Itineraries for a cruise on a sailing boat - South Sardinia coast
- Base: Carloforte or Cagliari
- Duration: 1 week
- Distance: 140 miles
- Suggested stops: Carloforte > Cala Domestica > Masua > Calasetta > Porto Pino > Teulada > Golfo Malfatano > Chia > Pula/Nora
An easy and extremely beautiful itinerary from a naturalistic point of view, on the wildest coast of Sardinia. Recommended for those looking for a quiet holiday made up of nights in the harbour, morning baths and evenings of good food. The choice is wide; you can opt for one of the restaurants on the beautiful promenade of Carlofortewhere you can taste typical dishes based on tuna and the famous Cascà, or choose a farmhouse in the mountains of Teulada.
The noise of the city fades after a few minutes; the immersion of nature has begun. A cruise along the south-west of Sardinia, even outside of the summer, gives authentic emotions, fullness, the feeling of being a pioneer, in the discovery of a still-unknown area where the mistral reigns. But that many shelters, natural and otherwise, also results in the most prudent sailors.
NORA
The natural bend of Pula beach, surmounted by first the Phoenician, then the Punic and Roman settlements accessible by tender (for a visit and to learn more head to www.sardegnacultura.it/),deserves a stop even at night, which is made possible by about 4 metres of seabed.
The advice of the Carloforte Sail Charter: the small port of Perd'eSali is currently covered in sand and does not allow entry even to boats, or to catamarans.
NORA - CHIA
The famous sand dunes, deserted and dazzling, contrast with the blue of the sea and the greenish patches of the juniper which clings to them. The most fascinating and pure stretch of the southern coast begins. It is possible to go deeper by heading to Cala Morto and to the west of the rocks of SuGiudeu.
CHIA - TEULADA
Even just a glance at Cala Cipolla (anchorage 4 metres) introduces the imposing bulk of Capo Spartivento which, as the name implies, ensures the area is sheltered from the winds, before flowing into the splendid Tuerredda.
In front of the beach dotted with greenery stands the islet of the same name separated from the coast by a barely submerged isthmus, an ideal base for anchoring at night. A few edges of clean and full navigation separate Tuerredda from Porto Malfatano (passing through which requires extreme caution due to the presence of shallow water areas) and from the port of Teulada, a new Marina inserted in the gulf which shares its name and is equipped with all the comforts.
At this distance from the town of Teulada (6 km) yu can reach it with the service... And there’s always a private car leading to the Sa Tiria farmhouse, where you can enjoy a splendid typical dinner.
TEULADA - PORTO PINO
After Capo Malfatano and reefing the mainsail in the event of a mistral, you’ll enter the area of the military range, where exercises take place in winter (before leaving, it is advisable to contact the Sant'Antioco harbourmaster), where access to land is forbidden. Limits which, however, preserve the area from bathing, keeping it pristine and beautiful. The transparency and aquamarine tones of the Porto Zafferano stretch of water are postcard-worthy.
The last one on the southern coast: once you'vereached Capo Teulada, you're already in Eastern Sardinia. Before tackling the smaller islands, Porto Pino is also worth a stop at night for its dunes topped by Aleppo pine woods. Going around the shoal of Cala Piombo, it anchors without any problems at 4-6 metres.
PORTO PINO - SANT'ANTIOCO
The tourist coat of arms of Carloforte is missing, but Sant'Antioco is also worth a visit. Facing the Gulf of Palmas after Capo Sperone, the extreme southern tip of the island (actually connected to the mainland by an isthmus so wide that it can also be travelled by car in both directions) of Sant'Antioco, go up along the eastern side, towards the Roman Port.
Unless the weather conditions are favourable enough to try a detour south to the islets of Vacca and Toro for a quick swim.
In the opposite direction, on the northern tip of Sant'Antioco, is the town of Calasetta, with its equipped marina.
SANT'ANTIOCO - CARLOFORTE
There isn't much separating Sant'Antioco from the island of San Pietro and from its only inhabited centre Carloforte, the starting point for a splendid daily itinerary (San Pietro island itinerary).
CARLOFORTE - BUGERRU
18 miles: after refuelling at the fishermen's harbour (approach the entrance with caution and stay in the centre, given the sloping ends of the dam), we set off towards the eastern coast, which is rocky, majestic and full of history.
