North Sardinia Catamaran Cruise: La Maddalena Archipelago and Southern Corsica

Few sailing areas in the Mediterranean offer the combination of landscape variety, protected anchorages and navigational diversity found between northern Sardinia and the southern tip of Corsica. This one-week catamaran cruise departs from Portisco, in the Gulf of Cugnana along the Costa Smeralda coastline, and moves progressively through some of the most photographed and least crowded waters in the Western Mediterranean.

The core of the route is the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park, a protected marine area formed by seven main islands and dozens of smaller islets rising from transparent water over a granite seabed. Sailing here means alternating short coastal passages with long hours at anchor in coves that are accessible only by boat. The light conditions, the colour of the water and the granite formations give this part of Sardinia a visual character that is immediately recognizable and genuinely difficult to replicate elsewhere.

The itinerary extends north across the Strait of Bonifacio, known locally as the Bocche di Bonifacio, reaching Cavallo Island and the port of Bonifacio on the southern coast of Corsica. The contrast between these two environments is one of the defining qualities of this cruise. Where Sardinia presents low granite headlands and pale sand beaches, Corsica rises dramatically from the sea in vertical limestone cliffs, particularly around Bonifacio, where the old citadel sits directly above the harbor entrance on a narrow promontory.

Catamaran navigation suits this sailing area particularly well. The shallow draft allows access to bays that monohulls cannot comfortably enter, while the wide deck space makes long hours at anchor genuinely comfortable for groups. The daily rhythm moves between morning sailings, midday stops for swimming and lunch onboard, and quieter evenings either at anchor under the stars or moored in small island harbors. The pace is unhurried and the route remains close enough to shore that conditions are generally manageable throughout the season.