Scandola & Girolata Boat Tour Corsica: Swim & Wine Tasting

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Free cancellationExcellent qualityLikely to sell out

1/24

Duration8h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesFR

Mobile ticketAccepted

Scandola's turquoise waters and granite cliffs, reached only by boat

You 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.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat trip to Scandola and Girolata

Start boat trip from Ajaccio or Porticcio
Discover Scandola Nature Reserve by sea
Swim in Scandola's turquoise waters
Enjoy wine tasting on board
Lunch break at Gulf of Girolata beach
Explore Girolata village and Genoese fort
Visit Calanques de Piana caves
Swim in natural pools of Capo Rosso
Return to Ajaccio

The Experience

Most boat tours along Corsica stick to the obvious. This one goes where the road cannot — into the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sits on the water and nowhere else. You start from either Ajaccio or Porticcio port, and within an hour you're floating past rock formations that shift color as the light moves. The boat slows at Scandola itself, and you get a swim stop in water so clear it feels unreal. After that, wine tasting happens on deck while the boat rocks gently beneath you.

Girolata comes next, a village with no road access — you arrive by boat or hiking trail, which means it stays quiet even in summer. The beach there is where you'll eat lunch (you bring your own or buy from a small spot on shore), and the old Genoese fort sits on the ridge above, a 15th-century tower built when Genoa controlled these waters. It's the kind of place where cows wander the sand in shoulder seasons, which sounds odd until you see it. The Gulf of Girolata sits so close to Scandola that you're never far from the reserve's strange, layered geology.

The Calanques de Piana are what make people gasp. These aren't the usual cliffs — they're massive granite formations, some ocher, some pink, carved by water into cavities and shapes that look almost intentional. The boat moves slowly through them, and you can swim in natural pools tucked between the rocks. The final stop is Capo Rosso, another pink granite cape with its own 16th-century tower and more swimming in sheltered water. By the time you head back to port, you've covered four distinct landscapes without leaving the boat.

The whole day runs on the boat's schedule, not yours, which is exactly what makes it work — no arranging transport between stops, no timing yourself, no wondering if you've missed something. Snorkeling gear is included, water and soda are on board, and the boat handles the navigation. Lunch isn't included, so plan to eat in Girolata or bring something. The boat departs early enough that you're back by evening.

What’s included

Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, and soft drinks are provided on board.
The tour includes swim stops at Scandola, the Calanques de Piana, and Capo Rosso, plus a wine tasting on deck.
Lunch in Girolata is not included.

Good to know

Demanding physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by neptune croisière ajaccio

Is this one for you?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.