marina → Marina di Campo
- Fetovaia42.729, 10.157
- Marina di Campo42.744, 10.240
Round the western end of Elba, the wildest part of the island, with a swim in white-sand Fetovaia bay. Marina di Campo is a long beach at the head of the bay and a small harbour behind the mole.
Marina di Campo → Giglio
- Giglio Porto42.360, 10.923
The longest leg, south-east with Pianosa and Montecristo on the horizon — you may not approach either in your own boat. Giglio Porto is a small harbour of painted houses with limited berths; up the hill, medieval Giglio Castello inside its walls.
Giglio → Marina di Grosseto
- Marina di Grosseto42.711, 10.982
- Talamonemarina42.556, 11.136
North to the mainland past the Formiche di Grosseto islets. Marina di Grosseto is a resort with a pine wood behind the beach and the San Rocco marina at the canal mouth; the Maremma nature park is close by, and Grosseto with its Medici walls is 12 km inland.
Marina di Grosseto → Punta Ala
- Punta Ala42.807, 10.733
- Castiglione della Pescaiatown quay42.760, 10.880
A last leg along the coast past Castiglione della Pescaia, refuelling and handover.
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
- Tuscan Archipelago National Park: you may not approach Pianosa or Montecristo under your own steam — visits are by organised, permitted trips only — and the waters round the Scoglietto islet off Portoferraio are protected. Anchor only on sand, never on posidonia; the zone map is on the park's website and at the base.
- Weather: in summer a moderate north-westerly blows by day and dies down in the evening. The legs to and from Giglio are open to the mistral and the libeccio; Marina di Campo is open to the south and Giglio Porto to the east, so choose the night's berth by the forecast.
- Berths: Portoferraio, Marciana Marina and above all Giglio Porto are full in summer, so book ahead. If Giglio has no room, anchor in Cala delle Cannelle south of the harbour or off Campese on the west coast, depending on the wind.
- Marina di Grosseto lies on a sandy shore at a canal mouth: the entrance is awkward in a southerly swell, and it is worth checking the depth at the entrance with the marina by radio beforehand. The fallback is Castiglione della Pescaia, 7 miles further north.
How to get to the marina
- Marina di Punta Ala, Tuscany
- Pisa (PSA) — 150 km, 1.5 h by carFlorence (FLR) — 170 km, 2 h by carRome Fiumicino (FCO) — 215 km, 2.5 h by car
1.5–2 h · €220–320 per car
Pre-booked transfer from Pisa airport down the Aurelia (SS1) straight to the marina. From Florence it takes 20–30 minutes longer and costs €50–80 more.
2.5–3 h · €350–480 per car
Transfer from Fiumicino north along the Aurelia, about two and a half hours. Handy when there are no direct flights to Pisa.
1.5–2 h · €35–70 per day
Rent at Pisa airport, take the Aurelia south to Follonica, then 20 km to Punta Ala. The most flexible option for a group.
2.5–4 h · €15–22 per person
Pisa Mover to Pisa Centrale (5 minutes), regional train to Follonica (1–1.5 h), then a €45–65 taxi or an infrequent Autolinee Toscane bus to Punta Ala.
3.5–5 h · €30–45 per person
Train from Fiumicino into Rome, then an Intercity or regional train to Follonica (2–2.5 h), then a taxi or bus to the marina.
There are only a few Follonica–Punta Ala buses a day, fewer off-season — book a taxi from Follonica station in advance.
Prices are autumn 2026 estimates in euros; times are without traffic. Bus and ferry timetables change with the season, so check them before you travel.
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 Punta Ala — Giglio route and where do you stay overnight?
7 days and about 117 nautical miles in a loop, starting and finishing in Punta Ala. Overnight stops in order: Punta Ala, Portoferraio, Marciana Marina, Marina di Campo, Giglio Porto, Marina di Grosseto. The longest leg is day 5, 37 nm.
How do I get to the marina for the Punta Ala — Giglio route?
The route starts and finishes at Marina di Punta Ala, Tuscany. The nearest airport is Pisa (PSA), 150 km away. Fastest: transfer, 1.5–2 h, €220–320 per car. Cheapest: train and metro, 2.5–4 h, €15–22 per person.
When is the best time to sail the Punta Ala — Giglio 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 €780 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).
