From Santa Teresa Gallura: La Maddalena Full-Day Boat Tour

The best part of this day is simple: you reach beaches and coves that are difficult to visit from land, then spend time in the clear water instead of rushing from one viewpoint to another. The route covers Santa Maria, Spargi, La Maddalena town, and a close view of the famous Pink Beach.

I like the two long swim stops, about 1.5 hours each, and the fact that lunch is cooked onboard rather than handed out from a packet. The main thing to consider is the size of the boat. In July and August, popular beaches can feel crowded, and some departures have had more people than available seats.

Key points

• Two beach stops: Swim from walkways at Santa Maria and Spargi, with about 1.5 hours at each.
• Seafood pasta onboard: Lunch includes pennette ai frutti di mare, or plain pasta with oil and Parmesan.
• La Maddalena town visit: You get roughly one hour to walk near the harbor, have a coffee, or grab an ice cream.
• Pink Beach viewing: Budelli’s famous pink shoreline is closed to visitors, but you can see it from the boat.
• Large motorboats: The Consorzio delle Bocche operates three boats, each with toilets and a front walkway to the beaches.
• Extra cash required: Bring €5 in June, July, or August, or €2.50 in May, September, or October, for the municipal landing fee.

What This Boat Day Actually Covers

This is an eight-hour group cruise from Santa Teresa Gallura into the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park. The protected marine area covers about 20,000 hectares and includes seven main islands: La Maddalena, Caprera, Budelli, Santo Stefano, Santa Maria, Spargi, and Razzoli.

You are not trying to see every island in one day. Instead, the boat gives you a well-paced sample: two beach stops, a short town visit, scenic cruising, and a meal at sea. For a first look at northern Sardinia, that mix works well.

The boats are motorboats operated by Soc. Coop. Consorzio delle Bocche. Three boats serve the route, so the exact boat and seating arrangement can vary. All have restrooms, and the beach stops use walkways leading from the boat to shore.

That last point matters. You do not swim from the boat to reach the beaches, and jumping from the boat is not permitted. If you want a proper shore stop, this is convenient. If you hoped to leap straight into the sea from the upper deck, this is not that kind of excursion.

The 8:00 AM Check-In at Santa Teresa Port

Plan to reach the meeting point between 8:00 and 8:15 AM, and allow a full hour before departure for check-in. The desk is near the Coast Guard office and Café La Marina bar.

Bring cash before you arrive. The municipality’s landing fee is separate from the tour price and must be paid at check-in. It costs €5 per person in June, July, and August, and €2.50 in May, September, and October. Credit cards are not accepted for this fee.

Online booking does not give you priority in the check-in line. Everyone with a reservation waits in the same process, so arriving early still makes sense. If your party includes friends or several families, make one reservation if you want to stay together on the same boat. Separate bookings do not guarantee that.

Parking is about 200 meters from the boats. You can pay with coins or a credit card, or use the EasyPark app. The parking meter does not accept banknotes, a small detail that can cause a needless morning scramble.

Cruising Toward Santa Maria and Spargi

The boat ride is a major part of the experience, not just transport between stops. As you cross the archipelago, you get wide views of rocky islands, small coves, pale sand, and unusually clear water.

The route is protected by the national park, which is committed to safeguarding both the sea and the islands. That protection helps explain why the water and shorelines look so clean. It also comes with rules, including the restriction against leaving the boat by jumping into the water.

The boats provide multilingual audio service in Italian, English, and French. The recorded information can be hard to hear from inside the boat when the motor is loud, so sit where you can listen clearly if the commentary matters to you. On the other hand, the views do most of the work, and missing a few words will not spoil the day.

Sea conditions can change. Most accounts describe a smooth and pleasant ride, but rough water is possible, and one family found the eight-hour day tiring for children when the sea became choppy. If you are sensitive to motion, take that into account before booking and choose a seat with a good view of the horizon.

