Things to do in Corsica
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Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour: Corsica UNESCO SiteA boat tour of Corsica's Gulf of Porto visits the Scandola Nature Reserve—a UNESCO World Heritage Site and marine protected area—along with the calanches of Piana and the fishing village of Girolata, which sits on the coast and is accessible only by sea. The tour runs roughly three hours with a live guide in English, Italian or French, and private transportation is included. Minimum age is 4 years old.Is it for me?You see three distinct coastal landmarks and a UNESCO marine reserve in one morning without arranging separate transport or a guide—the boat's route and the included guide handle both, leaving you to focus on what you're looking at instead of logistics.
Sanguinaires Islands Sunset Boat Tour from CorsicaA sunset boat tour from Corsica to the Sanguinaires Islands, a four-island archipelago off the coast, with a guided stop on Grande Sanguinaire. You ride out on a fast boat, dock for about an hour, and walk to the lighthouse at the island's highest point for a 360-degree view, or swim in the bay instead. The tour runs in French with a live guide; children from age 4 are welcome.Is it for me?Catch the Sanguinaires Islands lighthouse and its 360-degree views as the sun drops into the sea—a 30-minute speedboat ride from Corsica's coast with an hour to explore on foot.
Scandola UNESCO boat tour from Corsica: Swim in two reservesThis boat tour sails from Ajaccio, Porticcio or Lava beach to Corsica's Scandola reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Gulf of Porto, with a French-speaking guide, two swimming stops and a visit to the sea-accessible hamlet of Girolata. The tour runs nine hours and includes private transportation from your departure point; lunch in Girolata is available at a local restaurant but costs extra.Is it for me?The boat departs from Lava beach, Ajaccio, or Porticcio to sail toward Scandola, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops for swimming at the caves of Capo Rosso and the sea-accessible hamlet of Girolata.
Calanches de Piana & Scandola Reserve: Boat Tour from PortoYou board a 12-seater semi-rigid boat in Porto and spend a few hours navigating the UNESCO Calanches de Piana and Scandola Reserve. The shallow draft lets you enter sea caves and get close to the red rock formations and seabed that larger boats cannot reach. Your English or French-speaking guide explains the geology and wildlife as you travel, with a chance to spot dolphins. The boat returns to Porto by mid-afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Calanches and Scandola up close without arranging your own boat — the semi-rigid's shallow draft is what gets you into the caves and near the rocks that bigger tour boats cannot reach.
Girolata Boat Tour Corsica: Swim in turquoise covesYou board a small boat in Sagone and spend the day visiting four UNESCO World Heritage sites along Corsica's west coast: the Scandola Nature Reserve with its distinctive red cliffs, the car-free village of Girolata (with a 2-hour stop for lunch and swimming), the Gulf of Porto, and the Calanques de Piana. The crew handles navigation and timing, and parking is free. Plan for around eight hours on the water and ashore.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Corsica's most dramatic coastal UNESCO sites in one day without arranging separate transport between them—the boat's fixed route and timing handle all the logistics, and the two-hour Girolata stop gives you actual time to swim and eat rather than just pass through.
Calanques de Piana & Scandola: Speedboat Cruise with SwimYou board a small speedboat in Porto and spend the morning navigating into sea caves and past UNESCO-protected red rock formations that larger boats can't reach. A certified guide explains the landscape as you go, you get a 20-minute swim stop in clear water, and you have a real chance of spotting dolphins. The boat returns to Porto mid-afternoon.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the red rocks and sea caves of Corsica up close without renting a boat yourself—the speedboat's small size is what lets you enter caves and navigate near the seabed, and the captain handles all the navigation and timing so you just show up and swim.
Calanches de Piana Cruise from Porto with Caves & Capo RossoYou’ll ride a small boat from Porto along Corsica’s wild coast, weaving between the red Calanches de Piana cliffs and slipping into sea caves as your local guide shares stories in English or French. You’ll glimpse Capo Rosso’s ancient tower before heading back with sun on your face — and maybe salt in your hair.
Scandola & Girolata boat tour Corsica: UNESCO reserveA 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.Is it for me?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.
Bonifacio boat tour with swimming: Lavezzi Islands day tripA full-day boat tour from Bonifacio to the Lavezzi Islands and along the Corsican coast, with a French-speaking guide, multiple swimming stops, and a tasting of local charcuterie and rosé wine. The boat departs at 7:45 a.m. and returns at 5:00 p.m., covering nine hours on the water. Children are welcome from age 6.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want a full day on the water with swimming built in and a guide handling the navigation—the early departure and fixed return time mean you can plan the rest of your day around it, and the Lavezzi Islands are the kind of stop that justifies the length.
Sunset cruise Ajaccio: Sanguinaires Islands with aperitifA sunset boat cruise from Ajaccio takes you to the Sanguinaires Islands in a small group, where you dock for a swim and an aperitif of local products and wine as the sun sets over the Gulf. The three-hour evening includes time in the water and the light show the islands are named for. A guide speaks English or French; children from age 3 are welcome.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to watch the sunset from the water with a meal included—the three-hour evening format fits between dinner plans, and you'll swim at the anchorage rather than just observe from the deck.
Porto Corsica: Scandola & Calanches Boat Trip UNESCOYou board a 12-seater semi-rigid boat in Porto and spend four hours moving between the UNESCO-protected Scandola reserve and the red-rock Calanches de Piana, with your captain narrating the geology and history as you go. A swimming stop happens if the sea allows it. You get an audio guide and return to Porto by early afternoon, leaving your evening open.Is it for me?Pick this if you want to see Corsica's UNESCO-listed coastline without renting a boat or navigating the water yourself—the captain knows the sites and the sea, which is what makes both the safety and the timing work.
