La Maddalena boat tour from Palau: Pink Beach and natural pools

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Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/8

Duration7h

GroupUp to 80

LanguagesEN · IT

Mobile ticketAccepted

Six stops across turquoise water, from Pink Beach to an open-air aquarium

A seven-hour boat tour of La Maddalena archipelago leaves Palau at 10 a.m. and visits six stops including the Pink Beach of Budelli, natural limestone pools, and Cala Granara for swimming and snorkeling. The M/B Orient Express carries a small bar, restrooms, and a guide who speaks English or Italian. Passengers departing from Palau start with a walking tour of the old town; those joining from La Maddalena at 11:15 a.m. board directly for the water stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour and island exploration

Depart from Palau at 10 a.m.
Free walking tour in historic alleys
Shopping in craft shops
Stop at Cala Granara for swimming and sunbathing
Photo stop at Pink Beach of Budelli
Swim at Natural Pools of Port of the Madonna
View Roberto Benigni's house from the boat
Snorkel in enchanted bay with clear waters
Depart from La Maddalena at 11:15 a.m.

The Experience

What makes a morning in Palau turn into a full day on the water? The tour begins at 10 a.m. from Palau with a walking route through the historic alleys and craft shops of the old town—a chance to move on land before the boat takes over. From there, the route heads out to Cala Granara, where you get time to lie on fine sand and swim in clear water. The boat is small enough that the guide can speak directly to passengers in English or Italian, and the bar on board means you're not rationing water across seven hours.

The stops themselves are the draw. Pink Beach on Budelli is a photo moment—a rare ecosystem where the sand actually shifts color. More striking is the dip from the boat into the natural pools at the Port of the Madonna, a shallow limestone formation that works like an open-air aquarium. You'll also pass the flattest island in the archipelago, where a famous resident's house sits visible from the water. The final stop lands you in a bay with turquoise shallows and molded rock walls, the kind of place where snorkeling makes sense because the seabed is sandy and the water stays clear enough to see into it.

The boat has restrooms and a small bar, which matters on a seven-hour tour. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and the itinerary suits all fitness levels—you're swimming and walking on sand, not hiking. If you're joining from La Maddalena instead of Palau, the boat departs at 11:15 a.m., skipping the town walk but keeping all the water stops the same.

What’s included

Transport on the M/B Orient Express.
restroom access on board.
small bar with drinks and light catering available for purchase.
guide in English or Italian.
VAT.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Maddalena Experience

Is this one for you?The tour runs seven hours with swimming stops and a walking section in town, so it suits travelers with a full day to spend and comfort in the water. If you're joining from La Maddalena at 11:15 a.m. instead of Palau, you skip the town walk and save ninety minutes, keeping only the boat and the stops.