Sailing South Corsica and the Strait of Bonifacio
South Corsica is the place to sail two countries in one week. You leave Bonifacio through a narrow inlet under white limestone cliffs, anchor off the granite Lavezzi islands in a nature reserve, cruise past the sandy bays of Rondinara and Santa Giulia to Porto-Vecchio, and cross the Strait of Bonifacio to the La Maddalena archipelago in Sardinia. Legs are short, mostly 7 to 25 nautical miles, but the strait has a reputation for strong winds, so plan a spare day.
Where to charter a yacht for south Corsica?
The loop below starts in Bonifacio, but it works just as well from the bases in Porto-Vecchio and Pianottoli-Caldarello; every Corsican base is on our Corsica page. Charter weeks usually run Saturday to Saturday. To sail bareboat you need a licence or sailing CV the charter company accepts (see boat licence in France and the ICC); otherwise hire a skipper or book a crewed yacht.
A 7-day sailing itinerary from Bonifacio
All distances are our estimates from the map. Plan every leg with up-to-date charts and a pilot book, and check the forecast for the Bouches de Bonifacio zone every morning.
Day 1: Bonifacio – Lavezzi islands (approx. 7 nm)
Take over the yacht on Saturday, then motor out of the harbour at no more than 5 knots, the limit inside the port. The marina calls itself a port "enclosed in its inlet, protected by its cliffs", and in summer the traffic of ferries and excursion boats in that inlet calls for full attention. Round Cap Pertusato and head east to the Lavezzi archipelago. In the reserve, yachts under 24 m may anchor only inside the marked clean anchoring zones (zones de mouillage propre) at Cala di Chiesa, Cala di U Grecu, Cala di U Ghiuncu and Cala Lazarina, or outside them in more than 40 m of water. The four zones at Cala Lazarina are for boats under 15 m. Overnight at anchor in one of these zones in settled weather; in a westerly, go back to Bonifacio instead. Tip: you may land on Lavezzi island itself, but not on the other islets of the reserve's reinforced protection zones.
Day 2: Lavezzi – Cavallo – Rondinara (approx. 9 nm)
Sail north past Cavallo and the islet of Piana. There is a no-anchoring zone around both islands, and the shallow sand bank between Piantarella and Piana is closed to motor boats, so keep well off. Carry on to Rondinara, a bay between two rocky points. Two permanent no-anchoring zones lie in the centre and north of the bay; anchor outside them and outside the swimming zone, and use the buoyed channel at 5 knots if you take the dinghy ashore. Overnight at anchor in Rondinara. Tip: dinghies with an engine must use the channel too, as the swimming zone is closed to them.
Day 3: Rondinara – Santa Giulia – Porto-Vecchio (approx. 13 nm)
Stop for a swim in Santa Giulia, a beach with buoyed channels and swimming zones, and a mooring area (ZMEL) authorised by the Préfecture maritime. In the afternoon, sail into the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio and berth in the town marina, below the ramparts of the old town (VHF 9). Tip: book your visitor berth online before you set off; the marina takes bookings through the Corsican ports booking platform, and summer evenings are busy.
Day 4: Porto-Vecchio – La Maddalena, Sardinia (approx. 25 nm)
This is the longest leg: out of the gulf, south past the Lavezzi and across the strait into Italian waters. The La Maddalena archipelago is an Italian national park. The park says every activity inside it needs a permit (a "ticket") and that this ticket lets you sail, moor or anchor within 300 m of the coast; buy it online from the park before you arrive, or ask your charter company whether it is included. Where to berth and anchor in the archipelago is covered in our La Maddalena guide. Tip: cross the traffic route at right angles and keep a sharp lookout for ferries.
Day 5: La Maddalena – Bonifacio (approx. 16 nm)
Cross back to Corsica early in the day, after checking the forecast for the strait. The approach at night is marked by the Madonetta light and the lights on Punta dell'Arinella (starboard) and Punta Cacavento (port). Overnight in Bonifacio marina (VHF 9). Tip: berths are given only after a booking in the "Les ports corses" app or on resaportcorse.com, never by phone, and from 1 to 25 August boats under 18 m can book only one night.
Day 6: Bonifacio – Roccapina – Pianottoli-Caldarello (approx. 21 nm)
Sail north-west along the south coast to Roccapina, a large bay with a white sand beach watched over by a Genoese tower and the granite "Lion of Roccapina", for a lunch stop at anchor outside the buoyed swimming zone. Then turn back east to Pianottoli-Caldarello, at the head of a sheltered bay; the commune calls it the only deep-water port between Bonifacio and Propriano. Call the harbour on VHF 9. Overnight in the marina. Tip: the speed limit is 5 knots in the access channel and 3 knots in the harbour, and anchoring is forbidden in the harbour area, in front of it and in the channel. If you want an extra day on this coast, Propriano, further north-west, is another base with charter yachts: see our Propriano page.
