La Maddalena Sailing Cruise: Archipelago Islands & Swimming

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.71 (117 reviews) 82% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pickLikely to sell out

1/10

Duration7h

GroupUp to 14

LanguagesEN · IT +1

Mobile ticketAccepted

Three island stops, one boat, lunch and wine you don't arrange yourself

You board a real sailing boat at La Maddalena and visit three islands in the archipelago—Santa Maria for a first swim, Isola Budelli for the famous pink beach and a two-hour stop, and Isola Spargi for a final snorkel. Lunch with wine, beer and soft drinks is included, as are snacks and an aperitif. The captain and crew handle navigation, timing and food; you handle swimming and deciding how long to stay in the water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sailing and swimming in Maddalena Archipelago

Start from Maddalena island
Sail over one hour to Santa Maria island
Anchor at Cala Santa Maria
Swim and snorkel for one hour
Enjoy aperitif with snacks and drinks
Sail to Cala Coccodrillo near Spiaggia Rosa
Visit Isola Budelli and walk Spiaggia Rosa
Have lunch with wine, beer, and drinks
Sail one hour to Cala Granara at Isola Spargi
Swim and snorkel freely

The Experience

The boat leaves the pier at La Maddalena in the morning, and within an hour you're anchored off Santa Maria island where the sand is white and the water is so clear you can see the bottom from the deck. A crew member hands you a beer or a glass of wine—cold, no ice needed—and you have an hour to swim or snorkel straight from the platform. The aperitif comes with snacks, nothing fancy, just the kind of thing that tastes better when you're already in the water.

After that you sail again for about thirty minutes to Isola Budelli, where the real stop happens. The boat anchors in Cala Coccodrillo and you take a small dinghy to the island itself to walk the Spiaggia Rosa—the pink beach, named for the color of the sand—which is the kind of place you see in photos and assume is edited. It isn't. You get two hours there, and then back on the boat for lunch. Wine, beer, fresh drinks, all included. The crew speaks English, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, French and German, so there's no fumbling with translation or menus. After lunch you sail for another hour to Cala Granara on Isola Spargi, where you swim and snorkel again before heading back.

The boat itself matters here. It's a proper sailing vessel—not a motorboat pretending—which means between stops you're actually under sail, not just motoring. If you want to learn the basics of sailing, the captain will teach you. He's been doing this for years and knows which anchors hold in which conditions and where the water is calmest for swimmers. The boat has a big platform for getting in and out of the water, which sounds small until you're doing it five times a day and your legs are tired. Everything is comfortable and the safety gear is there, but you don't spend the day thinking about it.

The whole day is about five to six hours on the water, depending on conditions. You'll want sunscreen and a hat, and bring a light layer for the wind once you're moving. If you get motion sickness easily, take something before you leave—the sea around La Maddalena is usually calm, but it's still the sea. The boat takes groups small enough that you're not standing in a line to swim, and the captain won't overload it. Book direct with them if you can; they fill up in summer, especially in July and August.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or port pickup (confirm location when booking), a full day of sailing with a professional captain and multilingual crew, three island stops with free time to swim and snorkel, lunch with wine and beer, an aperitif with snacks, bottled water and soft drinks throughout the day, and use of the boat's swimming platform.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by SailingTours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Maddalena islands without renting a boat or hiring a private skipper—the fixed itinerary and included lunch mean you show up and the day is already planned, which is what makes three separate islands possible in one morning and afternoon.