Italy · Palau, Gallura
Yacht Charter Capo d'Orso
A granite bear carved by the wind above the strait, and the gateway anchorage to the Maddalena.
Above Palau, on the headland facing the archipelago, stands a mass of granite the wind has worked into the shape of a bear. Ptolemy noted it in the second century as a landmark for sailors, which makes it one of the oldest recorded navigation marks in the Mediterranean and it still does the job.
The headland and the strait
The rock sits at a hundred and twenty metres with the whole Maddalena archipelago laid out beyond it — La Maddalena, Caprera, Spargi and, on a clear day, the white cliffs of Bonifacio across the water.
Beneath it Porto Massimo and Cala Capra give sheltered anchorages either side of the point, which makes this the natural staging post between the Gallura coast and the islands.
Palau below
Palau is the working town — ferries to La Maddalena, provisioning, fuel and a harbour that is easy to get into. It is where a boat tops up before crossing into the park.
West along the coast are Porto Pollo and the Isola dei Gabbiani, where the strait funnels wind and the sailing is the best on this shore.
Practical notes
- Forty-five minutes north of Olbia, where thirteen of this fleet's yachts sit
- Porto Massimo and Cala Capra give shelter either side of the headland
- Palau below has ferries, fuel and provisioning — the last easy stop before the park
- The Maddalena archipelago begins twenty minutes offshore; Bonifacio is visible on a clear day
Reached from: Olbia
Where to dine
A table by the water
Palau waterfront
PalauWhere the ferries land and the town eats, with fish that came off boats in the same harbour.
Porto Rafael
Porto RafaelA small planned village round a square west of the cape, quieter than anything on the Costa Smeralda.
Cannigione
CannigioneFifteen minutes south inside the Arzachena gulf, and the working alternative to the marinas.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
The Bear Rock
Granite worked by the wind into the shape of a bear, at a hundred and twenty metres, and recorded by Ptolemy in the second century.
Porto Massimo and Cala Capra
Sheltered anchorages either side of the headland, and the staging post between the mainland coast and the park.
The Maddalena archipelago
Twenty minutes offshore: sixty-two islands, all of it national park.
Porto Pollo
West along the coast, where the strait funnels wind and the sailing is the best on this shore.
The fleet
Yachts available for Capo d'Orso
Vessels that operate here, from flagship motor yachts to smaller crewed boats. Every rate is quoted on enquiry.
Good to know
Questions we are asked about Capo d'Orso
- What is the Bear Rock?
- A mass of granite worked by the wind into the shape of a bear, at a hundred and twenty metres above Palau. Ptolemy recorded it in the second century as a landmark for sailors.
- Why stop here?
- Shelter and position. Two anchorages either side of the headland, a working town below with fuel and provisioning, and the Maddalena archipelago twenty minutes offshore.
- What does a yacht charter at Capo d'Orso cost?
- It depends on the yacht, the season and the crew, so we quote on enquiry rather than publish a figure that would be wrong for most weeks.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
Charter here
Enquire about a charter at Capo d'Orso
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.