Island hopping 7-day charter in Sardinia

Enjoy the best of the Mediterranean weather with a bareboat yacht charter in Sardinia next year. Our general manager, Dave Watt, took a late season charter in the region’s cruising grounds, making the most of the last of the summer sun and has shared his 7-day itinerary.

Sardinia itinerary summary

Head to Spargi to see the rock formations that look like a dog and a witch, enjoy Budelli’s pink sands, relax at the private Zeri Bay, explore Sardinia’s “Tahiti” at Cala Coticcio, Caprera Island and walk on water at La Plage de Piantarella.

Day 1: Arrive at Marina di Portisco

Day 2: Marina di Portisco > anchorage near Porto Cervo > Cala Portese, Caprera > Porto Palma, Caprera  

Day 3: Porto Palma, Caprera > Cala Corsara, Spargi island > Budelli > La Maddalena

Day 4: La Maddalena > Zeri Bay, Cavallo > Santa Manza, Corsica

Day 5: Santa Manza, Corsica > La Plage de Piantarella, Bonifacio > Bonifacio

Day 6: Bonifacio > Lavezzi > Cannigione

Day 7: Cannigione > Cala Coticcio, Caprera Island > Liscia Ruja > Marina di Portisco

Itinerary highlights

Marina di Portisco and Cala dei Sardi are both self-contained marinas with good restaurants, which are a 25-minute taxi transfer away from the airport (€10 per person). We loved Portisco Ristorante so much we ate there twice. Or, you can get a taxi to the closest town, Olbia, for dinner on your first or last night.

Sail to the fish farm south of Portisco to spot the dolphins. Be careful of dolphins if you see them approach whilst you are swimming in the water, it’s recommended you get out as they will try and play which can be dangerous. You can anchorage for the night at Porto Palma, which has a big sailing school. It’s good fun watching the dinghy sailors sailing around and frequently capsizing.

Head to Paradise Bay, Spargi, to see the two rocks known for looking like a dog and a witch. Sail to Budelli with its pink sands, but you won’t be able to walk on the beach as it is out of bounds to stop people taking away the sands as a souvenir. For a night on the town, head to La Maddalena and dine at Ristorante Magreta.

Check out Zeri Bay, Cavallo Island, which is a great lunch spot in a private bay. While you can’t explore further than the beaches, the swimming is great and you can marvel at the stunning houses. We were also lucky to have the beach to ourselves at Santa Manza. We went ashore to explore and then had the night at anchor.

Avoid the crowds and have breakfast and lunch at La Plage de Piantarella, where the shallow sea means you can walk to the small island opposite. Head on to Bonifacio, an impressive city set on the cliffs, which makes you feel like you are on the set of Game of Thrones. You’ll find great views, a buzzing city bursting with heritage and plenty of bars and restaurants, such as L’Auberge.

If you venture to Lavezzi, an archipelago of granite islands, take care of the rocks when you come in and find a spot to drop anchor. You can spot the monument commemorating a shipwreck in 1855. Cannigione is a great spot for the night, with a number of restaurants and cafes to choose from.

A special place to visit is Cala Coticcio, Caprera Island, known as a local “Tahiti” for a swim and climb on the rocks. The waters are cobalt blue and so clear, it’s hard to believe you are in the Mediterranean. For an unusual experience, you can visit the king of Tavolara Island, even a possibility to have dinner with him but you will need a jacket and tie!

Tips for charter planning in Sardinia

Listen to the 30-minute optional morning briefing for useful information on local sailing conditions, weather forecasts, itinerary tips and notorious rocks. We advise heading north to Bonifacio or Porto Vecchio quickly, then take your time working your way back south over the rest of the charter.

Save on marina fees by going late in the season. During our October charter for an Oceanis 55, we paid cheaper rates of €50 at La Maddalena, €92 at Bonifacio and €40 at Cannigione. For the rest of our charter we were at anchor. If you want to avoid going into Bonifacio and paying for marina, you can take an anchorage at Santa Manza and walk across to Bonifacio. Remember your first and last night are always free of charge at the home berth if in the marina.

At the end of the season, National Park Permits are policed less for La Maddalena islands than in high seasons. You can buy the permit at base, in marinas in the National Park or on the spot when asked to show a permit (the fee is about 30% more).

Don’t forget to bring your favourite games for the evenings. Our favourites were: dobble, jungle speed and snatch it

Find out more

Sardinia is also perfect for all-inclusive by the cabin cruising and skippered charters, as well as bareboat charters, just give our team a call on 01227 479 900 or request a quote.