Santa Maria: First Swim Stop

Santa Maria is one of the first major rewards of the route. The boat uses a walkway to reach the beach pier, so you can step ashore and head directly to the sand and water.

You have about 1.5 hours here, enough time to swim, sit on the beach, and take in the setting without feeling pushed through a ten-minute photo stop. The water is clear and inviting, which makes this a good place to pack swimwear and a towel rather than treating the day as a sightseeing cruise only.

The drawback is popularity. This is not a private cove reserved for one boat. Several boats may use the same attractive stops, especially in high summer. You can still enjoy the water, but do not expect solitude in July or August.

Bring your own towel and any beach cover you need. Umbrellas and towels are not included, and drinks are also extra. The boat’s bar makes it possible to buy refreshments, but cash is sensible for small purchases.

Lunch is served after the first beach stop. The usual dish is pennette with seafood, which may include items such as prawns or crab. Several people found it surprisingly tasty, and some portions were generous enough for second helpings. Plain pasta with oil and Parmesan is available instead.

The meal is uncomplicated rather than restaurant dining. One account found the seafood pasta excellent, while another found the portion small and the seafood limited. I would treat lunch as a useful included meal, not the main reason to book. If you need snacks between stops, bring them.

Spargi: The Most Scenic Beach Stop

Spargi is often the visual high point of the day. The island is known for attractive coves, pale sand, and bright, transparent water. The boat again reaches the beach by walkway, giving you time to swim and sit on shore instead of viewing it only from the deck.

The scheduled stop lasts about 1.5 hours. That is enough for a real swim and a relaxed stretch on the beach. It can also feel like too much time if the beach is crowded or if you would rather explore La Maddalena town.

Conditions vary by date and sea traffic. Some departures have reached the beach early and enjoyed a better position, while others have found Spargi packed with people and boats. In August, the crowds are part of the bargain for visiting such a famous stretch of coast.

The archipelago can also produce memorable surprises. A stop at one beach included wild boars nearby, which entertained the group, although you should keep your distance and never feed them. This is a natural setting, not a manicured resort beach.

Because the boat docks at the pier, you do not need to swim ashore. That makes the stop workable for people who prefer firm access into the water, though you should still expect a beach day with sand, sun, and limited personal space at busy times.

A Short Walk in La Maddalena Town

The stop in La Maddalena gives the day a welcome change of pace. After hours of sea and beach, you can walk around the historic center, look at the harbor area, and stop for coffee or ice cream.

The official timing is about one hour, but the usable time may feel shorter. You must leave the boat, walk into town, and return before boarding, so an account of 45 minutes in town is realistic in practice. If you want a long meal, serious shopping, or a full museum visit, this is not enough time.

For most people, the stop works best as a brief leg stretch and taste of the island’s town life. Stay near the port, keep an eye on the boarding time, and do not wander too far. The beach stops are the heart of the day, while La Maddalena town is a compact interlude.

Several people wished for more time here and less time at the crowded beach. That is useful to know if you prefer streets, cafés, and local shops to swimming. If town exploration is your priority, a dedicated La Maddalena visit will serve you better.

Seeing the Closed Pink Beach

The boat passes close to Pink Beach on Budelli, one of the park’s best-known symbols. The beach has been closed since 1992, so you cannot walk onto it or swim there.

That restriction is important, not an inconvenience to work around. The unusual pink color and fragile natural setting need protection, and the boat visit lets you see the place without adding foot traffic. The beach became widely known after appearing in Michelangelo Antonioni’s film Red Desert.

Think of this as a scenic viewing stop rather than a beach stop. You will take in the shoreline from the water, photograph it, and continue along the route. It is one of the more distinctive parts of the trip because it shows how the national park balances public access with conservation.

What Lunch, Drinks, and Seating Are Like

The included food is one of the better value points. A hot first course cooked onboard saves you from arranging lunch during a tightly timed day, and seafood pasta fits the setting.

