Bonifacio by Boat: the Lavezzi Islands and Southern Corsica (2026)

Few harbours in the Mediterranean make an entrance like Bonifacio. You leave through a narrow fjord-like inlet, round the corner and the old town appears perched on white limestone cliffs above the sea, with the Strait of Bonifacio and Sardinia ahead. Within half an hour you can be swimming among the granite boulders of the Lavezzi Islands. This guide covers harbours, five routes, the 2026 reserve rules, what a skippered charter includes and where to stay.

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This guide is part of our France by Boat series; the hub on French Riviera yacht charter links every region, from Monaco to Corsica.

Harbours and marinas: where boats leave from

• Port of Bonifacio: the natural choice. The harbour lies about 2 nautical miles west of Cap Pertusato, deep inside a sheltered inlet, with around 350 berths, about 150 for visitors, and room for yachts up to 86 metres. Space is tight in summer, so reserve online. Figari Sud Corse airport is roughly 20 to 25 minutes away by car.
• Porto-Vecchio: at the head of a sheltered gulf around 9 km long, below the citadel. The port has 550 berths and is being extended until 2027. A good base for Palombaggia, the Cerbicale Islands, Santa Giulia and Rondinara; Figari airport is roughly 30 minutes by car.
• Golfe de Santa Manza (Sant’Amanza): the bay east of Bonifacio, where hotel jetties allow pick ups closer to the Lavezzi.
• Santa Teresa Gallura (Sardinia): the Italian harbour across the Strait, linked to Bonifacio by passenger and car ferries; the crossing takes about an hour.

Five routes in detail

Times assume a fast motor boat in calm conditions. A sailing yacht takes roughly twice as long, and a westerly wind in the Strait can turn a short hop into a bumpy one.

1. Half day: the cliffs, Sdragonato and Cap Pertusato

Leave the harbour and turn west along the cliffs for the Sdragonato sea cave, whose roof opens to the sky, and the rock known as the Chapeau de Napoléon. Turn back east beneath the old town to see the King of Aragon’s Stairs, 187 steps cut into the cliff face, then continue to the calanques of Fazziolu and Paraguan for a swim in turquoise water before rounding Cap Pertusato and its lighthouse. Allow two to three hours. Best for a first afternoon and families.

2. Full day: the Lavezzi Islands and Cavallo

The Lavezzi lie around 20 to 30 minutes from Bonifacio by fast boat. Moor in one of the marked zones at Cala Lazarina or Cala di Chiesa, then go ashore on Lavezzu to walk the marked paths between granite boulders; the island also holds the memorial to the frigate Sémillante, wrecked here in 1855. Cavallo, next door, is a private island, so whether you can land or book lunch ashore depends on arrangements made in advance: check with the skipper. Return via Piantarella or the Golfe de Santa Manza. Best for snorkellers.

3. Full day: Santa Manza and Rondinara

Head east into the Golfe de Santa Manza, then north along the coast to Rondinara, an almost circular bay with shallow, pale water. Allow around 45 minutes to an hour from Bonifacio. Enter beach channels at 5 knots, and note that parts of the bay are closed to anchoring, so the skipper will choose the spot. Book lunch ashore in July and August. Best for a slower day.

4. Full day from Porto-Vecchio: Palombaggia, the Cerbicale and Santa Giulia

Leave the gulf for Palombaggia’s pine-backed beach, then cruise around the Cerbicale Islands, a separate nature reserve where landing is restricted for part of the year (ask the skipper for the current dates). Continue south to the Bay of Santa Giulia for a swim and lunch ashore, with Rondinara as an option if the sea is calm.

5. Two to three days: across the Strait to Sardinia

The Strait is only around 11 km wide at its narrowest. Spend the first day at the Lavezzi, cross to Santa Teresa Gallura on the second, then continue into the Maddalena Archipelago before returning. The two shores form one international marine park, with the French reserve on one side and the La Maddalena National Park on the other, each with its own permits and closed zones. Our guide to Sardinia by boat covers the Italian side in detail.

Rules: the reserve, anchoring and speed limits in 2026

Most of the water in this guide lies inside the Bouches de Bonifacio Nature Reserve, created in 1999 and covering around 80,000 hectares. It is the French part of the international marine park shared with Sardinia and is managed by the Office de l’Environnement de la Corse. The Cerbicale Islands off Porto-Vecchio have their own reserve. Rules are set by orders of the Préfecture maritime de la Méditerranée and can change between seasons, so ask your skipper to confirm them on the day.

• Bird protection zones at the Lavezzi: navigation, anchoring and stopping are banned in four zones, north of Lavezzu and around the islets of Ratino, Porraggia and Perduto to protect nesting seabirds. The order runs for five years.
• Anchoring at the Lavezzi: in season, boats under 24 metres may anchor only in the marked mooring zones, such as Cala di Chiesa, Cala di U Grecu, Cala di U Ghiuncu and Cala Lazarina, where some sectors are reserved for boats under 15 metres. Elsewhere, anchoring is allowed only in deep water.
• Landing: in the reinforced protection zones you may go ashore only at set points, including Lavezzu. Stay on marked paths; dogs, camping and bivouacking are banned.
• Speed and beaches: within 300 metres of the shore the limit is 5 knots. Beaches such as Rondinara, Santa Manza, Piantarella, Cavallo and the Lavezzi are reached through marked channels, which are for transit only: no stopping or anchoring. Motor boats may not enter swimming zones, and buoys marking these zones must not be used as moorings.
• Seagrass: anchoring that damages posidonia meadows is banned along the French coast. Large yachts face extra limits: vessels of 24 metres and over are restricted in the Bouches de Bonifacio, and those of 45 metres and over may not anchor freely between Roccapina and Porto-Vecchio.
• Golfe de Santa Manza: in July 2026 the administrative court in Bastia cancelled the May 2021 order that authorised 14 mooring buoys for yachts over 24 metres in the gulf. Shortly before the ruling, the maritime prefects renewed the mooring zone for one year, and that renewal is being challenged in court, so owners of large yachts should confirm the current position with the harbour or the reserve before arriving.
• Fees: we found no entry fee for private boats visiting the reserve. Harbour berths and mooring buoys are charged; check with the harbour or skipper.

