Sanguinaires Islands and Gulf Boat Tour from Ajaccio

Ajaccio harbour and the Gulf of Ajaccio

Ajaccio, the capital of Corsica, curves around one of the largest and most sheltered bays on the island's west coast, with mountains rising behind the town and snow on the highest peaks until late spring. The cruise leaves from Quai Napoléon in the old harbour, right beside the citadel and the pastel facades of the old town, so the first minutes on board give you the classic view of Ajaccio from the water.

As the boat heads west, the gulf opens up: Porticcio and its beaches on the south shore, the long ridge of the Punta di a Parata on the north side and the open Mediterranean beyond. An Ajaccio boat trip is the easiest way to understand the shape of the bay, and on calm afternoons the water turns deep blue over sandy coves before the boat reaches the islands.

The Route des Sanguinaires coast

The northern shore of the gulf is followed by the Route des Sanguinaires, a coast road of about 12 kilometres that links Ajaccio to Parata Point. From the sea you see it as a string of small sandy beaches, rocky inlets, villas hidden among the maquis and the white Chapelle des Grecs, a small chapel above the shore built for the Greek community that settled in Corsica in the 18th century.

Many visitors drive this road for the sunset, but seeing it from the water shows how wild the coast becomes as you leave the town behind. The boat stays close enough to pick out the beaches of Scudo and Vignola, favourite swimming spots for local families, while the commentary on board explains the history of the coast and its Genoese defences.

Parata Point and the Genoese tower

At the western tip of the gulf, Parata Point rises as a rocky headland crowned by a round Genoese tower, built in the 16th century to watch for pirate raids and send warnings along the coast. The headland and the islands form a protected natural site, covered with low maquis that blooms in spring and buzzing with seabirds above the cliffs.

From the boat you see the tower from below, standing above sheer granite slopes that glow red in the afternoon light. Visitors who come by land must walk up a path from the car park, so this view from the sea is a real bonus of the Parata Point tour by boat. The passage between the headland and the first islet is often livelier, with the open sea meeting the gulf.

The Sanguinaires archipelago

The Sanguinaires are a small chain of islets stretching out to sea from Parata Point, made of dark red granite that turns blood-red when the sun goes down, which is one explanation for their name. They are uninhabited and protected for their nesting seabirds and rare coastal plants, and the only way to reach them is by boat, which answers the question of how to get to the Sanguinaires islands.

The boat circles the islets so you can see their rocky coves, sea caves and the lighthouse on the largest island from several angles. The water around them is exceptionally clear, with rocks and posidonia meadows visible from the deck. It is one of the most photographed landscapes in Corsica and the reason this Sanguinaires islands boat tour is a favourite half-day trip from Ajaccio.

Swimming and walking on Mezzu Mare

Mezzu Mare, the largest of the islands, is the only stop ashore. You have about an hour to swim from the rocks in clear, cool water, snorkel along the shore with your own mask, or walk up the path towards the lighthouse and the old Genoese watchtower for wide views back over the gulf to Ajaccio and the mountains.

The shore is rocky rather than sandy, so water shoes are strongly recommended, and a towel is useful as none is provided. Is Mezzu Mare worth visiting? For most guests the swim here is the best part of the trip, especially from June to September when the sea is warm. After the stop the boat cruises back across the gulf, arriving in Ajaccio about 3 hours after departure.