The quality is not perfectly consistent. Some portions have been generous and flavorful, with prawns and crab, while some people found the pasta plain or lacking seafood. If you have a large appetite, bring a snack. Drinks are not included, though they can be bought at the boat bar.

The boats are clean and equipped with toilets, which matters during an eight-hour outing. Seating is the less predictable part. Some departures have had ample room, while one busy summer trip left people without seats for much of the day. The boat is designed for group tours, but high-season capacity can feel close to the limit.

If you care about sitting outside or staying with your group, arrive on time and board promptly. Still, do not expect a private yacht atmosphere. This is a practical shared boat, priced to make a full day in the archipelago accessible.

Is $65 a Good Price?

At $65 per person, the price is strong for an eight-hour excursion that includes round-trip boat transport, passenger liability insurance, multilingual audio service, two beach stops, a La Maddalena town visit, and a cooked lunch.

You should add the landing fee, which raises the real cost by €2.50 or €5, depending on the month. Drinks, towels, and umbrellas cost extra. Even with those additions, the package compares well with arranging separate transport to several islands, especially since the boat handles the route and provides a meal.

The value depends on what you want from the day. I think it is good value if you want to swim at several famous spots and see the archipelago without organizing ferries, beach transfers, or lunch. It is less compelling if you want quiet coves, flexible timing, or a private boat.

May, September, and October may offer a more comfortable balance of scenery and crowd levels, though the tour runs during the stated operating period and conditions can vary. In July and August, book with realistic expectations: beautiful water, full beaches, and a busy boat.

Who Will Enjoy This Most?

This trip suits you if you want a simple full-day introduction to La Maddalena National Park. Families, couples, and groups of friends can all use it as an easy way to combine swimming, scenery, and a small amount of town time.

It is also a good choice for people staying in Santa Teresa Gallura who do not want to rent a boat or plan several ferry connections. The front walkways make beach access straightforward, and onboard toilets remove one common worry on a long day.

You may want another option if you need silence, private space, or extensive time on land. Children may find eight hours long, especially in rough water. Small pets are allowed onboard except in August, but pets cannot go onto the beaches at any time.

Pack sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, cash, and snacks if you prefer more than the included pasta. The crew speaks Italian, English, and French, and the audio service covers those languages, though engine noise can affect how well you hear it from inside.

Should You Book This La Maddalena Tour?

Book it if your Sardinia plans include one day for clear water, famous beaches, and easy island sightseeing. The two long swim stops are the strongest reason to go, while the seafood pasta, clean facilities, and organized route add practical value.

Skip it if your ideal day means a quiet beach with no crowds or a long exploration of La Maddalena town. For everyone else, this is a worthwhile, good-value introduction to the archipelago. Arrive early, bring cash, expect a full boat in summer, and you will be prepared for what the day really offers.

FAQ

Where does the boat tour meet?

Check-in is at the port of Santa Teresa Gallura, near the Coast Guard office and Café La Marina bar.

What time should I arrive?

The meeting window is 8:00 to 8:15 AM, and you should arrive 60 minutes before the activity begins for check-in.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts eight hours and returns to Santa Teresa di Gallura at about 5:00 PM.

Which beaches does the boat visit?

The boat stops at beaches on Santa Maria and Spargi. Each swimming stop lasts about 1.5 hours.

Can I swim directly from the boat?

No. All beach stops are reached by walkways from the boat’s docks, and jumping from the boat is not permitted.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes pennette with seafood cooked onboard, or plain pasta with oil and Parmesan cheese.

Is the landing fee included in the price?

No. The fee must be paid in cash during check-in. It is €5 per person in June, July, and August, and €2.50 in May, September, and October.

Are drinks, towels, and umbrellas included?

No. Drinks, beach umbrellas, and towels are not included. Drinks can be purchased onboard.

Are pets allowed?

Small pets are allowed onboard except in August. Pets are not allowed on the beaches under any circumstances.