Corsica: Scandola & Calanques de Piana Boat Tour with Girolata MealYou board a family-run boat in Cargèse and spend a full day moving through the Gulf of Porto's main sites—Scandola Reserve, Calanques de Piana, and Girolata village—with a local captain who knows the creeks and caves by name. A two-hour meal stop in Girolata breaks the day, and onboard facilities keep you comfortable during the cruise. The boat leaves early and returns in the evening.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Gulf of Porto's main geological sites in one day without renting a boat or navigating the schedule yourself—the fixed departure and two-hour Girolata stop are what fit all four stops into a single outing.
Corsica: Porto-Vecchio 4x4 Day Trip with Mountain LunchYou’ll ride through southern Corsica’s wildest corners by 4x4 from Porto-Vecchio, led by a local guide who knows every twist in the road. Walk among lariccio pines, breathe in wild herbs, share a traditional mountain lunch, and pause for those surprising silences above Bavella’s peaks—you might find yourself thinking about them long after you leave.
Corsica: Scandola & Piana Coves Boat Tour with Girolata StopYou board a small, family-run boat with a local captain and his English-speaking son for an afternoon exploring the red-rock coves and protected reserve of the Gulf of Porto. You swim in Girolata village, see caves and creeks up close that larger tours skip, and return as the light changes over the water. No driving, no logistics to arrange — just show up and spend three hours on the boat.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Gulf of Porto's protected coves and caves without arranging your own boat or navigating the logistics of a larger group tour — the small boat size and local knowledge are what let you slip into places bigger tours can't reach.
Calanques de Piana Boat Tour from Porto: Caves & SwimmingYou board a custom semi-rigid boat in Porto and spend two to three hours exploring the Calanques de Piana's sea caves and narrow rock passages with a captain who knows every inlet. The tour includes audio commentary, a swimming stop in a secluded cove (weather permitting), and gets you into spaces larger tour boats can't reach. Pickup and drop-off are at Porto's waterfront.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the Calanques de Piana from the water and don't want to navigate the caves yourself — the custom boat and two engines are what let you reach the narrow passages and small coves that bigger tours skip.
A Cupulatta Turtle Park Ajaccio: Walk among 130 speciesYou’ll wander shaded trails at A Cupulatta near Ajaccio, watching over 2,000 turtles from all corners of the world while learning about conservation efforts from local guides. See tiny hatchlings up close in the park’s clinic and enjoy Corsican snacks or a picnic under the trees. It’s unexpectedly calming — something about their unhurried pace stays with you long after.
Scandola & Girolata Boat Tour Corsica: Swim & Wine TastingYou board at Ajaccio or Porticcio and spend the day on water, swimming at Scandola's turquoise reserve, tasting wine on deck, exploring the roadless village of Girolata, and drifting through the pink granite Calanques de Piana before a final swim at Capo Rosso. Snorkeling gear, water, and soda are included; bring or buy lunch in Girolata.Is it for me?Right for travelers who want to see Corsica's protected coast without arranging their own boat or timing multiple stops. The boat handles the navigation and pacing, though you need to be comfortable getting on and off a vessel and swimming in open water.
Canyoning Corsica: Richiusa Canyon with jumps and slidesCanyoning Corsica in the Richiusa Canyon is a 3.5-hour descent with a certified instructor through natural pools, jumps, slides and abseils up to 10 meters high. The approach walk takes an hour, the canyon descent about two hours, and you walk back out in 20 minutes. A wetsuit, helmet, harness and backpack are provided; you bring swimwear and sport shoes. Minimum age is 9 years (12 in April and May), and you must be able to swim. The activity needs at least six people to run, and you arrange your own transport to the meeting point 45 minutes from either Corte or Ajaccio.Is it for me?Book this if you have a free afternoon and want to move through water and rock instead of watching from a path — the one-hour approach and two-hour descent fit a half-day window, and the certified instructor means you do not need prior canyoning experience, only the ability to swim and the fitness to handle a sustained physical activity.
Porto boat tour: Scandola, Girolata, Capo Rosso with guideA guided boat tour from Porto along the Corsican coast, visiting the Scandola Nature Reserve, the coves of Piana, Capo Rosso, and the village of Girolata. The Mare Nostrum II, a small boat with toilets and weather protection, carries you through volcanic and granitic rock formations, narrow passages and sea caves while the captain and guide provide live commentary. A 30- to 40-minute stop in Girolata lets you swim; the tour runs about four hours and suits all fitness levels.Is it for me?The guide delivers live commentary in English, Italian, or French, so you follow the geology and history as the boat moves through the coves and passages rather than reading about it later. Book the language that matches your group.
Napoleon Cave Corsica: Cultural session with traditional mealThe Napoleon Cave is a cultural session in Corsica where you watch video projections of Napoleon Bonaparte's life from childhood to his peak, all while eating spuntinu—the traditional Corsican meal—with a welcome aperitif, a drink of your choice, and coffee. The guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French, and the meal adapts for allergies, religions and dietary preferences.Is it for me?This works best for small groups or couples who want to learn something about Napoleon without leaving the table, and who value a meal over a lecture. The cave's atypical setting—projections and food happening together—suits people who find traditional museums or restaurants alone a bit flat.