After the long beach of Funtanamare, we arrive at the steep cliff of Nebida where we can find Porto Flavia, a beautiful access way to the old mining area which produced coal in the first decades of the twentieth century. The navigation proceeds rapidly towards the Pan di Zucchero, a set of pierced stacks to be travelled through with a tender in every direction, leaving the boat at anchor without any worries (the seabed is high and sandy). You can spend the night in the harbour, in the splendid fjord of Cala Domestica, which is completely sheltered from the mistral. A very rich choice of shore excursions (see "Useful links" below)
The advice of the Carloforte Sail Charter: the port of Buggerru is currently covered in sand; before departure you should make sure of the incoming weather conditions, so as to avoid being stuck halfway. In the event of a mistral, navigation is only advisable for those who are very experienced. The closest shelters are the fjord of Cala Domestica and the port of Tharros, which is 33 miles away.
ONE WAY: FROM CARLOFORTE TO CAGLIARI • ONE WEEK • 90 mg
1st DAY
When you arrive at Cagliari airport for Carloforte we can organise your private transfer. In 40 minutes you'll arrive at the ferry port and then reach Carloforte in 30 minutes by comfortably crossing on the ferry.
After check-in you can visit the historic centre of Carloforte. In the evening you can dine in a restaurant; you can choose to have a typical dinner in one of the many restaurants in the town; the main dish is the Carloforte bluefin tuna caught right in the Tonnaredell'Isola, one of the few establishments still in operation in the Mediterranean.
2st DAY: CARLOFORTE-MASUA-CALA DOMESTICA (18 mg)
For the second day you can go north, visit the rock of the Pan Di Zucchero, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In front of the small island, the exit of the Porto Flavia mining tunnel overlooks the sea, magically suspended in the middle of the rocky wall. Then stop for a swim in Cala Domestica and return to Masua where you can stay overnight; you can go to dinner in the restaurant you'll find on the beach, Warung Beach Club & Restaurant (+39 392.8197964).
More information: https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/pan-di-zucchero-and-sea-stacks-masua
3st DAY: TOUR DI SAN PIETRO (18 mg)
For the third day we recommend that you circumnavigate the island of San Pietro, admiring the enchanting beaches, cliffs, caves, the island's lighthouse and stopping in the most sheltered bays, with mistral wind (NW), Cala Guidi, Capo Sandalwood, La Mezzaluna and with the Scirocco wind (SE), Cala Vinagra, Nasca, La Caletta...
We suggest that you arrive in Carloforte, at our base, by 6pm, so that you can refuel (the managers of the rental company will take care of refuelling the boats). When you arrive at the marina of Carloforte, after arranging the boat, you can visit the historic centre of Carloforte. In the evening you can dine at a restaurant; you can choose to dine in one of the many restaurants in the city, with a typical dinner, the main course - the Carloforte tuna - caught right in the Tonnaredell'Isola, one of the few still in operation in the Mediterranean.
San Pietro is not only known for its rugged coastline on one side and its richness in beaches on the other, but it also fascinates people who look beyond... who want to find out about the rich history surrounding the island and its population. (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/san-pietro-0)
4st DAY: SAN PIETRO-PORTO PINO (24 mg)
For the fourth day, thinking of arriving in Cagliari, start in a southerly direction, stop for lunch in Torre Cannai - Sant'Antioco and then spend the night in Porto Pino, an enchanting bay where you can anchor, right in front of a small fishing port which you can reach by tender.
You can decide to buy fresh fish from the local fishermen or have dinner in one of the different restaurants which you will find both in the small town and on the beach. This is a gem of the Mediterranean, a beautiful place very close to the perfection of nature, an environmental ecosystem in harmony between sea, dunes, vegetation and lagoons. The bay of Porto Pino extends for about 6 km, all white sandy beach, ending with the Dunes, which are some of the largest in Europe. You can reach them by boat or on foot while taking a romantic walk. (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/porto-pino)
5st DAY: PORTO PINO-CALA ZAFFERANO-TEULADA (12 mg)
For the fifth day from Porto Pino, in about half an hour you can stop for a swim in one of the numerous bays of the Gulf of Teulada. One of the main and most enchanting beaches to visit is Cala Zafferano; anchor on a sandy bottom to around 5 m, and you can enjoy a swim in its crystal-clear waters.
There are also other bays, among which we recommend Cala di Porto Scudo or Cala di S'Ortixeddu.
Around 6pm you can enter the port of Teulada, where you'll find land services, a Bar-Marina service, showers, water and electricity.
For the evening we advise you to book into one of the typical Sardinian restaurants, where you can enjoy typical dishes. Sa Tiria Restaurant +390709283704.
6st DAY: TEULADA-MALFATANO-TUAREDDA-CHIA–PULA (30 mg)
For the sixth day you can leave from Teulada and stop in Tuaredda in the Gulf of Malfatano, and then continue with a second stop in Chia, where there is also a very long beach of fine white sand. Where can you anchor? Right near the island of SuGiudeu.
