7 Day Itinerary - From Calvi to Bonifacio

Itinerary suggestion

Day 1: Arrive at Calvi

Because of Corsica's strategic location, Calvi has a rich and chequered history. The earliest found remains of settlers in Calvi date back to the Neolithic period, in one of its many caves.
The majestic citadel, which stands guard over the town and the luxury yacht-filled harbour, is well worth the climb through twisting cobbled lanes. it is just a couple of minutes stroll to the wonderful beach of L’Ile Rousse where the water is the clearest you could hope to find anywhere.
First night on board.

Day 2: 24 miles Heading to Girolata

We start our sailing itinerary for Corsica in Calvi, and we will head south. While navigating we can see the Scandola Nature Reserve, a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is a unique place of ocher cliffs crowned with vegetation. We will finish the day at Girolata, a small fishermen town, unique since it is the only one accessible just from the sea, without any roads.

Day 3: 17 miles From Girolata to Cargèse

We keep going south and after surpassing the Gulf of Porto we will find the Cala di Palu, with sheltered and calm waters ideal for a bath. We will continue to stay the night in Cargèse, where you can visit its churches and stroll through its streets and go shopping in the market.

Day 4: 26 miles Departure to the Ajaccio

We will head to the capital of Corsica, Ajaccio. A little less than halfway, the Gulf of Sagone is ideal for spend time enjoying the beaches.

Shortly before arriving to Ajaccio on our sailing itinerary for Corsica, we will surpass the archipelago of Sanguinaires. Sang is the French for ‘Blood’ and some say that it is named after the reddish color of the rocks at sunset, or after the vegetation that gives it its characteristic color.

Day 5: 0 miles or 23 miles Ajaccio

Time to enjoy Ajaccio, the city that gave birth to Napoleon Bonaparte. If we like, we can disembark and enjoy the Corsican capital. This is the ideal day place go to into mainland and savor the Corsican cuisine, which include lunchmeat, cheeses and chestnuts. Do not miss one of the lush wild boar stews we suggest. Or if you like, you can sail a few miles to relax in sunny beaches.

Day 6: 25 miles Heading to Propriano

We keep going south to Propriano. This city is one of the most exclusive in the island and it is quite crowded during vacation months. And it makes perfect sense thanks to its admirable architecture and excellent beaches where sunbathing, swimming or diving.

Day 7: 32 miles Heading to Bonifacio

A day to admire the natural beauty of the island, essential in a sailing itinerary for Corsica. On our way we will find impressive cliffs, crowned by vegetation, lighthouses and small towns. The most special moment of the day will be the arrival to Bonifacio, a defiant city watching us from the top of the rocks

The last day can be a day to enjoy the city of Bonifacio, which offers fortifications, palaces and other historical wealth and prepare to disembark on Saturday, yes, this is the end of this wonderful sailing cruise!

Sailing in South Corsica

General information

French Corsica, including Elba and the Bonifacio straits, offers excellent cruising. The west coast includes some of the most dramatic scenery of the Mediterranean. Add hundreds of coves with brilliant white beaches, many islets, little intrusive development, plenty of anchorages, good marinas, attractive old town centres, and you'll need much more than four weeks for a thorough exploration. Or allow two weeks to circumnavigate visiting just the highlights.

Westerly winds through the Bonifacio straits, channelled between Corsica and Sardinia, often reach F7. This area is a popular cruising ground, sharing the extensive Maddalena and Lavezzi Archipelagos, together with a host of local anchorages on the main island coastlines.

South Corsica enjoys a Mediterranean climate which is hot and dry in summer, with air temperatures up to 36° C and water temperatures up to 25° C. In winter, weather is mild and rainy. Spring and the beginning of the autumn season are ideal times for a cruise around South Corsica as temperatures are pleasant, the landscape is beautiful and there are less people in the ports and anchorages. South Corsica has different weather systems between the east and west coasts. The west coast is more exposed and therefore windier. The prevailing wind is a westerly thermal breeze blowing at force of 3 to 5 on the Beaufort scale. It comes up in the morning and dies in the evening.

In the Strait of Bonifacio, conditions are specific with winds sometimes blowing in opposite directions and strongly, due to the bottleneck effect. In this area, you will find many places to take shelter.

If you decide to cruise around South Corsica in July or August, it’s probably best to favour anchorages to ports as they can often be packed and more expensive than in the low or mid season.

Climate on Corsica, various micro-climates create a wide variety of temperatures and precipitation. The main mountain range divides the island roughly in half. As a general rule the north is hotter than the south. Summers are long, stretching from May until October.

In the western Mediterranean the tide range is very small, rising/falling by just 30 cm to 60 cm (one to two feet).