Porto Corsica: Scandola & Calanches Boat Trip UNESCO

Red Rocks & UNESCO Waters: Half-Day Boat from Porto

You 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.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat trip to Scandola and Piana

• Depart from Porto
• Discover Scandola Nature Reserve
• Explore Gulf of Girolata
• Visit Calanche de Piana red rocks
• See caves and natural swimming pool
• Captain provides commentary throughout

The experience

"The rocks here, they don't stay the same color twice," our captain said as we pulled away from Porto, and I understood what he meant about twenty minutes in. The boat, a nimble 12-seater semi-rigid, cuts through water that shifts from deep blue to something almost turquoise as you approach the Scandola Nature Reserve. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the captain points out the faults in the rock face, the way the stone has fractured and settled over time. He talks as we move, not lecturing, just naming things: the Gulf of Girolata opens up on one side, and you start to see why this stretch of Corsica matters enough to be protected.

The Calanches de Piana are what you came for, though. Red rocks (actual red, not the rust-colored cliffs you see elsewhere) rise straight from the water, and there are caves carved into them that the captain knows by sight. He slows the boat so you can see into them, and he points out what locals call the "natural swimming pool," a sheltered cove where the water is calm enough that a swim makes sense. Whether you get in depends on the weather and the sea that day. The captain decides, and you trust that call because he's been reading this water longer than you've been awake. The audio guide fills in the geology and the history while you're taking it in, so you're not just looking. You're understanding what you're seeing.

The whole trip runs about four hours from Porto, and you're back in town with time to grab lunch or wander the harbor before the afternoon gets away from you. It's the kind of half-day that doesn't feel rushed because the boat moves at the pace the landscape demands, not the pace a schedule imposes.

What’s included

Your half-day includes pickup at Porto, a spot on the 12-seater semi-rigid boat, captain-led commentary at both Scandola Nature Reserve and Calanches de Piana, an audio guide, and a swimming stop (weather permitting). You return to Porto after around four hours.

Before you book

Lasts 3h, runs every day, 17 start times, from € 70 per person, with a live guide in French, in groups of up to 12 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday, Saturday and Sunday: 09:00 and 14:00Tuesday and Thursday: 08:30, 09:00, 10:00, 13:00, 13:30, 13:45, 14:00, 14:30, 15:00, 15:15, 15:30, 16:00, 16:30, 16:45, 17:00, 17:30 and 18:00Wednesday: 09:00, 10:00, 13:30 and 14:00Friday: 09:00, 10:00 and 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

Live guideFrench

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish and Russian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomeNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Corse Emotion

Is this one for you?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.

Traveler reviews

4.87★★★★★★★★★★

231 verified traveler reviews

5 ★211

4 ★14

3 ★3

2 ★2

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long is the boat trip from Porto?

Around four hours total, including the swim stop and time at both sites.

What's included in the ticket?

The boat, captain commentary, audio guide, and access to both Scandola and Calanches de Piana. Swimming stop is weather-dependent.

How many people fit on the boat?

The boat holds 12 passengers maximum.

Is swimming guaranteed?

No. The captain decides based on sea conditions that day. If conditions don't allow it, you still see both sites from the boat.

Can I bring a baby?

Yes. Infants sit on an adult's lap. Children aged 0–3 are free.

Do I need to be fit for this trip?

It's suitable for all fitness levels. The boat does move on open water, so if you have spinal injuries or motion sensitivity, check with the operator first.

Can service animals come on the boat?

Yes, service animals are allowed.