In the late afternoon, sailing along the south-eastern coast, you'll arrive at Capo di Pula where you'll anchor for the night.
7st DAY: PULA-CAGLIARI (20 mg)
For your seventh day you'll wake up in the bay of Pula, and you'll be able to stay there until lunchtime. The coarse-grained white sand, the rocks full of natural life, the imposing tower and the ruins of ancient civilisations make this destination unique and unmistakable. Nora beach is one of the most famous in Pula, thanks to the backdrop of the nearby Roman ruins. The bay is enclosed by cliffs and by the promontory, with the splendid Coltellazzo tower, and is therefore sheltered from the wind. When the north wind blows hard, the beach is perfect for enjoying the sun and swimming in the clear, shallow sea, which is ideal for children. The shimmering tones of the blue sea invite you to swim, dive or fish underwater. It has a significant historical value, as it is located near the archaeological park of Nora. The old city was founded by the Phoenicians between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. However, the traces of the Phoenicians and the Punics were mostly covered over by the Romans. The area is located at the foot of Capo Pula, the old port, separated from the mainland by an isthmus, which offers a safe refuge from any wind. (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/nora)
Then leave and head to Cagliari, your final destination. We recommend that you arrive at the Port of Cagliari by 5pm, so that you can refuel and head to your berth at our base. When you arrive at the tourist port of Cagliari, after you've moored and tidied up the boat, you can take a tour of the city centre not too far from our base .
In the evening you can go for dinner at a restaurant; you can choose to dine in one of the many restaurants in town. A typical Sardinian dinner? Su Cumbidu Restaurant, Via Napoli +39 070670712.
8st DAY ORE 9.00
After checking out, you can visit the historic center by taxi or bus or on foot. Or you can take a taxi or even the train that will take you to the airport in a few minutes for your departure.
ONE WAY: FROM CAGLIARI TO CARLOFORTE• ONE WEEK • 120 mg
1st DAY
When you arrive at Cagliari airport to reach our base in Cagliari, we can organise your private transfer. Or you can take a taxi to the city; in 15 minutes you'll arrive at your destination. After check-in you can go and visit the historic centre of Cagliari. In the evening you can have dinner at a restaurant; you can choose to have a typical Sardinian dinner in one of the many restaurants in town >Ristorante SuCumbidu, Via Napoli +39 070670712.
2st DAY: CAGLIARI-VILLASIMIUS (18 mg)
For your second day you can leave Cagliari in the morning and set sail for Villasimius; make a stop at the bays of Torre delle Stelle - Solanas - Geremeas, and then continue on and decide whether to enter the port or sleep at anchor in the bay outside the port. Or, if you don't arrive too late, you could pass Capo Carbonara and anchor in the famous bay of Cala Giunco. The intense colours of the sea, the sparkling crystalline waters, the granite cliffs, the enchanting coves, the long stretches of beach, the lagoons and the verdant hills, some of which have been the settings of TV adverts and they are all breathtaking. The coast is embellished by a crown of beaches interspersed with inlets and by the promontory of Capo Carbonara. Along the panoramic road which starts from Capo Boi, the southernmost point of the Marine Protected Area, there are the wonderful beaches of Porto saRuxi, Campus and Campulongu, all blessed with splendid blue seas and white sandy beaches framed by Mediterranean scrubland. From Capo Boi to the island of Serpentara, the island of Cavoli and banks which are the resting places of wrecks from all eras, the marine reserve of Capo Carbonara is rich in underwater treasures. Dense schools of fish move like weightless clouds over meadows of gentle sea grass waves, on ramparts, in valleys and channels coloured yellow by yellow cluster anemones and red by sea fans.
