Boat Trips & Snorkelling

One of the most popular and impressive ways to enjoy the beauty of the Sardinian sea are undoubtedly the boat trips. The offer is diverse, from small rubber boats (without the need for a captain’s exam), through smaller boats, catamarans, sailboats to luxury yachts. Among the most popular are those to the La Maddalena Archipelago, which depart from the ports of Palau, Cannigione, Baja Sardinia and Santa Teresa di Gallura. The seven main islands hide dreamy coves and unspoiled beaches, as well as historically significant places such as the house of Giuseppe Garibaldi or the renowned maritime school on Caprera. On the main island of Maddalena there is a populated centre with services and hotels, while on the island of Budelli there is the unique Pink Beach, which gets its colour from fragments of crustacean shells and is however forbidden to enter in order to preserve this unique natural feature. The archipelago is a National Park and fishing is prohibited here without a special permit, which is why this area is also a popular snorkelling destination, the coves of Cala Coticcio, Bassa Trinita, Punta Tegge and Spalmatore in particular. Boat trips from Golfo Aranci are popular in the north of Sardinia, where you can explore the blue waters of the islands of Mortorio and Soffi or follow the dolphins to Figarolo island. On the northeast coast there is the island of Tavolara, with its rich underwater life and ideal conditions for snorkelling and deep diving. You can visit Tavolara sailing from the ports of Porto San Paolo, San Teodoro, Puntaldia or La Caletta, trips are often combined with a visit to the island of Molara or the breathtaking wonder of nature, the protected marine area of Capo Coda Cavallo. In the east there is the very famous Gulf of Orosei with its iconic coves. You can see the coastal caves at Cala Luna, the white pebbles and shoals of fish at Cala Mariolu, the crystal-clear waters of Cala Gabbiani, Cala Sisine and Cala Biriola beaches, the famous pointed massif above Cala Goloritzé beach or the emerald waters of Piscine di Venere. From the north, the Gulf of Orosei is accessible from the ports of La Caletta, Marina di Orosei and Cala Gonone, from the south from the ports of Arbatax and Santa Maria di Navarrese. A less touristy area to explore with a rented boat is around Marina di Gairo in the southeast. Local stony coast and pebble beaches create ideal conditions for snorkelling. Similarly, you can admire completely different beaches of Costa Rei, from Capo Ferrato to Cala Pira. The southeastern tip of Sardinia is surrounded by the protected marine area of Capo Carbonara, one of the most popular snorkelling destinations. As part of organized excursions, you can visit the islands of Serpentara and Cavoli, near which there is a sunken statue of the Madonna. Boats of various sizes depart from the port of Villasimius or directly from the beaches of Costa Rei and Castiadas. In the south, from the capital city of Cagliari, boats depart to explore the beauty of the Bay of Angels, to the long beach of Poetto, the promontory of Sella del Diavolo or the cave of Grotta dei Colombi. The south-west coast also hides many treasures, as part of excursions from the port of Perde Sali you can see the archaeological area of Nora, the coastal Spanish towers, the beaches of Chia and Tueredda or the rocky walkway of Capo Spartivento. From the port in Teulada, you can board one of the boats with a special permit and enter the Capo Teulada military area and dive into the azure bays of Porto Scudo or Cala Zafferano. The island of Sant Antioco is connected to Sardinia by an isthmus and sailing from the port you can discover sandy beaches, high coasts and sea caves. From the ports of Calasetta or Portoscuso in the southwest, you can take a ferry to the island of San Pietro, the second largest island of the historic region of Sulcis and the sixth largest island in Italy. The local rocky coast creates unique conditions for snorkelling, diving and paddleboarding lovers. On boat trips from areas on the western coast you can admire fascinating panoramic views of the centres of the mining epic, Masua and Buggera, the high coast of the Canal Grande and Cala Domestica, which are home to protected bird species, the Grotta Azzurra cave, replicating the topography of Sardinia at the right angle, or the mines Porto Flavia and Galleria Henry carved into the rock. From the port of Oristano, the main centre on the west coast, you can explore the ruins of the Phoenician city of Tharros, Capo San Marco or dive into the waters off the island of Mal di Ventre, with wrecks of several transport ships. From the port of the colourful town of Bosa, boats depart to the north to the city of Alghero or to the south to Oristano, or for a change you can choose a cruise on the Temo River, the only navigable river on the island. A popular destination for deep-sea divers and snorkelers is the northwest “Coral Riviera”, the area around the city of Alghero. You can choose from variety of excursions from the local port to the protected landscape area of Porto Conte with views of Capo Caccia and the popular Neptune Caves. With a special permit and accompanied by experienced speleologists, you can also visit the unique Grotta Verde cave, the only place in the Mediterranean where a unique coral has been preserved. Asinara Islands in the northwest are another gem of Sardinian nature and a National Park as well, they used to host a prison colony and they are home to an endemic species of a white donkey. You can get here from the port in Stintino, from the beaches on Viale La Pelosa or from Porto Torres. Snorkeling enthusiasts will appreciate this area as well. In the north, from the port of Isola Rossa, surrounded by red rocks, you can choose from several organized excursions along the coast, with stops at the beaches of Punta Cannedi and Li Tinnari, or all the way to Costa Paradiso. Santa Teresa di Gallura in the very north is the starting point for trips to Corsica, where ferries leave for Bonifacio. Besides the excursions to Corsica itself, it is also possible to take one of the all-day swimming boat trips to the Bonifacio Strait. However, the strait between Sardinia and Corsica is notorious for its unpredictable sea conditions, so always bear in mind that due to unfavourable winds the trip could be cancelled anytime even in the summer months.