Travel activities
TREKKING AND SNORKELLING: LAVEZZI
Lavezzi Island is the biggest of the Archipelago that has its name, formed also by the islands of Cavallo, Ratinu, Piana. The islands of Lavezzi offer a quite breathtaking landscape made of granite boulders and fine sand beaches. Here you can enjoy walking some very beautiful and easy paths, walking by strangely shaped boulders (one very similar to an elephant) and two monumental cemeteries, commemorating the ship wreckage of the Semillante.
The waters of the Lavezzi Islands are especially clear. With a snorkel and goggles, there is excellent visibility and the recesses of the boulders that spill beneath the surface are a haven for the wide range of fish species that inhabit these shallows. Dive into a different world with your mask and flippers fastened tightly!
BUDELLI ISLANDS
Budelli is one of the most beautiful islands of the Maddalena Archipelago, famous for its turquoise waters and for the Spiaggia Rosa, the Pink Beach at Cala Roto, the color is derived from the crushed shells of a microorganisms called Miniacinia miniacea, that live among the posidonia algae and are transported to the beach by the currents. Budelli became part of the national park in May 2016. Today, protected by environmental regulations, you can admire it from afar as a masterpiece of nature, accompanied by the park’s guides, without setting anchor, swimming in the sea or even stepping on the beach. Still even from afar the beauty of the place makes it well worth the trip.
BONIFACIO MEDIEVAL TOWN
Up a white limestone cliff, in the southern coast of Corsica, is the medieval town of Bonifacio, or Bunifaziu as the locals insist. Known also as the “Citadel of Cliffs,” this secluded town features an ancient citadel, beautiful cobblestone alleyways, colorful houses, a shoreline of sparkling waters and fiery separatist locals, who speak in an unusual dialect composed of Italian and French. Monasteries, chapels, prehistoric sites and Roman cisterns, might get you thinking you were in Italy rather than France. L’Arinella, a secluded beach, reachable via a panoramic coastal hiking route, is one of the town’s highlights. However, locals prefer to go to the multi-layered cliffs to sunbathe in caves or skinny dip in hidden coves.
LA RONDINARA - FRENCH RESTAURANT
The spectacular beach of Rondinara is an enchanting shell-shaped cove, a sheltered bay with very fine sand and crystalline turquoise waters.The bay of Rondinara has become famous mainly because of its shape. It is in fact shaped like a shell, with its sides so close that they almost touch each other, creating a small paradise of calm and shallow waters. Right next to the beach, there is a restaurant with a view on the water: Restaurant de La Plage Chez Ange, which is quite famous for its tuna tartare and is the perfect spot to enjoy some local cuisine with a spectacular view.
Travel organizer tips
Do I need to have sailing experience to book a cruise ?
If you do not have a license or in any case prefer to have an experienced captain with you, You can hire the services of a captain, ( just like you can ask to have more crew on board, like: hostess, cook, yoga instructor or more). The captain will take care of sailing maneuvers, moorings and anchoring and setting the best itinerary to enjoy the cruise. Only if you are interested, you can ask to help the captain with some easy task either to set the sails, during mooring and anchoring (for example using the remote to throw or weigh the anchor) or even taking the helm while safely out at sea. All in the spirit to have some fun and participate in everyday life on board.
Seasickness, what to do ?
Our recommendation is to be careful on the start of your holiday: do not spend time inside the cabin while the boat moves, go outside to take some fresh air, look at the panorama and stay still as much as possible, so your body will get used to the movement and the next days you will feel good! If this does not work then there are some things you can do to minimize the effects. Ginger: raw, candied or brewed in a tea, is a cheap and delicious remedy. Sea bands, elastic bracelets that put pressure on a point that is believed to relieve nausea. And finally medication, as there are a number of drugs available from your doctor that can help soothe the nerves in your inner ear or suppress the brain’s response to seasickness.
How do I get on board from the airport ?
If the offer for transport is not already given with the logistic information upon completing the booking, then the best way is to contact Intersailclub staff. For shared cruises sometimes a taxi transfer can be organized for all the guests arriving in the same airport at similar times, so as to divide the costs of a car or taxi. For private cruises, it is alway best to organize the transfer in advance, so as to avoid last minute high rates at airports. Finally there are always some public transports options to reach the embarking point and Intersailclub can help you interface with the trip organizer, to give you good advice on all available options.
What happens on a typical day on board ?
Every day will be quite different from the other, as the beauty of being on a boat is just this! No two days will be the same. The boat moves along an itinerary that is partly decided by the captain beforehand and partly influenced by the weather. Sometimes the boat will be anchored in a bay and sometimes moored in a marina. If you want to go on land, you will either be brought by the captain with the dinghy (a small rubber boat, with engine) or simply step down on the pontoon. Enjoying some local life, going on a shopping spree, eating in the local restaurants, participating in local activities (winery visits, trekking, biking, cooking classes and more) and generally sightseeing is a fundamental part of your sailing holiday just like swimming, sunbathing and relaxing on board in those moments when going to land will not be practical.
What do I put in my luggage ?
The available space for luggage on a sailing vessel is limited. A soft canvas luggage is the best solution, since it can be folded and stored at the bottom of the wardrobe. No need to bring with you too many clothes, you will mostly use swimsuits and some light clothes for when you will step on solid ground, perhaps something special for a night out. Just don’t forget your sunscreen (30 , at sea the sun hits harder!), a hat, sunglasses, flippers, swimsuits galore and a beach towel, some earbuds for music and to bring something that will keep you warm, because even during summer at night it gets quite cold at sea!
Should you need to bring with you more luggage, for any reason, then contact the staff to help you organize proper storage for it.
Can I bring my children on board ?
The answer is yes…for the most part! For shared cruises, children are allowed on board from 9 years old onward, as smaller children might be difficult to handle among strangers and might influence the experience of the other guests negatively. For this reason still some shared cruise organizers might not accept young people under the age of 14. For private cruises, there is really no limit to the age of small children on board and the general consensus is that small children on board, alway have a fun time. If bringing a child on board, especially from 1 to 6 years old, you might want to invest in a safety net, which is put around the railings by the trip organizer for a fee, and diminishes the risk of slipping from the deck into the sea. For the same reason always take care to have on board life jackets appropriate for the weight of the child, they are not given by default, so either buy your own or ask for them as an extra.