Back on shore, you can go shopping, enjoy delicious seafood, visit museums and archaeological sites. Go and see remains dating back to the Nuragic age, visit the AccuIsTraias (1st century BC - 3rd century AD) and Cruccuris (1st-2nd century AD) necropoles near the Roman baths of Santa Maria, and the site of Cuccureddus, an ancient Phoenician-Punic settlement which was later taken over by the Romans. And don't miss the archaeological museum, with exhibits on the treasures found at the bottom of the sea. One of these, the statue of the Virgin of the Sea, is located on the bottom near the island of Cavoli. It was sculpted by PinuccioSciola and every year, at the end of July, they have the Feast of the Madonna of the Castaway to commemorate those who lost their lives at sea with a procession leading to the sea. (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/places/sud/villasimius)
3st DAY: VILLASIMIUS-PULA (25 mg)
For your third day you'll leave Villasimius, sailing through the Gulf of Cagliari to arrive in Pula in the early afternoon; you'll have the opportunity to stay there for the night. The coarse-grained white sand, the rocks full of natural life, the imposing tower and the ruins of ancient civilisations make this destination unique and unmistakable. Nora beach is one of the most famous in Pula, thanks to the backdrop of the nearby Roman ruins. The bay is enclosed by cliffs and by the promontory, with the splendid Coltellazzo tower, and is therefore sheltered from the wind. When the north wind blows hard, the beach is perfect for enjoying the sun and swimming in the clear, shallow sea, which is ideal for children. The shimmering tones of the blue sea invite you to swim, dive or fish underwater. It has significant historical value, as it is located near the Nora archaeological park. The old city was founded by the Phoenicians between the 9th and 8th centuries BC. However, the traces of the Phoenicians and the Punics were mostly covered over by the Romans. The area is located at the foot of Capo Pula, the old port, separated from the mainland by an isthmus, which offers a safe refuge from any wind. (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/nora)
4st DAY: PULA-CHIA-MALFATANO-TEULADA (30 mg)
For the fourth day, in the morning you can leave Pula in the direction of Chia, where you can stop for lunch, go ashore and walk on a beach which is one of the most famous in the world thanks to its typical fine white sand. So you can start from Chia and stop in Tuaredda in the Gulf of Malfatano, at which point you can decide to head into the Gulf of Malfatano where you'll find restaurants on the beaches where you can dine (Malfatano Beach restaurant +39 3409004069) or, returning around 6pm, you can enter the port of Teulada, where you'll find land services, Bar-Marina service, showers, water and electricity.
For the evening we advise you to book into one of the typical Sardinian restaurants, where you can taste typical dishes > Sa Tiria Restaurant +390709283704
5st DAY: TEULADA-PORTO PINO (12 mg)
For the fifth day, aiming to arrive in Carloforte, head south; a stop for lunch in Cala Zafferano will anchor you on a sandy bottom and you can swim in its crystal-clear waters. There are also other bays, among which we recommend Cala di Porto Scudo or Cala di S'Ortixeddu, and then you can spend the night in Porto Pino, an enchanting bay where you can anchor, with a small town and a small fishing port which you can reach with the tender.
You can decide to buy fresh fish from local fishermen or have dinner at one of the different restaurants you'll find both in town and on the beach. (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/porto-pino)
6st DAY: PORTO PINO-SAN PIETRO (24 mg)
For the sixth day, in the morning you can decide to visit the great dunes. There is a Mediterranean gem, a beautiful place very close to the perfection of nature, an environmental ecosystem in harmony between sea, dunes, vegetation and lagoons. The bay of Porto Pino extends for about 6 km, all white sandy beach, ending with the Dunes, which are some of the largest in Europe. You can reach them by boat or on foot by taking a romantic walk.
Around lunchtime you can leave and head towards Sant'Antioco, make a short stop in Torre Cannai or around the small Isola della Vacca, then continue towards San Pietro where you can sleep in one of the two most famous bays, Guidi (safe from the Mistral - NW wind) or La Caletta (protected from SE winds).
7st DAY: TOUR DI SAN PIETRO-CARLOFORTE (18 mg)
For the third day we recommend that you circumnavigate the island of San Pietro, admiring the enchanting beaches, cliffs, caves, the island's lighthouse and stopping in the most sheltered bays, with mistral wind (NW), Cala Guidi, Capo Sandalwood, La Mezzaluna and with the Scirocco wind (SE), Cala Vinagra, Nasca, La Caletta...
We suggest that you arrive in Carloforte, at our base, by 6pm, so that you can refuel (the managers of the rental company will take care of refuelling the boats). When you arrive at the marina of Carloforte, after arranging the boat, you can visit the historic centre of Carloforte. In the evening you can dine at a restaurant; you can choose to dine in one of the many restaurants in the city, with a typical dinner, the main course - the Carloforte tuna - caught right in the Tonnaredell'Isola, one of the few still in operation in the Mediterranean.
San Pietro is not only known for its rugged coastline on the one hand and its richness in beaches on the other, but it also fascinates people who look beyond... who want to find out about the rich history surrounding the island and its population. (https://www.sardegnaturismo.it/en/explore/san-pietro-0)
8st DAY ORE 9.00
After checking out, you can visit the historic centre, go and visit the interior of the island with a tour guide, buy souvenirs or decide to leave with our exclusive transfer organised for you and then take your plane. To leave from Carloforteyou'll need to first take the ferry (about 30 minutes - there are ferry rides every hour of the day and night - DELCOMAR company) and then a car which will take you to the airport (about 40 minutes).
