Italy · Maddalena Archipelago
Yacht Charter Maddalena Archipelago
Sixty-two islands inside a national park, and the clearest water in the western Mediterranean.
The archipelago between Sardinia and Corsica is sixty-two islands and islets, all of it national park since 1994, and it holds water that people photograph and then get told they have over-saturated. They have not. Granite, white sand and depths shallow enough to read the bottom at fifteen metres do that on their own. It is an hour and a half from Olbia, where thirteen of this fleet's boats sit, and it is where most Sardinian weeks spend their middle.
The islands worth the day
Budelli has the pink beach, made of crushed coral and shell, and it can be looked at but not landed on — it has been closed since 1994 and the closure is enforced. Boats anchor in the Porto della Madonna, the shallow lagoon between Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria, which is the best-known anchorage in the archipelago and deservedly.
Spargi has Cala Corsara on its south side: white sand, granite shaped by wind into forms that have names, and shelter in most conditions. Santa Maria has the long beaches and the least traffic. Caprera, joined to La Maddalena by a causeway, has Cala Coticcio — called Tahiti by everyone, including people who have been to Tahiti — and a strict access limit.
La Maddalena itself is the only real town: provisioning, a fuel dock, and a waterfront that stays a working one.
The park, and why it changes the week
Anchoring is zoned. Some bays are free, some need a permit bought by the day, and a few are closed entirely — the rules change between seasons and the crew hold the current version. This is not bureaucracy for its own sake: the seagrass under those anchorages is what keeps the water that colour.
It also means the archipelago rewards a crew who know it. The difference between the bay everybody is in and the one round the corner that is empty is local knowledge, and it is most of what you are paying for here.
And then Corsica
Bonifacio is visible from the northern islands on a clear day and is under an hour from them. A Sardinian week that includes the Maddalena is halfway to France already, which is why so many of them cross.
Practical notes
- An hour and a half from Olbia, where thirteen of this fleet's yachts are based
- The whole archipelago is a national park: anchoring is zoned, some bays need a daily permit and some are closed
- Budelli's pink beach has been closed to landing since 1994 — you see it from the water
- Cala Coticcio on Caprera has a strict daily access limit and is booked, not turned up to
- Bonifacio is under an hour from the northern islands, which makes the Corsican crossing an easy addition
Reached from: Olbia
Where to dine
A table by the water
La Maddalena town
La MaddalenaThe only real town in the archipelago, with a waterfront that is still a working one and provisioning that does not assume you are a visitor.
Cala Gavetta
La MaddalenaThe old harbour in the middle of town, where the small boats sit and the tables run along the quay.
Palau
PalauOn the Sardinian side across the strait, with the ferry port and the shortest run back to the mainland.
What to do
Anchorages & excursions
Porto della Madonna
The shallow lagoon between Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria — the best-known anchorage in the archipelago, and deservedly.
Budelli's pink beach
Made of crushed coral and shell. Closed to landing since 1994, so you see it from the water, which is the better view anyway.
Cala Corsara
On Spargi's south side: white sand, granite shaped by wind into forms that have names, and shelter in most conditions.
Cala Coticcio
On Caprera, called Tahiti by everyone including people who have been to Tahiti. Strict daily access limit — booked, not turned up to.
The fleet
Yachts available for Maddalena Archipelago
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 Maddalena Archipelago
- Can we land on the pink beach at Budelli?
- No, and nobody can — it has been closed since 1994 and the closure is enforced by the park. You anchor in the Porto della Madonna nearby, which is arguably the better place to be anyway.
- Do we need permits to anchor?
- In parts of the archipelago, yes, bought by the day, and a few bays are closed outright. The zoning changes between seasons; your crew hold the current version and handle it. It is the price of the water staying that colour.
- How many days does the archipelago need?
- Two or three inside a Sardinian week is the usual shape, and it can absorb more without repeating itself. Sixty-two islands is a lot of anchorages.
- What does a charter to La Maddalena 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. Send us your dates and party size.
Destinations
Nearby destinations
Charter here
Enquire about a charter in the Maddalena archipelago
Tell us your dates and how many of you there are, and we will come back with the right yacht and a full quotation.