Sardinia by yacht: the Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena
Granite, white sand and clear, shallow water, with short hops between the La Maddalena islands and Porto Cervo for the evenings. June and September are the best months. It suits families most, and couples outside high summer.
Of Italy's charter coasts, this is the easy choice for families. North-east Sardinia is granite rocks, white sand and very clear, shallow water. The Costa Smeralda gives the week its evenings, in Porto Cervo and the bays around it. The La Maddalena archipelago gives it the days: short hops between islands, beaches and swimming stops. Corsica's Bonifacio is just across the strait.
Why go, and whom it suits
Families
This is one of the best places in Italy for them. The bays are sandy and shallow, the distances short, and there's plenty to do from the yacht: paddleboards, snorkelling and beaches.
Friends and celebrations
Porto Cervo in July and August is lively and very social, with beach clubs on the coast.
Couples and honeymoons
The La Maddalena islands in June or September are quiet and beautiful. So are the coves of Caprera.
Less good for: anyone wanting old towns every evening (Bonifacio is the exception; the Amalfi Coast and the Italian Riviera have more of them), or a calm week whatever the weather. When the mistral blows, the strait can be rough for a day or two.
What's there
Olbia and Porto Rotondo
The airport and the usual start. Porto Rotondo is a smaller harbour just north.
The Costa Smeralda
Porto Cervo, Cala di Volpe, the Capriccioli and Liscia Ruja beaches, and Romazzino. Busy and polished in high summer.
The La Maddalena archipelago
A national park of seven main islands, among them La Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria. Budelli's pink beach is under integral protection: the beach is closed, swimming, sailing, anchoring and mooring in front of it are forbidden, and the park has a walkway from which to see it. To navigate, moor or anchor within 300 metres of the islands' coasts, a yacht needs the park's ticket, priced by length.
Caprera
Joined to La Maddalena by a causeway. Pine woods, coves and Garibaldi's house.
Bonifacio (Corsica)
The white cliffs and the old town on top, across the strait. Both shores are in the EU and the Schengen area, which has no checks at its internal borders.
Tavolara
A limestone island south of Olbia, inside the Tavolara – Punta Coda Cavallo marine protected area, which has its own rules for boats.
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When to go
June and September: the best months. The sea is warm, and the anchorages and Porto Cervo are calmer.
July and August: hot, full and expensive, with Porto Cervo at its busiest around mid-August.
May and October: quieter, the sea cooler.
This north-westerly can blow for one to three days, strongest in the Strait of Bonifacio. The captain then keeps to the sheltered side.
Cost
The charter fee is each yacht's own weekly rate, shown "from" on her page.
- VAT is added at Italy's standard rate, 22%, and the charter contract states the VAT charged on your charter.
- APA: budget up to 40% of the charter fee; whatever is not spent is returned to you.
- Berths: Porto Cervo is expensive in high summer, and it comes out of the APA.
- The park: navigating, mooring or anchoring near the La Maddalena islands needs the park's ticket, priced by the yacht's length.
For the whole picture, see what a crewed charter costs, line by line.
A sample week
- Day 1 — Olbia or Porto Rotondo. Board, and take a short run up the coast to an evening anchorage off Capriccioli.
- Day 2 — The Costa Smeralda. Swim at Liscia Ruja, lunch on board in Cala di Volpe, and Porto Cervo in the evening.
- Day 3 — La Maddalena. Into the archipelago: Spargi's beaches, and Budelli and Santa Maria seen from the water.
- Day 4 — Caprera. Coves on the east side, a walk in the pines, and dinner in La Maddalena town.
- Day 5 — Bonifacio. Cross the strait to Corsica: the cliffs from the sea, then the old town at night.
- Day 6 — Lavezzi, then south. A morning swim at the Lavezzi islands, then back across to Sardinia and down the coast to Tavolara.
- Day 7 — Olbia. A short run in to disembark. The airport is close.
The yacht and the weather decide the real route. In a mistral, the Corsica day moves or drops out.
The yachts
Most of the yachts we show in Italy are mid-size and large motor yachts; a few are sailing yachts and catamarans. Many of them also cruise France, which suits a Sardinia-and-Corsica week.
The yachts on this site are a selection, not the limit of what we arrange: ask about any yacht, of any size.
Practical questions
Rene GaspersicYour broker
Where does the charter start?
Olbia, Porto Rotondo or Porto Cervo, all close to Olbia airport.
Can we go to Corsica during the week?
Yes. Bonifacio and the Lavezzi islands are an easy day across the strait, weather allowing.
Is it good for small children?
Very. There are sandy beaches and shallow, calm bays, and the hops are short.
Can we land on the pink beach at Budelli?
No. The beach is closed, and swimming, sailing, anchoring and mooring in front of it are forbidden. The park has a walkway from which to see it.
Are there park rules in La Maddalena?
Yes. Within 300 metres of the islands' coasts, navigating, mooring and anchoring need the park's ticket, priced by length. The captain handles it.
Is Porto Cervo very busy in August?
Yes, and berths are expensive. Many yachts anchor nearby instead.
What if the mistral blows?
The captain keeps you on the sheltered side of the islands, and the plan changes for a day or two.
Do we need fixed dates to enquire?
No. A month or a season is enough to start.
Talk to a broker
Tell us roughly when, how many of you there are, and what the week is for: a family summer, a honeymoon, a birthday with friends. Dates and budget can stay loose. We come back with a short list of yachts that fit, say plainly what each one is like, and stay your contact from the first email to the last day on board.
Rene Gaspersic
charter broker
Email info@soretoyachting.com · Phone +44 7342 933198 · WhatsApp +44 7342 933198
What a week costs here
Every quote shows the three lines in full, before you decide.
The weekly rate on each yacht’s page. "From" is her lowest season.
An advance for fuel, food, drinks and berths, spent on your instructions and settled at the end.
Set by the country the charter starts in, added to the fee.
Plan
Sardinia by yacht: the Costa Smeralda and La Maddalena.
Two short steps. Dates and budget can stay loose. We reply personally, by email, phone or WhatsApp.