Sailing catamaran, motorboat with lunch, or private rib with skipper? Tours in the La Maddalena Archipelago cover every travel style and budget. Here you’ll find all options in comparison, with prices, duration, and verified reviews.
The catamaran (€95) offers the most curated experience: a maximum of 24 guests, lunch with wine, and sailing navigation. The motorboat (€55) is the family choice: spacious areas, a slide for children, and the best price. The private rib (from €590 per boat) is for those who want total freedom: a tailor-made itinerary and coves away from the crowd.
Spargi typically begins with Cala Corsara, four ribbons of sand framed by wind-sculpted granite. Then Budelli: the Pink Beach is admired from the boat (landings have been prohibited since 1994) and swimming is done in the adjacent waters, some of the most photographed in the Mediterranean. Santa Maria and its natural pools — the shallow body of water between Budelli and Razzoli — provide the longest stop: calm, turquoise water, a meter deep. On clear days, from the deck, you can see the white cliffs of Bonifacio in Corsica.
Book the morning departure: the bays are calmer and the light on the coves is better. Bring water shoes for landings, reef-safe sunscreen, and a lightweight rain jacket: the wind between the Bonifacio Straits can surprise even in mid-summer. Lunch is included in most tours; there is always drinking water on board, and extra alcoholic drinks are paid for. One last detail: the entrance ticket to the National Park (€2-5) is sometimes excluded from the price — check the experience description.
From mid-May to the end of September. June and September offer the perfect compromise: warm sea, fewer boats in the bay, and slightly lower prices.
The itinerary among the islands is the same. Departing from La Maddalena makes sense if you are staying on the island; Palau is more convenient for those staying on the coast. If driving, keep in mind that the Palau-La Maddalena ferry adds cost and time: many choose Palau for this reason.
The archipelago always offers sheltered spots, and the captains adjust the itinerary to the wind: with strong mistral winds, sailing stays among the more protected islands. Only in the case of severe storms are outings canceled, with full refunds or rescheduling.
Yes: choose operators with recent vessels and small groups, use only reef-safe products, don't touch the seabed or starfish, and take all trash back to shore. The park is a fragile ecosystem: the Pink Beach is a warning of what happens when tourism is not self-regulated.
Motorboats accept children of all ages and have shaded areas and changing tables on board; rib tours usually require at least 4-6 years. For infants, choose the morning departure and the motorboat: more space, more shade, and less movement.