DIVING INTO A DREAM

Glittering in the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, sixty-two jewels crown the north-eastern tip of Sardinia. Don’t miss the chance to discover the region’s most cherished treasures on a private boat excursion.

La Maddalena archipelago consists of seven islands and fifty-five tiny islets all belonging to a protected geomarine park, boasting a varied deep-sea biodiversity and some of the most spectacular seascapes to be found anywhere in the world. With the exception of the major island La Maddalena, whose lively town is populated throughout the year, the archipelago today is almost completely uninhabited, a fact that contributes to the preservation of its magical appeal and miraculously unspoilt environment.

The islands, now peaceful summer retreats for day-trippers, have hardly changed at all over the last two centuries but once must have throbbed with activity. Due to its strategic position between Sardinia and Corsica, La Maddalena archipelago was on a sea trade route throughout the 2nd and 1st centuries BC, as evidenced by the remains of an ancient Roman shipwreck retrieved from the seabed off the island of Spargi. Important figures in European history such as Napoleon, Horatio Nelson and Giuseppe Garibaldi have connections with the archipelago, and more recently, up until 2008, the islands also served for 35 years as US naval and military bases.

The archipelago’s main attractions are undoubtedly its hidden coves, idyllic beaches and crystal clear waters, richly populated with aquatic wildlife including fish, dolphins, whales and Caretta Caretta sea turtles.

Meet your skipper at the Port of Palau, hop aboard your private boat and set sail for these enchanting islands. As you cruise along the Tyrrhenian Sea, drink in the wonderful scenery of the Gallura Riviera. Over the centuries, Nature’s most tireless sculptors, the wind and waves, have chiselled perfect inlets along the granite shoreline. Your skipper will steer you past breathtaking sights and make sure you don’t miss Sardinia’s glorious seascapes. You will admire picture perfect bays and dramatic cliffs, delight in the views of jewel-toned waters and, if you’re lucky, you might even encounter some rare species of marine life.

This full-day boat trip includes different stops for swims. You’ll bathe in the natural pools of Budelli, with their ever-changing hues of turquoise and cobalt blue, take a dip in the limpid waters surrounding the island of Spargi, and dive off the deck into the dream-come-true cove of Santa Maria.

In the afternoon you may enjoy a leisurely stroll in the town of La Maddalena, buzzing with shops, cafes and eateries, before returning to the Port of Palau.