Boat vacations in Sardinia: rent your boat and explore the island

Discovering Sardinia by boat is one of the best choices you could make. The island is made up of around 1850km of wild coastline, so different from point to point that it doesn’t seem to be the same territory. Narrow and hidden coves, high sand dunes, stacks shaped by the wind, white granite rocks, and small islands: all in a sailing holiday in Sardinia.

The main tourist ports in Sardinia from north to south

Sardinia is easily navigable thanks to the presence of many tourist ports, some large and well stocked, others smaller and more modest.

Starting from northern Sardinia, the main tourist ports not to be missed are the port of Saint Teresa of Gallura, one of the most modern and efficient on the island. It is nestled in the Bocche di Bonifacio, a few minutes by boat from the Costa Smeralda, La Maddalena, and the southern islands of Corsica. Moving east is the port of Palau, a docking point for those visiting the island of La Maddalena and Porto Massimo, in the heart of the island of La Maddalena. Even further east, we find the unmissable ports of the Costa Smeralda: the Marina of Cannigione, Baja Sardinia, and Porto Cervo. The latter is undoubtedly the most popular and famous in the area. Favorite destination of the international jet-set, it is considered the ideal berth for the most spectacular yachts from all over the world, which also become a tourist attraction worthy of respect.

If instead, you are interested in the east coast of the island, a good route could be the one that passes through the tourist ports of Olbia and the island of Tavolara, continuing in the waters of Ogliastra, stopping at the tourist ports of Siniscola, Orosei, Cala Gonone up to the port of Santa Maria Navarrese. Continuing downwards, the main ports you will come across are Arbatax, Porto Corallo, and Costa Rei up to Villasimius where you can admire the breathtaking beauty of the protected marine area of Capo Carbonara.

Southern Sardinia is also rich in territories to be discovered by boat. The main marinas in this area are Cagliari, Pula, Teulada, and Portoscuso, the main docking port for those visiting the nearby island of San Pietro. Speaking of Islands, do not miss the port of Sant’Antioco and Carloforte.

If, on the other hand, you are attracted by the charm of the wild coast, the ports of the west coast are the ones for you. Going up, you will find yourself in front of the breathtaking landscapes of the Costa Verde. Here, starting from the port of Portoscuso, and passing through Buggerru, you arrive at the tourist port of Torregrande at Oristano. In fact, in this area only by boat, it is possible to admire some of the beauties of the Sinis marine area, including the famous island of Mal di Ventre. Continuing to sail upwards, a visit to Bosa is a must, as Alghero and Stintino. Finally, the obligatory continuation is the island of Asinara to then conclude the circumnavigation of the island at the port of Castelsardo and Badesi with a visit to Isola Rossa.

Because Sardinia is perfect for a holiday and boat excursions

Sardinia is the perfect destination for a holiday or just for boat trips. Experiencing the beauty of the sea “from the sea” is one of the most beautiful experiences in the world, especially when this is the most envied in Italy. Turquoise and clear water, fish, marine flora, and beaches with such different shapes that they never look the same. If the sea is not enough for you, Sardinia is full of islands and protected marine areas to be explored and which can hardly be reached by land. Furthermore, being rich in gulfs, the island allows for often peaceful navigation in sheltered waters which also allows the discovery of wonderful coves throughout the territory.

Not to mention the towns that host the numerous marinas scattered throughout the territory. They are splendid villages where it is very easy to discover all the Sardinian traditions, from the historical-cultural heritage to the food and wine. In short, even by boat, it is impossible to get bored in Sardinia.

Between an active holiday and total relaxation: why live an experience on a boat

If you are still hesitant, here I want to list 5 reasons why you should choose to experience a boat at least once in your life:

Do you know the stress of a crowded and noisy beach? Well, by boat, this will be just a distant memory even on August 15th. Just take off and get away from the chaos, enjoying the silence of the sea and the crystalline waters of the island.
The boat allows a total immersion in nature. If your ideal is an active vacation dedicated to the sport, you will love snorkeling and diving in the middle of the sea to discover the seabed and animal and plant species impossible to find on the shore. Not to mention the many excursions to do by canoe or kayak to wonderful coves and cliffs that cannot be reached by land. There is never a shortage of activities to do on the boat too!
Are you more of a relaxation and privacy type? During a boat holiday, the only scheduled times will be those chosen by you. You will be the one to choose whether to visit a place or whether to lie down on the boat accompanied by a good book and the slight rocking of the waves.
Thanks to a sailing holiday, you will wake up every day in a different place, thus making the holiday seem even more beautiful and varied. Try to imagine the sensation of waking up one day on a remote and uninhabited island and another day amid luxury and the international jet set. By boat, this is possible!
And what about the possibility of detachment from the world? a boat trip can allow a full connection with oneself, away from the issues that worry us every day. For example, you could decide to spend your holidays in an area where the phone is out of line to embark on a digital detox holiday immersed in a paradisiacal landscape. But you could still discover a new passion linked to the slow passing of time, traveling, and resting.

Yacht charter or sailboat, which is better to rent?

Choosing between a yacht charter and a sailboat is personal. In general, stability, performance, and cost are taken into account to make the best choice. From the point of view of stability, yachts and catamarans are certainly more stable than sailboats; as far as performance is concerned, the sailboat is sportier and, on windy days, reaches high speeds. The cost, on the other hand, depends on many variables, such as size and look.

In Sardinia, if you have a boat license, you can choose to rent the boat you prefer. Be a spacious catamaran with an exclusive yacht or, if you want more direct contact with the sea and have fun with the wind, the sailboat. If, on the other hand, you don’t have a boat license, most of the boats allow you to rent them with the accompaniment of expert skippers, in which case you just need to get on board and enjoy the beauty of the area.

Experiencing Sardinia from the sea is an unforgettable experience! There is no better formula than others but just choose the one that best suits your needs.

Hidden coves where you can only arrive by sea

One of the advantages of discovering the island by boat is precisely that of being able to see coves and beaches unknown to most, in which to spend an afternoon in total relaxation and away from the crowds. Among these we highlight:

Bue Marino cliff. To Carloforte, on the eastern side, this cliff opens into numerous caves submerged at sea level, and one opens in the shape of an arch. Reachable only by boat, the cliff gives its visitors an indelible memory over time.
Cala Isola dei Porri. This charming little beach is located in the municipality of Stintino, right at the Isola dei Porri. The beach is characterized by large grain sand and rocks and an extremely clear sea with a mainly rocky bottom. From here, admiring the small Isola dei Porri is a magnificent experience.
Cala Granara. This beach is located in the south of the island of Spargi. Characterized by white sand and crystal clear sea, the uniqueness of this beach is given by the strange shape assumed by the rocks present, probably due to the modeling by atmospheric agents.
Cuccureddu beach. It is found at Villasimius, one of the most famous places in southern Sardinia. This beautiful beach is characterized by fine white sand bordered by two small cliffs. The sea is made up of shades ranging from green to turquoise, and the panorama all around is that characteristic of the Mediterranean scrub. Due to the privatization of the surrounding land, the beach is only accessible by sea, so despite being in one of the busiest towns in Sardinia, it remains a hidden and isolated jewel.
Cala dei Pastori. This small beach is located on the island of Mal di Ventre, in the municipality of Cabras. If you are a diving enthusiast, here you can discover an infinite number of fish, mollusks, and crustaceans. Last but not least, it could happen to swim in the company of some dolphins. Also here, at a depth of about 20 meters, is the wreck of a small steamship, of which, however, there is no certain information about the date and cause of the sinking.