From Palau: La Maddalena Islands Full-Day Trip by Boat

The best part of this cruise is the sheer variety packed into one day: white beaches at Spargi and Santa Maria, Budelli’s famous pink beach viewed from the water, and a final stop that changes between Cala Coticcio’s clear swimming cove and La Maddalena’s old town. You get a broad taste of the archipelago without arranging several boats or ferries yourself.

I especially like the generous beach stops, about 90 minutes at Spargi and 75 minutes at Santa Maria, and the low $59 price for a full day on the water. Food, drinks, toilets, and a multilingual guide make the boat practical. The tradeoff is space: this is a popular vessel, not a quiet little yacht, and the beaches can fill quickly with other boats.

The day works best if you arrive early, bring cash, and accept that the schedule depends on the weekday and the sea. Cala Coticcio is not offered every day, and on some departures La Maddalena town takes its place. The route can also change in rough weather.

Key points before you book

• Two real beach stops: You get free time at Cala Corsara on Spargi and Cala Santa Maria, usually long enough to swim, walk, and dry off rather than simply step ashore for a photograph.
• Budelli is a photo stop: The boat passes the Spiaggia Rosa and Porto della Madonna’s natural pools, but you do not land on Budelli.
• The final stop changes by weekday: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday generally include a boat swim at Cala Coticcio on Caprera. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday generally include La Maddalena’s historic center.
• Lunch is available on board: Pasta, mussels, sandwiches, drinks, and Nutella pancakes have been available, but food costs extra and cash is wise.
• Crowds are part of the deal: The boat provides everyone a seat, but peak summer beaches and the vessel itself can feel packed.
• Plan for the port: Check in at box 4 or 5 inside Palau’s Maritime Station between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. for the 10:30 departure.

What kind of boat day is this?

This is a large, organized sightseeing cruise rather than a private sailing trip. The Navetta Sea Star carries a full group around the National Park of the La Maddalena archipelago, with the crew handling the route, mooring, beach access, and timing.

That format has a clear benefit. For $59, you can see several islands in one day without renting a boat, learning the channels, or paying for a private skipper. You also get toilets, a bar and kitchen service, passenger insurance, and explanations in English, French, Italian, and Spanish.

The cost is low for a seven-hour outing, but you are buying access and coverage, not solitude. In July and August, the boat and the beaches can be crowded. If you want quiet coves, flexible departure times, or long swims away from other boats, a smaller private excursion may suit you better at a higher price.

The crew has generally made a strong impression, with guides such as Gabriele and Fabio praised for their route knowledge and friendly manner on some departures. Still, the quality of the announcements can depend on where you sit and how clearly the microphone carries. If the spoken commentary matters to you, sit where you can hear the guide rather than treating the trip as a silent beach shuttle.

Starting in Palau and getting aboard

The meeting point is inside the Maritime Station on Via Piazza del Molo in Palau. Check in at box 4 or 5 between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m., then depart at 10:30.

Give yourself more time than the schedule seems to require. Traffic into Palau can be heavy, and the walk from some parking areas to the port may take around half an hour. You can easily arrive early and still lose time finding the office, walking to the boat, and completing check-in.

Bring only what you need for a beach day. Oversize luggage is not allowed. A small bag with swimwear, towel, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, camera, and a snorkeling mask is the right kit.

Cash matters here. The landing fee is paid in cash on arrival, €5 per person from June through August and €2.50 in September. Food and drinks are also best paid for with cash because the network can fail while you are at sea or on the islands. The stated tour price does not include these extras.

Spargi and Cala Corsara: your first proper stop

After less than 15 minutes of navigation, the boat reaches Spargi, one of the archipelago’s most attractive islands. The usual stop is Cala Corsara, where you have about 90 minutes of free time.

This is the moment when the cruise starts to feel less like a sightseeing circuit and more like a beach day. You can swim in clear water, lie on pale sand, or walk around the cove and inspect the granite formations. The area also has historical features that the guide may point out, adding a little context beyond the usual sun and sea.

