The port as the starting point of everything
There is one thing you understand as soon as you arrive in La Maddalena: the port is not infrastructure — it is the centre of life. Cala Gavetta, Via Amendola, Porto Cala Mangiavolpe — three boarding areas, each with its own logic, boats, and operators. Every morning, coffee still hot, the port tells you what the weather will do and where it is worth going.
From the Madda apartment you can walk there in five minutes — just enough time to choose how you want to sail.
Guided tours: the main route
The large gozzi and motorboats that leave every morning from Via Amendola are the most direct way to reach the outer islands. Six- to eight-hour trips with stops at Budelli (Spiaggia Rosa from the water), Spargi (Cala Corsara and Cala d’Alga), Santa Maria, and Razzoli. The freeboard is high, the motion is gentler, and the guide explains what you are passing through.
Bareboat rental: freedom as a method
Bareboat rental: sail on your own If you already have boating experience and want a personalised itinerary without intermediaries, renting without a skipper is the most authentic way to explore the archipelago. You can hire RIBs or motorboats by the day from the many centres along Via Padule, Cala Gavetta, and other harbour areas on the island.
📍 Find the operator that suits you: 🔗 See rental centres on our services page
📝 Useful tips before you cast off: Weather: Always check the latest forecast before leaving the harbour.
Safety: Study the chart and mark shallows and reefs carefully.
Rules: In Italy you do not need a licence to drive boats or RIBs with engines up to 40 hp. That makes rental accessible to many people — but above that power a licence is required.
How the wind changes everything
The most common mistake visitors make is booking a tour without looking at the wind. The archipelago is exposed: with a 20-knot Mistral, the outer islands — Budelli, Razzoli, the north-west of Spargi — become uncomfortable or impossible to reach. It is not an emergency; it is the nature of the place.
The right answer to the Mistral is not to stay on land — it is to change course. The east side of Caprera is sheltered almost all the time; Cala Coticcio, Cala Brigantina, and the coast between Stagnali and Punta Rossa stay reachable even in strong wind. Spargi’s “canyons” on the lee side can be flat even when the Strait of Bonifacio is rough.
If you have a week, you learn to read the sky the night before. If you have three days, you ask your hotelier — or your apartment host.