Scandola Reserve & Calanques de Piana Boat Tour Small Group

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1/12

Duration5h 45m

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN · FR

Mobile ticketAccepted

Red granite cliffs and turquoise water you reach only by boat

A full-day boat tour of Corsica's Scandola Reserve and Calanques de Piana with a guide in English or French, departing from Porto and returning after roughly six hours. The semi-rigid boat carries a maximum of 12 travelers, allowing close navigation of sea caves, rocky faults and the majestic coves that line the coast. A two-hour stop in Girolata—reachable only by sea—gives you time to swim, picnic on the beach or eat at a village restaurant (meals not included). The Scandola Reserve itself is protected by law and can only be seen from the water.

5h 45m

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour of Scandola and Piana

Embark on semi-rigid boat
Discover Capo Rosso caves
View Calanques de Piana from boat
Navigate through Scandola Reserve
Cross Gulf of Porto
Stop for 2-hour lunch break in Girolata
Swim or picnic at Girolata beach

The Experience

The day starts with a departure from Porto aboard a semi-rigid boat designed to slip into shallow waters and navigate tight passages. Your guide will point out the caves of Capo Rosso—including the Pool, where sea calves shelter—and take you under the Arch of Capo Rosso to see rocky bottoms in transparent water. The boat's size and power let you get close to steep red granite cliffs without the crowds of larger tour vessels.

The Calanques de Piana come next: a stretch of majestic coves where the contrast between turquoise water, red rock and scrub vegetation is the draw. Your guide's commentary carries information and local anecdotes as you move through the Gulf of Porto toward the Scandola Reserve, a UNESCO-protected site that has no road access and can only be explored from the sea. The reserve's dazzling rock formations and wildlife are the centerpiece of the day.

At midday you arrive in Girolata, a small village with no road connection to the rest of Corsica. You have two hours here: enough time to swim from the main beach or a small cove, picnic on the sand, or walk to one of the village restaurants (you arrange and pay for meals separately). The break gives your body a rest from the boat and lets you move on land before the return journey to Porto.

What’s included

Semi-rigid boat with guide commentary in English or French.
entry to the Scandola Reserve and Calanques de Piana.
navigation of sea caves and rocky passages at Capo Rosso.
two-hour stop in Girolata with beach and swimming access.
Barnier tax for reserve protection.
free parking at the departure point.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Croisières Grand Bleu

Is this one for you?The boat moves constantly and the sea can be choppy, so this tour suits travelers comfortable with motion and open water. The semi-rigid design reaches places larger boats cannot, which is what makes the sea caves and narrow rocky faults possible to navigate—but it also means you're exposed to the elements and the boat's speed.