In a nutshell
- The gulf runs 30 kilometres along Sardinia's eastern coast, inside the Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu, a protected area.[1][2]
- From Arbatax, the catamaran day with lunch lasts 8 hours, starts from US$276 and is rated 4.91 from 268 reviews.[3]
- Access to Cala Goloritzé needs a mandatory reservation from April to October and is limited to a maximum of 250 people at the same time.[4]
- A 3 hour RIB trip from Arbatax to Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritzè starts from US$69 and is rated 4.84 from 705 reviews.[5]
- In August the Gulf of Orosei averages 26.5 °C, with a minimum of 24.4 °C and a maximum of 29 °C over the last decade.[6]
- Top choice Gulf Orosei catamaran day from US$276 Duration8 hours[3]Rating4.91 from 268 reviews[3]Guide languagesEnglish, French, Italian, Spanish[3]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours ahead[3] Check availability
- Baunei coast day by boat from US$86 Duration9 hours[7]Rating4.87 from 1,036 reviews[7]Guide languagesEnglish, Italian[7]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours ahead[7] See this tour
- RIB trip to Cala Mariolu from US$69 Duration3 hours[5]Rating4.84 from 705 reviews[5]Guide languagesEnglish, Italian[5]CancellationCancel up to 24 hours ahead[5] See this tour
The Gennargentu National Park (Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu) is a protected area located in Sardinia, Italy .
Our verdict on a boat day in the Gulf of Orosei
Things to check
On the water
- Sun cream, a hat and a light layer for the wind on the crossing
- August sea water averages 26.5 °C in the gulf[6]
- Some listings, including a Cala Gonone dinghy trip, are wheelchair accessible[9]
- Grippy sandals or rock shoes for pebble beaches and hot limestone
The park behind the Gulf of Orosei
The Gulf of Orosei is more than a pretty stretch of coast. It sits inside the Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu, a protected area in Sardinia, Italy.[1] The gulf runs 30 kilometres along the eastern coast of the island,[2] and most of that shoreline has no road behind it. What you get instead is limestone, scrub, wild goats and water clear enough to see the seabed from the boat.
Inland, the Supramonte plateau lifts in grey terraces above the coves. At sea level the rock turns white and honey coloured, sometimes overhanging the water, sometimes split into narrow inlets where the swell pushes through. The colour shifts with depth and cloud, from pale jade over sand to deep blue where the rock falls away. With so little building along the shore, a day on a boat here feels unhurried: long swim stops, quiet anchorages, and cliffs that keep rising when you tilt your head back.
Boat days that start in Arbatax
Arbatax is the port at the southern end of the gulf, and it is where the trip booked through this site begins. The catamaran day lasts 8 hours, carries a live tour guide in English, French, Italian and Spanish, and is rated 4.91 from 268 reviews.[3] Prices for that listing start from US$276.[3] Lunch comes with the day, which makes it the simplest option for families and for anyone who would rather not spend the whole crossing in full sun.
Two other Arbatax departures suit different moods. A full day along the Baunei coast runs 9 hours and starts from US$86, rated 4.87 from 1,036 reviews.[7] A RIB trip to Cala Mariolu and Cala Goloritzè takes 3 hours and starts from US$69, rated 4.84 from 705 reviews.[5] The short trip fits a half day, while the long one fills a morning and an afternoon.
Before you sail, walk out to the Rocce Rosse. These red rocks are named after the porphyry cliffs that rise from the sea in the Red Rocks Bay east of the Arbatax port, a tourist neighbourhood of Tortolì, with white rocks and tall red granite boulders around them.[10] It is an easy way to spend an hour while you wait for your boarding time.
Limestone walls drop straight into the gulf, with pebble coves at their feet.
Landing at Cala Goloritzé: what to check first
Cala Goloritzé is the cove everyone asks about, and it is managed. Access requires a mandatory reservation from April to October and is limited to a maximum of 250 people at the same time.[4] If the beach and its pinnacle are the point of your trip, check that rule before you pick a boat or a date, not after.
Whichever way you arrive, take what you need with you: water, sun cover and shoes that grip on pebbles. The walk down from the plateau is steep and hot, and the return is steeper still. If your boat trip includes a landing, ask the crew in advance how the day is arranged, so the reservation system does not catch you out on the morning itself.
Shade is scarce out on the water, so a hat and a light long-sleeve layer earn their place in your bag. A dry bag keeps phones and towels safe on the crossing, and reef-safe sun cream is a small courtesy in a protected area.