Day 7: Pianottoli-Caldarello – Bonifacio (approx. 10 nm)
A short last leg back round Capo di Feno to Bonifacio, with time for a swim on the way. Fill the tank and check the return time in your charter contract; most yachts go back to base on Friday evening. Starting from Porto-Vecchio or Pianottoli instead? Simply begin the same loop on a different day.
| Leg | Distance | Overnight | Highlight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bonifacio – Lavezzi | approx. 7 nm | Anchoring zone, Lavezzi | Granite islands of the reserve |
| Lavezzi – Rondinara | approx. 9 nm | Anchorage, Rondinara | Cavallo and a round sandy bay |
| Rondinara – Porto-Vecchio | approx. 13 nm | Porto-Vecchio marina (book) | Santa Giulia beach |
| Porto-Vecchio – La Maddalena | approx. 25 nm | La Maddalena archipelago | Crossing to Sardinia |
| La Maddalena – Bonifacio | approx. 16 nm | Bonifacio marina (book) | Entering the cliff inlet |
| Bonifacio – Pianottoli-Caldarello | approx. 21 nm | Pianottoli-Caldarello marina | Roccapina bay and its lion rock |
| Pianottoli-Caldarello – Bonifacio | approx. 10 nm | Return to base | Capo di Feno |
Rules and safety in south Corsica
- The nature reserve: the Réserve naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio covers some 80,000 hectares of sea and islands between Corsica and Sardinia. The Office de l'Environnement de la Corse publishes a map for boaters on its reserve page. In its reinforced protection zones, landing is forbidden except on Lavezzi island, the Pyramide islet and Piana, and on some beaches and marked trails; dogs and other pets are not allowed, and camping is forbidden. All fishing is banned in the no-take zones.
- Lavezzi anchoring: the Préfecture maritime's order 34/2025 for the Bonifacio coast sets the anchoring zones, no-anchoring zones, zones closed to motor boats and 5-knot access channels described above. Mooring to the marker buoys is forbidden. Boats of 24 m and over have their own, stricter rules.
- Bird sanctuaries: since 2023, and for five years, order 235/2023 closes four areas to navigation, anchoring and stopping: the north of Lavezzi island and the islets of Ratino, Porraggia and Perduto.
- The 300 m strip: along the whole French Mediterranean coast, the speed limit is 5 knots within 300 m of the shore, of islets and of harbour works, whether or not the strip is buoyed (order 109/2024).
- The strait: the Bouches de Bonifacio have a recommended two-way route with precautionary areas at each end. Ships over 20 m should keep to it, and ships of 300 gross tonnage and more must report to "Bonifacio Traffic" on VHF 10 when they enter a 20-mile radius around Bonifacio. Pleasure craft not engaged in trade are exempt from the reporting, but it is worth listening on VHF 10 while you cross (order 84/98). A separate order from 1993 bans oil tankers and ships carrying dangerous or toxic substances from the strait; it applies to ships flying the French flag.
- Emergencies: call CROSS on VHF 16, or dial 196 from a phone.
- Crossing to Italy: France and Italy are both in the Schengen area, where checks at internal borders have been abolished, although a country can temporarily reintroduce them (European Commission). Carry passports or ID cards and the boat's papers.
- Licence: in France a sailing yacht needs no licence at sea, whatever its size; a motorboat over 4.5 kW (6 hp) needs one (the French permis plaisance or a valid licence from your own country, within its limits). For bareboat charter the company still asks for proof of experience and can require a skipper. More in boat licence in France.
Best time to sail south Corsica
Corsica's official tourist board gives the sailing season as April to October, and warns that in the Strait of Bonifacio conditions can change dramatically even in summer, when strong winds can keep boats in port for days. Météo-France describes the mistral as a westerly by the time it reaches Corsica, and the libeccio as a south-westerly wind over Corsica; the Bonifacio marina gives west and south-west as the prevailing winds. Météo-France forecasts the Bouches de Bonifacio as a zone of its own, so check it before every crossing. August is the busiest month: the reserve counts up to 20,000 visitors on some August afternoons, and Bonifacio limits short boats to one-night bookings from 1 to 25 August. June and September give you quieter anchorages and still long days.
FAQ
Can you anchor overnight at the Lavezzi islands?
The current order does not limit anchoring to daytime. Boats under 24 m may anchor inside the marked anchoring zones or in more than 40 m of water. In practice, only stay overnight in settled weather, as the anchorages are open to the strait.
How far is it from Bonifacio to Sardinia?
By our estimate from the map, the La Maddalena archipelago is roughly 12 to 16 nm from Bonifacio, depending on where you anchor, and roughly 25 nm from Porto-Vecchio. Plan the crossing with a chart.
Do I need a permit for La Maddalena?
Yes. The La Maddalena national park requires a permit to sail, moor or anchor within 300 m of its coast. It is sold online on the park's permit website, and the price depends on the boat.
Do I need to call Bonifacio Traffic on a charter yacht?
No. The mandatory report applies to ships of 300 gross tonnage and more; pleasure boats not engaged in trade are exempt. Keep a listening watch on VHF 10 and 16 all the same.
Is south Corsica suitable for a first charter?
The legs are short and the harbours good, but the strait can be windy and some anchorages are exposed. If you are new to Mediterranean sailing, consider a skipper for the week.
More Corsica sailing guides
Continue north with our Ajaccio and west Corsica guide (Scandola and the Gulf of Porto), or take two weeks and sail around Corsica.
