Ah the beaches of Palombaggia or Rondinara... The problem if you stay this summer in Corsica is that they are taken by storm.
So if walking doesn't scare you or if you have the chance to travel by boat, prefer these five much more discreet stretches of sand.
To discover
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Roccapina Beach
The sailboats are not mistaken… Roccapina, in the south-west of Corsica, and its translucent waters have nothing to envy to the Caribbean landscapes.
It enjoys an ideal location, on a virgin and indented coast which stands out against a turquoise sea.
A geological curiosity attracts the eye: an enormous granite block whose shape evokes a sleeping beast, the
lion of Roccapina
.
Photogenic!
At the foot of this natural sculpture stretches the pristine beach.
No infrastructure comes to denature the wild beauty of the place – it is necessary to plan a picnic.
From the western part, a hike leads to the
tower of Roccapina
.
You can enjoy an exceptional view
of Erbaju beach
, another even more preserved paradise, which can be reached on foot.
How to get there
From the T40, a bumpy track (in principle passable by a light vehicle) descends to Roccapina, 2.5 km away.
Read alsoOur most beautiful beaches in Corsica, from north to south of the Island of Beauty
Girolata Beach
Accessible by boat or at the cost of a long walk, the Girolata conch offers a typically Corsican setting.
Adobe Stock / iSTintu
To the west of the island, in the
Gulf of Porto
, the welcoming
conch of Girolata
offers a typically Corsican setting.
The Genoese fort and its peaceful hamlet seem drowsy, while in the background the jagged red granite rocks of
the Scandola nature reserve
, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, flow into the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean.
No road leads to this paradise: it can only be reached on foot (after a one and a half hour walk) or by boat.
Certainly, in the middle of the summer, many boaters come to anchor in this idyllic bay, but the beach is never crowded.
After lazing around, go up to the cemetery, the view is sublime.
Peckish ?
Several restaurants have a terrace with a view of the sea, including
Le Bel Ombra
(tel: 04 95 20 15 67), which offers locally caught fish, lobsters and grilled meats.
How to get there
The path that goes down to the cove of Girolata leaves from the Col de la Croix, 32 km north of Porto by the D81 (in the direction of Galéria).
From the parking area, it takes 1 hour 45 minutes to descend to the beach.
By boat, Girolata is accessible during excursions departing from Porto.
Read alsoHow to visit the Gulf of Porto and its creeks of Piana, Corsican jewels listed on Unesco
Petit and Grand Sperone beaches
Near Bonifacio, the beaches of Petit and Grand Sperone, with their translucent water, lend themselves to idleness.
Adobe Stock / Mattei
Sperone is synonymous with golf.
It is in this area, near Bonifacio, that extends one of the most beautiful 18-hole courses in the Mediterranean.
At the foot of the course, two sumptuous beaches, with their white sand, of a rare finesse: Petit Sperone, an ancient Roman port that has become a breathtaking cove over time, and Grand Sperone, a magnificent stretch of white sand with slightly pink tints, unique in Corsica.
You can get there on a
pedibus
by a path in about ten minutes.
Without delay, we abandon ourselves to aquatic delights between two sessions of idleness, in water that is clear and smooth as varnish.
How to get there
Access to the two beaches is from that of Piantarella, 5 km east of Bonifacio.
Count on a 15-minute walk to Petit Sperone, then another 10 minutes to Grand Sperone.
Carataggio
Beach
Carataggio beach and its clear waters, which give it the air of a lagoon.
Adobe Stock / jean-yves guilloteau
Look on Google Earth: seen from above, Carataggio beach brings together all the components of a hidden treasure.
In the cozy hollow of a wild valley buried under the thick fleece of the maquis, it reveals itself like a curtain raiser, wild, untamed.
It displays an air of lagoon, of an unreal limpidity, accentuated by the bottom of light sand.
Yet close to the mythical
Palombaggia
, it remains off the beaten track, as it is only accessible by a path, not indicated moreover, after a 20-minute walk through a procession of shrubs.
Apart from a few sailboats in their place in the scenery, nothing else is visible, which gives the rare privilege of feeling alone in the world.
Ranch Campo
Equestrian Center
offers horseback riding on the beach.
Magical !
How to get there
Access is via a path (not signposted), near Ranch Campo, 2 km before Palombaggia beach, on the D859.
Barcaggio Beach
Cows roam freely on the beach of Barcaggio.
Adobe Stock / Souchon Yves
A beach like no other… Last end of Corsica before the infinity of the Mediterranean, Barcaggio, at the northern end of Cap Corse, gives the feeling of having arrived at the end of the world.
With its clear water, fine sand and dunes planted with marram grass, it will appeal to nature lovers.
Bonus: cows roam freely and keep tan enthusiasts company.
The beach stretches for several kilometres, without the slightest trace of concrete.
To appease a little hunger, the
A Cala hut
(tel: 06 22 06 19 51), which blends into the landscape, does the job perfectly.
On the menu: salads, fish and grilled meats.
How to get there
From the D80, which goes around Cap Corse, follow the D253 which descends towards the hamlet of Barcaggio (signposted).
The beach is to the east of the hamlet.
À VOIR AUSSI - Qu'a-t-on le droit de ramasser sur la plage ?
Publié en septembre 2020, cet article fait l'objet d'une mise à jour