Cala Mariolu, Cala Luna and the Grotta del Bue Marino
Cala Mariolu is the other name people come for. It is known for crystal-clear water, white pebbles and dramatic limestone cliffs that plunge into the sea.[11] The beach is small and the water deepens quickly. Many trips anchor just off it and let passengers swim, which is often the better way to enjoy it.
Cala Luna lies on the central eastern coast of Sardinia and is reachable from Cala Gonone, a hamlet in the township of Dorgali, in the province of Nuoro.[12] It is a long sweep of pale sand with shallow water at one end, and it works well as a lunch and swim stop in the middle of a longer day afloat. The caves at the back of the beach are worth a look if you have time ashore.
The Grotta del Bue Marino is the great sea cave on this stretch. Adult tickets cost €10 in the ordinary season and €12 in June, July, August and September.[13] The entrance sits low in the cliff and the water inside is still and green, a sharp change from the glare outside. It is an easy add-on if your boat stops nearby.
from US$276
The catamaran day from Arbatax runs 8 hours with lunch and a live tour guide, and is rated 4.91 from 268 reviews.[3]
What a day on the water costs
Prices across the gulf vary a lot, and the boat you pick shapes the day as much as the budget does. A simple boat ride to a single beach starts from US$40,[14] a Cala Gonone cruise with a stop at Cala Goloritzè is listed from US$79,[15] and the Arbatax catamaran day with lunch starts from US$276.[3]
Faster boats cover more ground in less time. Bigger boats give you shade, seating and room to move. Neither is automatically the better choice, so think about the day you want: cliffs and swim stops, or a slow crossing with lunch and a nap on deck. A short RIB trip puts you under the cliffs with time to spare; a full day on a larger boat gives you room to eat, swim and dry off in the sun.
Flexibility is worth checking too. The catamaran listing offers reserve now and pay later, and free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.[3] That matters on a coast where the wind has a say. If you want your money to do something beyond the ride, ask the crew whether a gulf of Orosei environmental contribution is part of your fare and what it is used for.
Sea temperature and the shape of the season
The water here stays swimmable for a long stretch of the year. Average sea water temperature in the Gulf of Orosei in August is 26.5 °C, with a minimum of 24.4 °C and a maximum of 29 °C over the last decade.[6] At those numbers, a long and unhurried swim needs no wetsuit.
Spring and early summer bring cooler water and emptier coves, and the autumn weeks are often calm and clear. Mornings tend to be stillest, with an afternoon breeze building as the land heats up, which is worth knowing if you are prone to seasickness. If you have a choice, a morning departure usually gives you the flattest sea and the softest light. If you travel in the height of summer, book as early as you can.
Walking the coast, or hiring your own boat
The gulf is well known among hikers for the Selvaggio Blu, a trekking route that starts in Pedra Longa and ends in Cala Luna, winding through unspoiled paths hanging between sea and mountain.[16] It is not a casual stroll. Sections follow the cliff line, water sources are scarce and shade is rare, so it deserves a proper plan and a way to carry plenty of water.
If you would rather set your own course, a dinghy is the simplest option. No licence is needed to hire a dinghy for exploring the Gulf of Orosei, though the driver must be at least 18 years old.[17] That opens up coves with no pier and no timetable, and it also means watching the weather, keeping clear of swimmers and giving anchored boats plenty of room.
Whichever way you travel, an early start pays. The light is best in the morning, the sea is calmest, and the coves are quietest before the day boats arrive. Take your litter home, keep a wide berth from the cliffs, and let the coast set the pace for the day.
August sea water temperature in the Gulf of Orosei
All three figures are August sea water temperatures for the Gulf of Orosei over the last decade.[6]
From-prices for gulf boat trips
US dollar from-prices of these GetYourGuide listings:[3][5][7][15]
When to go, and what each window asks of you
How to plan a gulf boat day
Choose your port
Start from the harbour closest to where you are staying. Arbatax sits at the southern end, and Cala Gonone at the northern end, so the drive decides a lot.
Match the boat to the day
A catamaran gives shade, space and a slow pace. A RIB covers distance quickly and hugs the cliffs. Hiring a dinghy gives you freedom and full responsibility.
Check the landing rules
Cala Goloritzé access requires a mandatory reservation from April to October and is limited to a maximum of 250 people at the same time.[4]
Pack for rock and sun
Expect pebbles, hot limestone and strong midday light. Bring grippy shoes, drinking water, a hat and a dry bag for the crossing.
Leave room either side
Boat schedules move with the wind. Keep the hours before and after your trip free, and carry a little cash for the small extras ashore.
Ready to see the gulf from the water?
from US$277Reserve now & pay later
