Cala Mariolu & Cala Goloritze Dinghy Trip from Cala Gonone Sardinia

Cala Gonone and the Orosei Coast

Cala Gonone is a small seaside village belonging to Dorgali, on the east coast of Sardinia, reached by a road that tunnels through the mountains and then drops steeply to the sea. Behind it rise the limestone peaks of the Supramonte, and to the south stretches the Orosei coast, about 40 km of cliffs, caves and white beaches that can be reached only by boat or on long hiking trails.

That is why a boat trip from Cala Gonone is the classic way to discover this shore. Leaving the harbour, the skipper follows the coastline closely, passing the entrance of the Bue Marino cave, named after the monk seals that once lived there, and towering walls streaked with red and grey. The best time to visit is from late May to September, when the sea is warm and calm in the mornings.

Cala Luna

Cala Luna is a crescent of pale sand at the mouth of a deep canyon, the Codula di Luna, where a small freshwater pond lined with oleanders meets the sea. At the northern end of the beach a row of large caves opens in the cliff, offering natural shade in the heat of the day. Hikers reach it on foot after several hours, but most visitors arrive by boat, as you do on this trip.

When the skipper chooses Cala Luna as one of the beach stops, you have time to swim in the clear shallow water, walk into the caves and look up the green canyon behind the beach. It is one of the largest beaches on the coast, so even in summer you can find a quiet spot for your towel and packed lunch.

Piscine di Venere and Cala Mariolu

Further south the dinghy anchors at the Piscine di Venere, the Pools of Venus, where the sea floor of white pebbles turns the water into vivid shades of turquoise. This is a swim stop straight from the boat, and with the goggles provided you see every stone below you. Nearby lies Cala Mariolu, often named the most beautiful beach of the Orosei coast.

Its Sardinian name means snow fleas, after the tiny white and pink pebbles that cover the shore, and its water is famously intense in colour. Is Cala Mariolu worth visiting? For many travellers it is the highlight of the day, especially for snorkelling around the rocks at each end. Access rules protect the beach, and the skipper decides on the day whether it is one of your three beach stops.

Cala Goloritze

Cala Goloritze marks the southern end of the trip. Protected as a natural monument since 1995, the cove is overlooked by a limestone pinnacle about 143 m high, a famous challenge for climbers, and on its right side the sea has carved a natural arch through the cliff. The small beach of white pebbles can be reached on foot only by a trail of about an hour from the Golgo plateau.

Motorboats may not land on the beach, so the dinghy stops close to the arch for a swim in some of the clearest water in Italy. Your skipper explains how the cove was formed and how its strict protection keeps it pristine. The arch, the pinnacle and the colours of the sea make this the most photographed moment of any Cala Goloritze boat trip.

Cala Sisine, Cala Biriola and the Hidden Coves

Between the famous beaches lie quieter coves that the skipper may choose for a stop depending on the sea and the crowds. Cala Sisine sits at the end of a long green valley, with a beach of sand and pebbles framed by high cliffs and holm oaks. Cala Biriola is a small, intimate cove of white pebbles with a rocky arch at its edge and very clear water.

Along the way the dinghy slips close to sea caves, rock arches and natural viewpoints, with extra swim stops when the water is calm. One beach stop is longer and serves as your lunch break, with umbrellas available on request. The return to Cala Gonone is around 17:00, after a full day on the Orosei coast.