La Maddalena Archipelago boat tour: 4 swimming stops

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Free cancellationExcellent qualityLikely to sell out

1/49

Duration7h

GroupUp to 150

LanguagesEN · IT +2

Mobile ticketAccepted

The Pink Beach is closed to swimmers, but you see it from the boat and swim in the coves around it.

A full-day boat excursion through the La Maddalena Archipelago departing from Palau, with four swimming stops at Budelli's natural pools, Santa Maria, Spargi and views of the Pink Beach. The itinerary covers the archipelago's main islands and white-sand coves in turquoise water, with a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French, and onboard facilities. Check-in is at 9:45am; the tour runs seven hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat excursion around La Maddalena

Meet at Lady Luna 2 boat, Palau station
Depart from port, sail along Palau coast
Swim at Budelli island natural pools
Stop and swim at Santa Maria island beach
Panoramic sail around Spargi island coast
Swim and photograph at Spargi island beach
Visit La Maddalena island town center

The Experience

The boat leaves Palau at 10:30am and sails along the coast toward Budelli, where you'll anchor at Porto della Madonna—the natural pools—for about twenty minutes. The motor vessel has a stern platform with ladders for easy entry into the water. From here the route continues to Santa Maria, a beach stop where you can swim in the bay; the island holds a disused Benedictine monastery and a few summer houses. You'll pass the Pink Beach, famous for its shell-sand coloring, where the boat keeps a distance from the protective buoys but gives you a close look at the shore.

Spargi is the third swimming stop, a wild island with coves sculpted by wind and fine sand beaches. The boat sails past Cala Connari, Cala dell'amore, Cala Corsara and Cala Soraya before anchoring at Cala Granara, where you have time to swim and photograph. On the return, you'll see the famous rock formations—Testa della Strega, the Bulldog Dog and Italy in miniature—and pass Santo Stefano, the former NATO submarine base now decommissioned. The final stop is La Maddalena town itself, where you can walk the centre, visit the church of Santa Maria Maddalena, and find shops and ice-cream parlours for a break.

Lunch is available onboard: pasta with shrimp sauce, cold main courses or Caprese salad can be purchased (€10–12). The boat has restrooms and a live guide who speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French. Infants and small children can travel in a pram or stroller, and service animals are welcome. Public transport runs to the Palau embarkation point, where you'll meet at the Lady Luna 2 boat at embarkation point 4 in front of the maritime station.

What’s included

Live guide in your choice of English, Spanish, Italian or French.
restroom facilities onboard.
four designated swimming stops with boat platform and ladders for water entry.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Motonave Lady Luna 3

Is this one for you?The four-stop itinerary and fixed schedule mean you see Budelli, Spargi, Santa Maria and the Pink Beach in a single day without arranging transport between islands or timing the tides yourself—the boat handles the route and the stops are spaced so you have time to swim at each one.