Guided cruise to Cala Goloritzè, Cala Mariolu, Cala Gabbiani, and Biriala

The best part of this cruise is how much of Sardinia’s Gulf of Orosei you see in one day. You move between three famous beaches, sea caves, rocky coves, and swimming spots that are reachable only by boat. The small group, capped at 12 passengers, makes the day feel more personal than a large excursion boat.

I like the long beach stops, roughly 90 minutes each, and the chance to jump straight from the dinghy into the clear water at Cala Goloritzè and the Piscine di Venere. The drawback is simple: there is no food, water, restroom, or snorkeling equipment included, so you must pack carefully. The optional Grotta del Fico visit also costs extra.

Key points to know before booking

• Three beaches with about 90 minutes at each: Cala Gabbiani, Cala Biriala, and Cala Mariolu are not rushed photo stops.
• Small boat, maximum 12 passengers: You get more room and easier access to narrow coves and caves.
• Two open-water swimming stops: Cala Goloritzè and the Piscine di Venere are visited from the dinghy.
• Three departure points: Choose Arbatax, Lotzorai Beach, or Santa Maria Navarrese at 9:00 a.m.
• Grotta del Fico is optional: The guided cave visit takes about 45 minutes and requires a separate ticket.
• Pack your own supplies: Food, drinks, towels, sunscreen, cash, and snorkeling gear are not provided.

A full day along Sardinia’s Gulf of Orosei

This is a boat day built around Sardinia’s eastern coast, not a simple point-to-point transfer. From the first departure at 9:00 a.m. until the return around 5:00 p.m., the rhythm is pleasantly clear: cruise, stop for photographs, swim, spend time on a beach, then cruise again.

The route covers several of the coast’s best-known names, including Cala Goloritzè, Cala Mariolu, Cala Biriala, and Cala Gabbiani. You also pass natural fjords and small caves that can only be reached from the water.

I would choose this trip if you want a broad taste of the coast in one day. It suits you especially well if your ideal holiday includes swimming, sun, photographs, and a little exploring without committing to a long land hike.

The boat carries no more than 12 passengers. That limit matters. A smaller group means less crowding when you board the dinghy, more space for personal gear, and a better chance to ask the skipper about the coastline. The tour is guided in English or Italian, and Francesco is one of the named skippers associated with the experience.

Choosing between Arbatax, Lotzorai, and Santa Maria Navarrese

You can begin at one of three pickup points:

• Arbatax, at the east pier beside the AGIP petrol station
• Lotzorai, at Lido delle Rose beach opposite Camping Iscrixedda
• Santa Maria Navarrese, at the first office on the left on the road down from the port

All departures are scheduled for 9:00 a.m., with return to the same general pickup area at about 5:00 p.m. Check your exact meeting point closely, especially if you are staying inland or moving between towns.

The early start is useful. The trip has several long beach visits, two swimming stops, boat rides, and a possible cave tour. Starting at 9:00 a.m. gives the outing enough time to cover the coast without turning every stop into a quick glance.

Bring only what you need. High heels, bicycles, handcarts, strollers, and baby carriages are not permitted. Electric wheelchairs are also not suitable for this activity.

The first boat ride and the coastal caves

The first speedboat ride lasts about 20 minutes. You then reach an early photo stop before another 20-minute cruise along the coast.

This opening section helps you settle into the day. The main attraction is not a single named beach yet, but the changing shoreline: steep rock, small openings in the cliffs, and sea-level caves that are difficult or impossible to reach overland.

The route includes a short photo and viewing stop with time for swimming, snorkeling, and looking for marine life. The water is the star here. On a clear day, you can see why this stretch of Sardinia is often compared with the Caribbean, though the setting is unmistakably Mediterranean.

Pack a dry bag if you have one. The tour information does not promise storage arrangements, and a boat day naturally brings spray, wet towels, and sandy belongings.

Cala Goloritzè and the Piscine di Venere

Cala Goloritzè is one of the headline stops. The boat pauses near the cove for photographs, swimming, snorkeling, and marine-life viewing, with about 30 minutes scheduled at the site.

