A sailboat is undoubtedly the best way to discover Southern Corsica. You can spend the night in exceptional anchorages, enjoy some of Corsica's most beautiful towns, as well as its beaches, water sports and hiking. In fact, we've designed this South Corsica sailboat cruise itinerary to leave you plenty of time to discover the beauties of Corsica once ashore. You'll sail for an average of 3 hours a day, with some variations depending on the day. If you'd like to extend or simply diversify your itinerary, you can also consider continuing southwards to make a few stops in Sardinia, by consulting our Sardinia sailing itinerary.
Also, we've designed this South Corsica sailboat cruise itinerary to call at ports that are not only beautiful and rich in discoveries, but also well-equipped. Most of the ports mentioned below offer equipment and supplies, except for some more isolated anchorages. In fact, this itinerary brilliantly mixes Corsica's big cities with smaller anchorages, giving you more peace and quiet and access to some of Corsica's most beautiful walks.
Day 1: Ajaccio
Start your South Corsica sailboat cruise itinerary with a visit to Ajaccio. Corsica's capital is an excellent starting point, since it's easy to get to thanks to its Napoleon Bonaparte airport and major port. In fact, you can easily rent a sailboat there if you wish. The Tino Rossi marina is the most convenient for this, and also offers all the necessary services, including diesel fuel. But before you do, don't forget to visit Ajaccio's superb historic center, its famous Place Foch and its citadel, among the most beautiful things to see in Corsica. As far as anchorage is concerned, you can choose Ajaccio Bay, directly opposite the town. Although noisy and frequented by many boats, Ajaccio Bay remains the most convenient anchorage for access to the town and its many supermarkets.
Day 2: Propriano
The next day, set sail for Propriano. This represents a distance of 25 nautical miles, or around 3 hours on average, although this depends on your speed, the conditions and the size of your yacht. The Gulf of Valinco, where Propriano is located, has several interesting anchorages, but you can also choose to moor directly at Propriano's marina, which offers a refuelling station. And don't forget to visit Propriano, a modern and interesting town. The town is well connected and can therefore be the starting point for a successful Corsican road trip. It also boasts some excellent beaches, such as Capru and Mancinu. Propriano is also renowned for its range of water sports, particularly scuba diving. You can pick up snorkeling gear directly from your equipment on board, or go through an agency for a scuba diving session, which will spice up your sailing cruise itinerary in Southern Corsica.
Day 3: Cala di Conca
Resume your sailboat cruising itinerary in Southern Corsica, heading for Cala di Conca. This represents a distance of 15 nautical miles, or around 2 hours 30 minutes on average. You'll then reach Cala di Conca, a superb beach in the hollow of a bay. It's all the more heavenly for being accessible only on foot or by boat. This means it remains very wild and surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation, making it one of Corsica's most beautiful beaches. It's a peaceful, tranquil anchorage, but has no harbor or provisioning facilities. You can find other interesting anchorages in the area, and numerous beaches, each more secluded and unspoilt than the last.
Day 4: Bonifacio
The next morning, set sail for Bonifacio. This journey covers a distance of 25 nautical miles, or around 3 hours, depending on your sailing speed. A visit to Bonifacio is undoubtedly a must in Corsica, as it is one of the most beautiful towns on the island of beauty. It overlooks the sea, perched on high white limestone cliffs that are split by the famous Roy d'Aragon steps. As the town lies at the southernmost tip of Corsica, you can easily see Sardinia off the coast. Please note that reservations are required for access to the Bonifacio marina. If you want to travel to southern Corsica on the cheap, there are also free anchorages off Bonifacio, although these are rare.
Day 5: Lavezzi Islands
On this fifth day of your South Corsica sailboat cruise itinerary, head southeast to the Lavezzi Islands, the southernmost point of mainland France. This represents just 5 miles of sailing, or about three quarters of an hour. Of the 23 islands in this archipelago, only the main island, Lavezzo, is suitable for disembarking and has anchorages, as the islands are classified as an enhanced protection zone of the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve, to safeguard their bird populations. One of these is Cala Lazarina, which is sure to be the most beautiful anchorage of your entire trip. Please note that zodiacs from the territorial guard patrol the area to ensure that holidaymakers do not anchor outside the authorized zones. The Lavezzi Islands boast a number of fine sandy beaches, and are undoubtedly among the most beautiful in France. They are a group of granite islets lined with Mediterranean vegetation and encircled by turquoise-blue waters. In the evening, return to Bonifacio for the night.
If you'd like to extend your sailing cruise to Sardinia, now's the time to do it. In this case, you can head south directly from Bonifacio or from the Lavezzi Islands. In Sardinia, for example, you can sail to the Maddalena archipelago, a group of islets classified as a national park and featuring some magnificent beaches.
Day 6: Belvedere-Campomoro
Return to the Gulf of Valinco, this time not to visit Propriano, but to stop off at Belvédère-Campomoro, a magnificent Corsican village named after the superb view from its highest point. This route represents a distance of around 30 nautical miles, making it the longest of this South Corsica sailboat cruise itinerary. This represents a distance of around 4 to 5 hours. Don't hesitate to find anchorages en route to swim a little, enjoy the clear waters, and why not go snorkeling. The Campomoro anchorage is pleasant and sheltered from the wind, making it an ideal place to spend the night, even though it's usually quite busy. Please note, however, that the seabed is quite deep, so you'll need about 20 m to anchor.
Day 7: Ajaccio
For your last day, return to Ajaccio harbor. This represents a sail of around 25 nautical miles, or about 3 hours. On the way, have lunch at the Capo di Muro anchorage, with its excellent restaurants and beautiful beaches, to enjoy the Mediterranean scenery one last time before returning home.
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