Maddalena Archipelago Snorkeling Catamaran Tour with Lunch

Four island stops, turquoise bays you swim in, one protected pink beach you photograph from the boat

A full-day catamaran snorkeling tour departing from Palau that visits four islands of the Maddalena Archipelago — Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria — with a live guide in English or Italian, snorkel equipment, lunch and drinks included. The boat stops at named bays where you enter the water to snorkel, passes the famous Pink Beach (a protected natural monument you view from the boat), and anchors in the Madonna lagoon, a crystalline natural pool between three islands where designated coves allow swimming and snorkeling. Weather may shift the exact stops, but the route stays within the same protected marine park.

Step-by-step itinerary

Catamaran tour of Maddalena Archipelago

• Depart from Palau by catamaran
• Stop at Spargi island for snorkeling and swimming
• View Pink Beach from boat without landing
• Visit Port of the Madonna for swimming and beach time
• Explore Razzoli and Santa Maria islands
• Enjoy free time and commute between attractions

The Experience

The catamaran leaves Palau in the morning for the Maddalena Archipelago, a national park of granite islands and turquoise water off the north coast of Sardinia. Your first stop is Spargi, where you drop anchor in one of the bays and enter the water with snorkel gear to see the transparent shallows and white sand beaches. The boat then moves north to photograph the Pink Beach on Budelli — a coral-colored shore so fragile it is closed to swimmers, but the water around it and the view from the boat show why it is protected.

The Madonna lagoon comes next, a natural swimming pool enclosed by three islands with emerald water so clear it looks shallow even where it is deep. The park has reserved sections of this lagoon for snorkeling, and you have time to drift through the coves and explore the seabed. Razzoli and Santa Maria, the final islands, are separated by a narrow pass and marked by tall granite cliffs and a large beach called Cala S. Maria. The remaining hours are split between moving between stops and free time to swim or snorkel where the boat anchors.

The boat is a 12-metre Fontain Pajot Athena 38 catamaran, which means a wider, more stable platform than a single-hull boat — comfort on the water and easier boarding for families with children. Lunch and drinks (coffee, tea, soda, water and wine or beer) are served on board; if you have food intolerances, bring a packed lunch instead, as the boat cannot prepare special meals. Snorkel equipment is provided, and there is a bathroom on board. The guide speaks English or Italian and can answer questions about the islands and the marine park, though the itinerary may shift if weather requires a safer route.

What’s included

• Snorkel equipment.
• lunch and drinks (coffee, tea, soda, water, wine and beer).
• bathroom on board.
• live guide in English or Italian.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Sardinia Sailing Tour

Is this one for you?Choose the Palau departure if you are staying on the north coast; choose Maddalena if you are based on the islands themselves. Either way, the catamaran's wider hull and included snorkel gear mean you spend the day moving between named bays and reefs instead of managing logistics or renting equipment at each stop.

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Top questions

Can I snorkel at the Pink Beach?

The Pink Beach on Budelli is a protected natural monument and swimming is not allowed on its shore or in the water directly in front of it. The boat photographs it from the water so you can see the coral color and granite formations, but you snorkel at other stops — Spargi, the Madonna lagoon, and the coves around Razzoli and Santa Maria all have designated snorkeling areas.

What is the Madonna lagoon like?

The Madonna lagoon, or Manto della Madonna, is an enclosed body of water between the islands of Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria, with emerald color and white sand beaches facing clear water. The park reserves large sections of it for snorkeling and swimming, so you can drift through multiple coves and explore the seabed without current or waves.

Is snorkel equipment included, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkel gear is included with the tour. The boat provides masks, snorkels and fins, so you do not need to pack or rent them separately.

Where does the boat depart from?

You can board from either Palau or Maddalena — choose your departure point when you book. Both are on the coast near the archipelago, so the boat reaches the islands from either location.

How long is the full tour?

The tour runs for eight hours from departure to return, including travel time between islands, snorkeling stops, lunch on board and free time to swim.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The captain may change the exact itinerary to ensure safe navigation, but the tour stays within the Maddalena Archipelago and visits the same type of stops — bays for snorkeling, protected coves and the lagoon. The operator will confirm any major changes before departure.