Our research turned up contradictory information on when the Lavezzi bird zones began: reports from 2023 describe the five-year closure starting that summer, while a 2026 boating report presents it as a recent measure. It was not clear to us which applies, so confirm the current boundaries with the skipper or the reserve.

Types of boat and what a charter includes

• RIB: fast for the Lavezzi and sea caves, but exposed. Best for a half day.
• Open day boat: a sun deck, shade and room for six to ten guests. The usual choice for a full day.
• Motor yacht: cabins, shade and crew; comfortable across the Strait.
• Sailing yacht or catamaran: slower but steadier, the natural choice for several days.

Usually included: the boat, skipper, insurance, snorkelling gear and water. Often excluded: fuel on motor boats, lunch ashore or catering on board, overnight berths or buoys, and any Italian park permits for a Sardinian extension.

Bareboat and licences: in French waters, a motor boat with an engine over 6 hp (4.5 kW) requires a boating licence (permis plaisance), with the coastal option covering up to 6 nautical miles from shelter. Smaller motor boats can be driven without one. Sailing yachts need no licence, though charter bases expect proven experience. Visitors with a licence from their home country should check whether it is accepted.

Routes compared

Best months, winds and practical tips

June and September bring warm water, longer quiet spells and fewer boats at the Lavezzi. July and August are hottest and busiest, with crowded moorings and beach channels. Several hotels open only from late April or May to late October.

Wind: the Strait funnels the wind between two mountainous islands, and westerlies are the prevailing pattern. A day that feels calm in Bonifacio harbour can be rough off Cap Pertusato. Good skippers check the forecast each morning and swap the Lavezzi for sheltered water when needed.

• What to bring: reef-safe sun cream, a hat, a light layer and flat shoes for granite rocks.
• Seasickness: take tablets before departure and sit at the back, eyes on the horizon.
• Booking timing: reserve skippered boats for July and August several months ahead; June and September are easier.
• August crowds: leave early to reach the Lavezzi before the excursion boats, and save Rondinara for late afternoon.
• Ashore in Bonifacio: the King of Aragon’s Stairs charge a small admission; the Corsican tourist board lists up to 2.50 euros.

Where to stay near the harbours

Hôtel Genovese, Bonifacio

A small four-star hotel of 15 rooms in Bonifacio’s citadel, with a pool terrace overlooking the harbour and old town. The spa occupies a former Genoese cistern in the basement, with heated pools, a sauna and a hammam. The harbour is a short walk downhill; ask the hotel about its season.

Best for: couples who want to walk to the boat and dine in the old town.

Check rates at Hôtel Genovese

U Capu Biancu, Bonifacio

A four-star hotel of around 40 rooms beside Canetto beach, overlooking the Golfe de Santa Manza, east of town. It has three beaches below the hotel, an infinity pool, a spa and a private boat pontoon, which makes Lavezzi pick ups easy. The tourist board lists it as open from 1 May to 25 October.

Best for: beach days with the boat leaving from your doorstep.

Check rates at U Capu Biancu

Hôtel & Spa des Pêcheurs, Cavallo

The only way to wake up next to the Lavezzi: a 50-room hotel on the private island of Cavallo, with a white sand beach, a thalassotherapy pool and two restaurants. Figari airport is about 25 km away; ask the hotel how boat transfers work. Closed from October to May.

Best for: privacy and the shortest possible hop to the reserve.

Check rates at Hôtel & Spa des Pêcheurs

Casadelmar, Porto-Vecchio

A five-star hotel of 34 rooms on the Palombaggia road, on the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, with a private beach and a restaurant holding two Michelin stars. The marina is a short drive away; ask the hotel for transfer times. Our research turned up contradictory information on the season: one source gives late April to early October, another runs to the end of October, so confirm opening dates with the hotel.

Best for: fine dining after a day around the Cerbicale and Santa Giulia.

Check rates at Casadelmar

Grand Hôtel de Cala Rossa, Lecci

A five-star hotel of 39 rooms in a quiet cove on the Gulf of Porto-Vecchio, facing the town, with its own sandy beach, the Spa Nucca and a traditional boat that takes guests to secluded coves. Ask the hotel for the transfer time to Porto-Vecchio’s marina. Open from 7 May to 25 October.

Best for: a beach resort base with boat days built in.

Check rates at Grand Hôtel de Cala Rossa

If you prefer to start on the Italian side, our Italy yacht charter hub covers every region, and Yacht, Wine and Golf in Sardinia pairs boat days with Gallura’s vineyards and courses. For the other side of Corsica, see Calvi and Scandola by boat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you land on the Lavezzi Islands?

Yes, at set points such as Lavezzu, where you must stay on marked paths. Four zones around the islands are closed to boats.

Is there a fee to visit the reserve by boat?

We found no entry fee for private boats. Harbour berths and mooring buoys are charged, and an Italian extension may need park permits; check with your skipper.

Do I need a licence to rent a boat in Bonifacio?

For motor boats over 6 hp (4.5 kW), yes: a French boating licence or an accepted equivalent. Sailing yachts need no licence.

How far is Sardinia from Bonifacio?

The Strait is around 11 km wide at its narrowest. Ferries to Santa Teresa Gallura take about an hour, and a private boat can cross in a morning when the wind allows.