The cove is known for its striking natural setting and crystal-clear water. The tour describes Cala Goloritzè as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and it is treated as a scenic swimming stop rather than a long beach stay.

You enter the water from the dinghy, not from a long stretch of sand. That makes the stop feel immediate: step off the boat, swim, look below the surface, and climb back aboard. If you prefer a gentle, unhurried beach day, this is one of the shorter stops. If you like swimming in open water, it is one of the most memorable parts of the route.

The Piscine di Venere provides another 20-minute swimming and photo stop. Like Cala Goloritzè, it is best understood as a clear-water pause from the boat. Bring your own mask and snorkel if you want to look beneath the surface, since a snorkeling kit is not included.

Cala Gabbiani, a proper beach break

After a roughly 15-minute boat ride, you reach Cala Gabbiani. Here you get about 90 minutes for a beach break, photographs, swimming, snorkeling, and time in the water.

This is a useful point in the day because it gives you a longer pause after the shorter Cala Goloritzè stop. You can spread out your towel, swim at your own pace, and stop treating the boat as your only base.

The beach stops are the heart of the experience. You are not simply racing along the coast to collect names. Each long break gives you time to enjoy the setting instead of taking one photograph and climbing back aboard.

There is no meal service on the boat. Plan to bring a packed lunch and enough water for the full eight hours. Drinks and food can be purchased at a bar in Cala Mariolu, but relying on that single opportunity is not wise if you have dietary needs or want refreshments earlier in the day.

The optional Grotta del Fico visit

The route can include Grotta del Fico, a guided cave visit lasting about 45 minutes. Tickets are not included, and the cave visit costs extra.

This option changes the balance of the day. You gain an indoor, geological stop and a guided look at one of the coast’s caves, but you also spend time away from the beach and swimming. If your priority is seeing as many coves as possible, you may prefer to stay with the main boat schedule.

Ask about the cave option before departure so you understand the added cost and how it fits into the day. The tour information includes the cave in the planned route, but also clearly lists its entrance ticket as an extra expense.

Cala Biriala and the second long beach stop

Cala Biriala follows another short speedboat ride of about 15 minutes. The planned stop is around 90 minutes, with time for photographs, swimming, snorkeling, and enjoying the beach.

By this stage, you will have seen several different types of stop: cliffside viewing, a short open-water swim, and a longer sandy break. Cala Biriala gives you another chance to choose your own pace. You can spend the time in the water, sit on the beach, or use the beach as a calm reset before the final major stop.

The repeated beach format is a strength for some people and a weakness for others. I like it because the day is not packed with constant movement. If you want a nonstop sightseeing cruise with a new attraction every few minutes, the 90-minute pauses may feel long.

Use biodegradable sunscreen. The tour specifically asks you to bring it, along with biodegradable insect repellent. Sardinia’s clear water is part of the appeal, so protecting the marine setting is a small but sensible contribution.

Cala Mariolu, the final major beach

Cala Mariolu is the last of the three principal beach stops. You get about 90 minutes for photographs, swimming, snorkeling, and time onshore.

This is also the one stop with a clear food and drink option. A bar at Cala Mariolu lets you buy refreshments, although meals and drinks are still not included in the tour price.

Cala Mariolu is a good place to use any remaining cash. You should also carry cash for the €2 ecological tax, which is not included. The exact collection method is not specified, so keep the money accessible rather than buried in your luggage.

After Cala Mariolu, the final speedboat ride lasts about an hour. That is a substantial stretch on the water, so consider sun protection and comfort. Wear swimwear under your clothes, bring a hat and sunglasses, and keep a towel nearby.

What the $93 price really covers

At $93 per person, the price is reasonable for an eight-hour guided boat day with fuel, a skipper, three long beach stops, two swimming stops, and access to a small group of no more than 12 passengers.