Ninety minutes is a useful amount of time. You can get off, find a place on the beach, swim, and return without having to rush straight back into the water. It is not enough for a long island walk, though, so keep your plans modest and pay close attention to the announced boarding time.

Spargi is also where the crowd issue first becomes obvious. Several boats may arrive in the same area, especially in high summer. The water remains beautiful, but the feeling is less like having found an empty cove and more like sharing one of Sardinia’s best known swimming spots.

Budelli from the deck: a famous beach you do not land on

From Spargi, the boat cruises along the eastern coast and continues toward Budelli. You will see the famous Spiaggia Rosa, or Pink Beach, and the natural pools of Porto della Madonna.

This is a photo stop from the boat, not a beach landing. That distinction matters. Budelli’s protected status means you should not expect to walk onto the pink sand, swim ashore, or spend an hour exploring the island.

The view is still worthwhile. The water around the islands can shift through pale blue and green tones, and the granite shoreline gives the route a strong visual change from the open beach at Spargi. Have your camera ready before the boat reaches the viewing area, since the stop is designed for photographs and a look from the deck rather than extended sightseeing.

This part of the cruise also gives you a welcome pause between beach stops. You can order a drink or snack, listen to the guide’s explanation, and watch the islands pass without having to carry beach gear across another shore.

Santa Maria and the second beach break

Cala Santa Maria provides the second main land stop, with about 75 minutes of free time. You can reach the large beach from the dock, swim in the clear water, or walk roughly one kilometer to the old lighthouse.

I like the contrast with Spargi. Santa Maria gives you a broader stretch of sand and the option of a short walk, while Spargi feels more centered on the cove and its surrounding rock. If you want the lighthouse, keep an eye on the clock. A one-kilometer walk each way leaves little room for a long beach stay.

The tour operator may replace Santa Maria with Cala Garibaldi on Caprera on Monday because of National Park regulations. This is not a fault with the trip, but it means you should not treat every weekday route as fixed. Weather, park rules, and boat traffic can all affect the precise stop.

As at Spargi, return to the dock early. The boat cannot wait for a late swimmer or a slow walker. A few extra minutes spent checking the meeting place and listening to the pickup time can prevent a very expensive problem.

The weekday choice: Cala Coticcio or La Maddalena town

The final part of the route is the biggest planning detail. On Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, the boat usually heads to Caprera for a swim in the bay of Cala Coticcio. On Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, the final stop is generally the historic center of La Maddalena.

You should choose your booking day based on this difference.

Cala Coticcio on Caprera

Cala Coticcio is also called Tahiti because of its tropical-looking water and rocky setting. The stop is made from the boat, and this is the best place on the route to use a snorkeling mask. Fish and clear water make the cove feel like a natural aquarium.

The boat may allow around 30 minutes to an hour for the swim, depending on the day’s timing. You will not be making a conventional beach landing here. Instead, you jump or climb into the water from the boat, then return aboard when the crew calls time.

This stop is the strongest reason to choose a Monday, Tuesday, or Friday departure if swimming matters more to you than town sightseeing. It is also the part most affected by boat traffic. Several vessels may gather in front of the cove, and from the deck you may have a limited view of the bay itself.

Bring your own snorkeling equipment if you have it. The tour specifically recommends a mask, and the boat does not list snorkeling gear as included.

La Maddalena’s historic center

On the other weekdays, the boat heads toward La Maddalena town. Along the way, you may see the old granite quarries at Cala Francese, the Guardia Vecchia weather station, Villa Webber, where Benito Mussolini was imprisoned, and the historic port of Cala Gavetta.

You get about an hour in town. That is enough to walk the characteristic streets, visit the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, buy something, or sit down briefly. It is not enough for a slow town visit, a long meal, and extensive shopping all at once.

Some people will prefer this ending because it adds local life and history to a day otherwise focused on beaches. Others will find that an hour is better spent swimming. I would choose the town option if you have already seen plenty of Sardinian beaches or want a change of pace before returning to Palau.

