Add dates

Ajaccio National parks

Our most recommended Ajaccio National parks

Ajaccio or Porticcio: Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour

1. Ajaccio or Porticcio: Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour

Set sail from Ajaccio or Porticcio on a full-day boat tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Scandola Nature Reserve and the Gulf of Porto. Experience one of the last Mediterranean enclaves to provide shelter for endemic flora and birdlife. Stop in the coastal village of Girolata and explore the secluded village for 2 hours. Find a nice restaurant for lunch or enjoy a picnic on the beach. In the winter, the village becomes a virtual backwater with only about 15 residents. Then, venture into the Calanche de Piana to discover an outstanding landscape of pink granite rocks shaped over the centuries by changes in temperature, strong winds, and sea spray. Explore the geological diversity and unique location of the rocks that give a particular aspect to the area.

From Ajaccio: Scandola Reserve Boat Tour with Girolata Visit

2. From Ajaccio: Scandola Reserve Boat Tour with Girolata Visit

Discover the most beautiful landscapes of western Corsica: Calanques de Piana, Capo Rosso, Girolata, and to finish in style: the visit of the sublime Scandola Nature Reserve. On this almost inaccessible peninsula, the rocks forged by water and wind have taken on intriguing, almost supernatural shapes, reinforced by the red tone of the cliffs. Your sea trip begins in Ajaccio accompanied by your captain. Well settled in your boat, enjoy the sumptuous landscapes during this boat tour punctuated by the comments of your captain. History of the region, anecdotes, legends and other explanations on the surrounding flora and fauna as well as on the geology. Discover the highlights of western Corsica by going first to the famous Calanques de Piana, a place listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site The Scandola Nature Reserve is home to many species of protected plants and birds such as golden eagles, peregrine falcons and the iconic osprey. It's hard to resist the urge to discover this wild and unspoiled nature, aspiring to rock structures in the caldera, a remnant of very old volcanic eruptions or undulating under pure, crystalline water. The Scandola reserve is a natural marvel both maritime and land listed, of course, in the heritage of Unesco. Here, nature has dictated its law, giving the rocks their specific shape and letting the flora flourish freely. The fauna is not left out in the Scandola reserve. As ospreys spread their wings in search of their next prey, gulls squirm and squawk. At sea, groupers, red mullets, and other moray eels form an incessant ballet, an intriguing and captivating spectacle that your skipper will be delighted to introduce you to. Your sea trip to visit the Scandola Reserve by boat and the must-see places in western Corsica Embark on board and head to Scandola for a magical ride. Your Captain will share with you his love for Corsica and the nature reserve of Scandola, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From Ajaccio: Lavezzi Islands & Bonifacio Caves Boat Tour

3. From Ajaccio: Lavezzi Islands & Bonifacio Caves Boat Tour

Venture beyond Ajaccio to the Lavezzi Islands archipelago and historic Bonifacio on a full-day tour, including boat transportation and a local guide. Explore the lagoons of the Lavezzi islands, marvel at the caves and steep cliffs of Bouches de Bonifacio, and wander the beaches of Plage de Tivella. Begin your tour with a boat ride from Ajaccio to the Lavezzi Islands archipelago, a collection of granite islands known for their rugged terrain, aquamarine waters, coral reefs, and numerous lagoons. Continue your tour to the Bonifacio to explore the 9th-century city or relax with a long lunch. While in Bonifacio, visit a medieval clifftop citadel or visit the Bastion de L'Etendard museum or L’Escalier du Roi d’Aragon, a 187-step staircase carved into the cliff. Continue to Bonifacio National Park to hike, explore caves, or swim at the Plage de Tivella before heading back to Ajaccio.

Ajaccio: Guided Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour

4. Ajaccio: Guided Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour

Board a semi-rigid speed boat piloted by a qualified captain to explore the west coast of Corsica. Discover the Scandola Nature Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site, with a wide variety of sea and land animals and plant life. Start your tour from Gargalo Island and head to the reserve for your first swimming stop. Swim through the turquoise waters while your captain prepares an aperitif with a tasting of charcuterie and rosé wine. At noon, enjoy lunch in Girolata, an 18th-century fishing village built around a fort only accessible by sea. Have your skippers make a reservation at a restaurant for you or bring your own picnic to enjoy on the beach with wild cows roaming about. At 2 PM, enjoy another swim at Anse Ficaghjola. Dive into the Capo Rosso natural pool in the Calanques de Piana surrounded by fish. Take a last swim in the Anse de Cala di Pala and jump from natural diving boards at different heights before returning.

