Recommended Itinerary for 1 Week

in Corsica

You sail from the Old Port, and with good weather in a night of navigation, you cross the Gulf of Genoa in a southern direction, until Corsica stopping at the pretty port of Macinaggio. Characteristic coastal town of Corsa, with beautiful stone houses, for a berth in the port or an anchorage at the anchor in front of one of the two beautiful sandy beaches, just north of the village.

We are at the extreme north of the long “finger” of Corsica, just where the small Giraglia island separates the sea of Corsica in the west, from Liguria in the north and the Tyrrhenian Sea in the east. We sail along the wild coasts of the “finger”, to reach Centuri, a village speculate of Macinaggio, but on the opposite side of the “finger”, west side. The marina is too small for our boats, but in the absence of mistral it is possible a short stop in the harbour opposite the village, going down for the visit with the tender. Another 3 hours of navigation and you reach the base of the gulf of Saint Florent, where stands the village of the same name, with a cozy marina and a lively town equipped with any need for life on board.

West of Saint Florent begins the beautiful Desert des Agriates, a long and beautiful deserted coast, where you can stop in emerald bays with white sandy beaches, the largest and most welcoming is the famous Plage de Saleccia. In quiet weather conditions and in the absence of Mistral, it will also be possible to spend the night in one of these small bays, which suits your personal tastes, a choice between: River Santu, Mortella, Loto, Saleccia, Ghignu, Malfalco or Ostriconi, Where the Desert ends.

Continuing the navigation you arrive at Ile Rousse, where you can stop in the small harbour or in the small port of the village. We continue a few miles, to the beautiful fortified town of Calvi. You can moor either at the marina or one of the buoys provided by a great service, in the beautiful bay under the rock. Attention in August: Calvì is very popular and it is not always easy to find a berth in the port or even at the buoy. But a visit to the beautiful fortified village on the rock is a rare emotion and an unforgettable experience. If you book well in advance.

From Calvì we continue south, passing the beautiful lighthouse of Revellata and along beautiful and wild coasts, we can reach the back of Galeria, a nice village of fishermen quiet and well-stocked by all winds, except those of the first quadrant.

We are close to the Scandolà National Park, one of the most beautiful, spectacular and fascinating places in the entire Mediterranean. For about 15 miles, there are no houses and there are no roads, access is allowed only from the sea, where sparse observation towers built in the era of Genoese domination, guard a multicolored landscape, which turns from the blue of the sea to the red of the rocks overhanging, Broken by the intense green of the wild “maquis”.  After this intense emotion, you arrive at the protected Gulf of Girolata, best natural port on the west coast of Corsica, now home to a small village surmounted by an ancient Genoese Fort, accessible only by sea or with a few hours of walking along a steep mule track. From here, for those who make the cruise of a week, it is urgent to check the weather conditions that allow a comfortable return to Genoa in time, possibly without neglecting a trip to Capo Rosso, on the south side of the Gulf of Porto, another place of wild and magical beauty.

Remember that the west coast of Corsica is often hit by strong mistral winds, announced early but which can force rapid escapes to ridossi and safe ports

In the case of “two weeks” cruise, we can afford to go down again to the south, to arrive at the gulf of Ajaccio, Propriano and Bonifacio. Spend a few days in the Bocche islands and return along the east coast, more protected from the prevailing winds from the west and still worth some green bays, for the port village of Porto Vecchio and the beautiful city of Bastia. Then return via Macinaggio or Capraia, to Genoa.