Lunch, snacks, and life on board

Food is not included, but buying lunch on the boat can be convenient. Available choices have included pasta with tomato sauce, mussels, sandwiches, simple salads such as caprese, drinks, and Nutella pancakes.

The food has received mixed reactions over the years, but recent departures have included tasty pasta and reasonably priced meals. I would treat it as practical boat food, not a restaurant lunch. If you have dietary needs or want a larger selection, bring your own food.

Ordering early may help, especially when the crew announces a limited selection of hot dishes. Cash is the safest option. Earlier departures have also had issues with simple food choices, so a sandwich or snacks in your bag are sensible insurance.

Seating is available for everyone, but the vessel can feel full. The front may be exposed to spray and wind, while other areas can be affected by engine fumes or smoking on deck. If you are sensitive to either, choose your seat with care and move if needed. The crew has generally been described as helpful, but onboard comfort depends partly on the people around you.

Timing, weather, and the real pace of the day

The advertised duration is seven hours, though some departures have finished around half an hour to an hour early. Boat travel between islands takes a large part of the day, so expect several hours on board as well as three hours or so split between the main beach and swim stops.

That pace works well for a first look at the archipelago. You see more than you could easily reach by land, and the long crossings provide uninterrupted views of the islands. It can feel slow if you expected nonstop swimming.

The sea controls the day. Rough weather can cancel the cruise, change the route, or replace a planned stop. A calm captain and an alternate plan can make a poor-weather day workable, but there is no guarantee that every advertised cove will be safe or accessible.

Do not book this as a must-have visit to one exact beach. Book it as a flexible day around the archipelago. That mindset will serve you well if Cala Coticcio is changed, Santa Maria is replaced, or the return time shifts.

Who should book this cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a good-value introduction to several islands and are comfortable sharing the boat and beaches with a large group. Families, couples, and first-time visitors to northern Sardinia can see the main highlights without handling complicated boat logistics.

It suits confident swimmers and anyone who enjoys a mix of beach time, short walks, photographs, and scenic cruising. The multilingual guide is useful if you want basic context in English, French, Italian, or Spanish rather than simply being dropped at the beach.

I would think twice if you dislike crowds, need a quiet boat, want a private guide, or have limited mobility. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments, and it is officially not suitable for pregnant women. Boat boarding, beach access, and the swim stop require care.

At $59, the value is strong. You get the boat, guide, insurance, toilets, several island views, two substantial beach stops, and either Cala Coticcio or La Maddalena town. Add the landing fee, lunch, and drinks to your real budget, but the total should still compare well with arranging separate transport to the archipelago.

Should you book the Sea Star day?

Book it if you want to cover a lot of ground in one organized day and your priority is clear water, striking beaches, and a simple route from Palau. Choose Monday, Tuesday, or Friday for Cala Coticcio and the boat swim. Choose Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday for La Maddalena town.

Skip it in favor of a smaller boat if personal space and quiet coves matter more than price. For most visitors with one free day in northern Sardinia, though, this is an efficient way to see the archipelago. Arrive early, carry cash, bring a mask and towel, and listen carefully for every pickup time.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

Meet inside the Maritime Station in Palau on Via Piazza del Molo. Check in at box 4 or 5 between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. The boat departs at 10:30 a.m.

How long does the boat trip last?

The planned duration is seven hours. Some departures may return earlier, depending on the route, weather, and timing at the stops.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are available to purchase on board. Options have included pasta, mussels, sandwiches, drinks, and Nutella pancakes.

Is the landing fee included?

No. You must pay the landing fee in cash, €5 per person from June through August or €2.50 in September.

Which days include Cala Coticcio?

Monday, Tuesday, and Friday generally include the final swimming stop at Cala Coticcio on Caprera. On Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday, the final stop is generally La Maddalena’s historic center.

Can I snorkel during the tour?

Yes. Snorkeling is possible during the swimming stops, especially at Cala Coticcio. Bring your own snorkeling mask and gear because it is not listed as included.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour may be cancelled, or the route and stops may be changed because of adverse weather conditions. The operator may provide an alternative route or stop.