Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritze RIB Boat Tour from Arbatax Sardinia

Arbatax and its red rocks

Arbatax is the small port of the town of Tortolì, in the Ogliastra region on the central east coast of Sardinia. It is best known for its Rocce Rosse, a group of red porphyry rocks rising from the sea right beside the harbour, which make a striking backdrop before you set off. Ferries from mainland Italy also call here, and the coast north of the port leads directly to the southern beaches of the Gulf of Orosei.

For many travellers, an Arbatax boat tour is the quickest way to reach Cala Goloritze and Cala Mariolu, because the boats from Cala Gonone have a much longer way to go. The meeting point is at the port, and there is parking in the area. The tour runs with a minimum of two participants.

Pedra Longa and the Baunei coast

The first hour of navigation follows one of the wildest stretches of coastline in Italy. Soon after leaving Arbatax you pass Pedra Longa, a slender limestone needle more than one hundred metres high that stands at the foot of the mountains of Baunei, a landmark for sailors and climbers. Beyond it the cliffs rise higher, cut by gorges and covered with juniper and holm oak.

The skipper slows down at Baus beach and at the Grotta dei Colombi, a large sea cave where wild pigeons nest, and then passes the narrow inlets of Porto Pedrosu and Porto Cuau, natural harbours once used by fishermen. This Baunei coast boat trip shows rock formations that are impossible to see from land, since there is no road along the shore.

Cala Goloritze and its sea caves

Cala Goloritze is the jewel of the Ogliastra coast. Its beach of white pebbles lies below a pointed limestone pinnacle about 143 metres high, and a natural arch stands at one end of the cove. The beach is protected as a natural monument, and boats are not allowed close to shore, so the RIB stops a short distance away for a swim of around twenty minutes in front of the cove.

Before that, the boat stops for about twenty to thirty minutes in the caves near Cala Goloritze, where the water glows turquoise against the rock and is often deep and very clear. Many people ask whether Cala Goloritze is worth visiting; from the water, with the pinnacle above you and the arch at your side, the answer is easy. The best time to visit is from June to September, in the morning light.

Cala Mariolu

A little further north lies Cala Mariolu, one of the most famous beaches of Sardinia. Its shore is made of tiny white and pink pebbles that look like grains of rice, and the sea in front of it shows every shade from emerald to bright turquoise. Large rocks in the water frame the cove, and the cliffs behind are covered with Mediterranean scrub.

On this Cala Mariolu boat trip the RIB stops offshore for photos, giving you the classic view of the beach from the sea. The cove lies in the territory of Baunei and has no road access; reaching it on foot takes a demanding hike, so the boat is by far the easiest way to see it. The skipper adapts the timing to the sea and the number of boats in the area.

The Ogliastra islet and the return to Arbatax

On the way back south the boat stops near the Isolotto di Ogliastra, a small islet of reddish rock off the coast of Santa Maria Navarrese. It is a favourite place for a final swim, with clear water around rocky shallows and views back to the mountains of Baunei. Some say the region took its name from these rocks, which shine red in the afternoon sun.

After the swim the RIB heads back to the port of Arbatax, completing the tour in about three hours. The itinerary, the stops and their length may change with the weather and at the skipper's decision, always to give you the best and safest experience of the day. If you have time after the tour, the beaches of Tortolì and the old centre of Santa Maria Navarrese are close by.