Ajaccio: Full-Day Corsica West Coast Guided Boat Tour

5. Ajaccio: Full-Day Corsica West Coast Guided Boat Tour

Come and discover all the most beautiful sites in Corsica with our sea trips departing from Ajaccio and Porticcio. Make your excursion a dream and an adventure you will never forget... Come and thrill aboard our speedboat type fast semi-rigid boats piloted by qualified and passionate captains to discover all the wonders abounding on the west coast of the Corsica, paradise on earth exists! You will reach in just one hour guaranteed sensations, the emblematic site of Corsica, the Scandola Nature Reserve, classified as a Unesco World Heritage Site, which will offer you a breathtaking spectacle thanks to its exceptional maritime and terrestrial fauna and flora. The visit will start from the island of Gargalo and will continue by the fault of the cathedral, the fault of the monk seals... a total visit of the reserve and a swimming stop in turquoise waters we will arrive at Girolata, a small fishing village built around an 18th century fort accessible only by sea. A 20-minute free stop to explore with the mythical wild cows living in the village as neighbors. We will take to the sea again towards the Gulf of Porto for another swimming stop at the cove of Ficaghjola, a small village with a heavenly beach. We will straddle our seats for a sensational ride to the Calanques de Piana, a geological jewel with its majestic cliffs and caves that we will explore one after the other until the natural pool of Capo Rosso where you can dive into its crystal clear waters surrounded by of fish under the supervision of the Genoese Turghju tower culminating at 330 meters. And a last swimming stop in the cove of Cala di Pala where you can dive from natural diving boards at different heights for the bravest. We will continue this fantastic ride to the mystical Sanguinaires Islands to admire the most beautiful sunset, we will land on one of them called Mezzu Mare or Grande Sanguinaire where you can visit the lighthouse dating from 1870 on foot 80 meters above the sea with a breathtaking 360 degree view where you can enjoy a swimming break. On your return, our captains will have prepared a “nustrale” aperitif for you, tasting charcuterie and rosé wine from our terroirs under the benevolent eye of the sun which is slowly beginning its descent into the Mediterranean Sea. We get back in our carriages to the sound of Corsican polyphonies that will make your body vibrate with great emotion and there before our eyes this marvelous spectacle, unique every evening, the Mythical sunset. And here we go again for 30 minutes at high speed, criss-crossing the sea, zigzagging to make you experience these magical moments of freedom, leaving you with stars in your eyes and an unforgettable memory so that the dream may continue to see you again for more. new adventures...

Frequently asked questions about Ajaccio

What top attractions are a must-see in Ajaccio?

The must-see attractions in Ajaccio are:

Other Sightseeing Options in Ajaccio

Want to discover all there is to do in Ajaccio? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Ajaccio

A day trip at sea during which we approached the protected and magnificent sites of Scandola and the creeks of Piana, with a 2-hour stopover in Girolata where we ate very well (the gourmet coffee kept its promise) at the restaurant "Le Good Hope" (reservation recommended). The boat staff is friendly and humorous when commenting. We wholeheartedly recommend this excursion taken in Sept 2022. However, the return trip may seem a bit long for those with motion sickness. Although the weather was very nice (27°), a "wind break" is appreciable at the start in the morning.

Impressive tour through the nature reserve! Our guide was very personable and the musical accompaniment was perfectly coordinated... we personally found the stop in the village of Girolata to be 2 hours too long, especially since the village seemed very touristy and neglected - but overall it was definitely a great, recommendable excursion!

Superb excursions, we discovered things that we would never have seen if we had not taken this top-of-the-range boat, magnificent boat, power, comfort, and a very nice pilot, The plus: small aperitif on board, swimming in creeks with crystal clear waters. Thank you Baptist......

It was an amazing experience. Right from pick up to dune bashing belly dancing and almost everything else in the activity. Good job by the entire team. Keep it up.

Very nice ride made out of season, very nice crew, many interesting comments, lots of humor.