Scandola UNESCO boat tour from Corsica: Swim in two reserves

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1/7

Duration9h

LanguagesFR

Mobile ticketAccepted

Two swimming breaks in a UNESCO reserve you can only reach by boat

This 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.

The Experience

The boat leaves one of three starting points—Ajaccio port, Porticcio port or Lava beach—and heads toward Gargalo, an island crowned by a Genoese tower that marks the entrance to the Scandola reserve. On the way, you pass the sea caves of Capo Rosso before entering the protected waters where swimming is allowed. The first break happens here, in water deep enough to see the seabed classified as Natura 2000, a European conservation designation that means the marine life below is monitored and protected.

Scandola itself is the main reason to come: the reserve sits on UNESCO's World Heritage list and can only be reached by water or on foot over difficult terrain, which is why the boat matters. The cliffs rise in red and orange stone, and the caves cut deep into them. After the first swim, the boat continues to Girolata, a small Corsican village with no road access—only a footpath and the sea connect it to the rest of the island. The crew can arrange lunch at the restaurant on the village square if you want to eat there, though you pay separately. On the return journey, a second swimming stop lets you drift in the same Natura 2000 waters and look down at what lives there.

A French-speaking guide travels with the group and explains what you're seeing as the boat moves. Children from age 4 are welcome, though the tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers, those with spinal injuries or anyone with cardiovascular concerns. The nine-hour day is long but the boat moves at a pace that lets you absorb each stop rather than rush through it.

What’s included

Private transportation to your chosen departure point.
a French-speaking guide for the full day.
two swimming breaks in the Scandola reserve and Natura 2000 waters.
access to Girolata village by boat.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by JPS Aventure

Is this one for you?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.