You are paying for the boat time and route coverage, not a catered excursion. Fuel is included, as is the skipper and guided service, but food, drinks, snorkeling gear, the cooler bag, cave tickets, and the ecological tax are extra.

That makes the real cost slightly higher than the advertised fare if you buy cave tickets and refreshments. Still, the value is strong if you want to see several famous coastal sites in one day. Arranging separate boat transport to Cala Goloritzè, Cala Mariolu, Cala Biriala, and Cala Gabbiani would take more planning and might not provide the same compact route.

The price is less attractive if you plan to spend most of the day on one beach or do not enjoy boat travel. The itinerary includes many hours on the water, and the final return ride alone takes about an hour.

What to pack for a comfortable day

The practical packing list is longer than it first appears. Bring:

• Water and drinks
• A packed lunch or other food
• Swimwear and beachwear
• A towel
• Sunglasses and a hat
• Biodegradable sunscreen
• Snorkeling gear
• A camera
• Flip-flops
• Cash
• Personal medication
• Biodegradable insect repellent

Do not assume you can refill water or buy lunch whenever you want. The only stated bar stop is at Cala Mariolu, and there are no restrooms on the tour.

A cooler bag is not included. If you bring perishable food, you need to manage it yourself. Keep electronics protected from spray, and avoid bringing more beach gear than you can handle in a small boat.

Who should book this cruise

I would recommend this outing to active adults and older children who are comfortable with an eight-hour day on the sea. It is especially well suited to you if you want several beaches, clear-water swimming, snorkeling, and a small group rather than a large boat packed with people.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, babies under one year, or people over 70. Those restrictions suggest that boarding, boat movement, and getting in and out of the water may be physically demanding.

It is also not a good choice if you need frequent restroom access or want meals included. You should be happy carrying your own supplies and spending much of the day in swimwear and direct sun.

The small group can create a friendly atmosphere. One recent outing was described as having a young group that worked well together, and the skipper was praised for being kind and funny. That sort of mood can make a long day more enjoyable, though the group mix naturally changes from one departure to the next.

Booking flexibility and final practical details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. The activity lasts eight hours, but starting times should still be checked when you select a date.

The transport rating is strong, with 86 percent of participants giving it a perfect score. The overall rating is 4.8 from 186 reviews, and the most consistent strengths are the route, the swimming stops, the beaches, and the skipper’s friendly manner.

Those numbers do not remove the need to pack well. A highly rated boat day can still be uncomfortable if you arrive without water, lunch, a towel, or sun protection.

Should you book it?

Book this cruise if you want a full day of Sardinian coast scenery with three long beach stops, two clear-water swims, and a small group. At $93, it offers good value for the amount of coastline covered and the fuel and skipper included.

Skip it if you dislike open-water boat rides, need onboard toilets, want a catered day, or prefer to stay in one place. For everyone else, the mix of Cala Goloritzè, the Piscine di Venere, Cala Gabbiani, Cala Biriala, Cala Mariolu, and the optional Grotta del Fico makes this one of the more efficient ways to experience the Gulf of Orosei from the sea.

FAQ

Where does the cruise depart from?

You can depart from the Port of Arbatax, Lotzorai Beach, or the Port of Santa Maria Navarrese.

What time does the cruise start?

Departure is scheduled for 9:00 a.m.

What time does the cruise return?

Drop-off is scheduled for approximately 5:00 p.m.

How long is the activity?

The guided cruise lasts about eight hours.

How many people can join the boat?

The boat carries a maximum of 12 passengers.

Which beaches does the cruise visit?

The main beach stops are Cala Gabbiani, Cala Biriala, and Cala Mariolu.

Are swimming stops included?

Yes. The tour includes two swimming stops from the dinghy, at Cala Goloritzè and the Piscine di Venere.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

No. You need to bring your own snorkeling gear.

Is food or water included?

No. Food, water, and other drinks are not included. You can buy food and drinks at a bar in Cala Mariolu.

Does the tour include the Grotta del Fico ticket?

No. The Grotta del Fico visit is optional, and its ticket costs extra.