Scandola & Girolata boat tour Corsica: UNESCO reserve

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Duration6h 45m

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesFR

Mobile ticketAccepted

Cruise past red cliffs and sea caves to a quiet village cove

A boat tour from Porto to Corsica's Gulf de Porto visits the UNESCO-listed Scandola Nature Reserve, the Calanques de Piana caves and rock formations, and Capo Rosso's natural arch, with a 1.5 to 2-hour stopover in the village of Girolata for lunch and walking, then a swim in a sheltered cove. The boat holds 12 passengers, and a French-speaking captain narrates the geology, wildlife and history of the Genoese towers along the route.

6h 45m

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Scandola and Girolata

Visit Calanques de Piana caves
Tour Scandola Nature Reserve
Stopover in Girolata village
Lunch and stroll in Girolata
Swim in crystal clear cove

The Experience

The boat departs from Porto with a maximum of 12 passengers, each with a single chair on deck. You'll pass the red porphyry cliffs of the Calanques de Piana first—caves carved into the rock face and marine faults visible from the water—then move into the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO-protected site where the captain points out the geology and the fauna that live in these formations. The reserve's volcanic rock and isolation make it unreachable by land, so the boat is the only way to see it.

Girolata appears as a small village tucked into a cove, reachable only by sea or a steep hiking trail. You'll have 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the narrow streets, eat lunch at a waterfront restaurant, and sit on the beach before returning to the boat. Capo Rosso's natural arch and swimming pool come into view on the return leg—a rock formation with a sheltered spot for a final swim in clear water. The boat carries shade tarps, a sunbathing deck, a toilet, and plays Corsican music during the journey.

The tour runs about seven hours from start to finish. A French-speaking captain provides commentary on the Genoese towers, local history, and the plants and animals of the coast. The boat includes an underwater camera on board, and mist spray is available on hot days. As a bonus, passengers receive a 5 to 25 euro discount at Casa Gustu, a Corsican products shop in Tiuccia.

What’s included

Boat passage to the Scandola Nature Reserve, Calanques de Piana, and Capo Rosso.
1.5 to 2-hour stopover in Girolata village.
swim in a sheltered cove.
French-speaking captain's commentary on geology, fauna, flora and local history.
shade tarps and sunbathing deck.
toilet on board.
mist spray.
Corsican music.
discount voucher for Casa Gustu.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeNot for heart conditions

Operated by Mare Bellu - Promenades & Excursions Maritimes

Is this one for you?Book this tour for a morning or afternoon when you want to see Corsica's most dramatic coastline without hiking or renting a boat yourself. The fixed schedule and small group size mean the day stays unhurried—you get the reserve, the caves, the village and a swim without piecing together multiple trips.