Olbia
round-trip.
Sail a 7-day yacht charter from Olbia via Tavolara, Golfo Aranci, Porto Rotondo, Portisco, Porto Cervo and Caprera. Costa Smeralda + Maddalena south route.
Day-by-day route
Click any pin on the map or any day in the Route summary below to see the daily stop, narrative, and photos.
Olbia → Porto San Paolo
12 nm shake-down S to Porto San Paolo opposite Tavolara islet. Mistral NW wind regime accelerates through Bonifacio Strait. Cala Girgolu sand anchorage. Highlights: Snorkel Cala Girgolu seagrass meadows and Visit a bottarga (cured fish roe) workshop.
Distance
7 NM
Sailing
~1.4h at 5 kn
Route at a glance
Route summary
Click any day to jump back to the map and see its photos, narrative, and mooring tip.
Day-by-day journey
Named anchorages, restaurants, and route notes for every leg of the week — written by sailors who've actually run this passage.
Olbia → Porto San Paolo
12 nm shake-down south from Olbia Marina to Porto San Paolo — small fishing village opposite the limestone Tavolara islet. The Sardinian summer wind is the Mistral from NW (10-25 kn) accelerating through the Bonifacio Strait — Costa Smeralda anchorages are sheltered from N. Anchor at Cala Girgolu on sand at 4-6 m, or stern-to in Porto San Paolo small marina.
Things to do
Snorkel Cala Girgolu seagrass meadows
Visit a bottarga (cured fish roe) workshop
Walk to Capo Coda Cavallo viewpoint
Grilled octopus at a quay trattoria
Mooring tip
Porto San Paolo small marina stern-to, €60-90/night, sheltered from N. Anchor in Cala Girgolu on sand at 4-6 m as alternative.
Porto San Paolo → Tavolara Island
4 nm short hop east to Tavolara — Sardinian limestone islet rising 565 m straight from the sea, formerly a self-declared micronation (the kingdom of Tavolara, the smallest historical kingdom in the world). Anchor at Spalmatore di Terra (sand bottom 4-6 m, sheltered from N) for the headline sand beach swim.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Spiaggia Spalmatore sand beach
Walk to the "royal cemetery" of the kingdom
Free-dive the underwater limestone arches
Lunch at the famous Da Tonino taverna ashore
Mooring tip
Free anchoring at Spalmatore di Terra on sand at 4-6 m, sheltered from N. No marina on the island. Day-stop only — no overnight if Mistral forecast above 18 kn.
Tavolara → Golfo Aranci
12 nm north to Golfo Aranci — small Costa Smeralda port at the northeast tip of Sardinia. Marina di Golfo Aranci stern-to is the standard charter overnight, fully sheltered. Secca di Capo Figari underwater mountain 1 nm east is the headline dive/snorkel site.
Things to do
Snorkel Secca di Capo Figari underwater mountain
Sunset cocktails at Rosa dei Venti
Lobster linguine at Ristorante Da Paolo
Walk Capo Figari lighthouse trail
Mooring tip
Marina di Golfo Aranci stern-to with lazy lines, €100-150/night peak. Fully sheltered. Pre-book in peak August.
Golfo Aranci → Porto Rotondo
6 nm short west to Porto Rotondo — Costa Smeralda playground, designed in 1963 by the Donà delle Rose family, all marble piazzas and bougainvillea-clad villas. Marina di Porto Rotondo stern-to is among the most expensive in the Mediterranean (€200-400/night peak August).
Things to do
Walk the Pietro Cascella Circle of Life sculpture
Anchor swim at Spiaggia Ira pink-granite cove
Aperitivo on the Piazzetta marble
Boutique browse along Via dei Negozi
Mooring tip
Marina di Porto Rotondo stern-to, €200-400/night peak Aug, premium service. Anchor in Cala di Volpe outside as alternative, on sand at 6-8 m.
Porto Rotondo → Portisco
4 nm short hop north to Portisco. Marina di Portisco stern-to is the Costa Smeralda charter base — large quay, full services, lazy lines. Cala di Volpe (south coast, the Aga Khan's 1960s celebrity bay) is 1 nm east; Cupaccia (boat-only access) is the quieter alternative.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Cala di Volpe celebrity bay
Boat-only access to Cupaccia hidden cove
Culurgiones herb-stuffed pasta at La Sorgente
Sunset cocktail at Phi Beach club
Mooring tip
Marina di Portisco stern-to with lazy lines, €120-200/night peak. Full services. Pre-book in peak August.
Portisco → Porto Cervo
6 nm short hop north to Porto Cervo — the most exclusive Mediterranean port, Aga Khan founding 1962. Anchor in Cala Granu (boat-only, sand 5-7 m, sheltered from N) for swim before mooring. Marina di Porto Cervo stern-to is the most expensive charter slot in the Mediterranean (€300-600/night peak).
Things to do
Anchor swim at Cala Granu (boat-only, sand)
Walk the geometric marble Piazzetta
Champagne aperitivo at Phi Beach
Browse the boutique alleys (Hermès, Cartier, Bulgari)
Mooring tip
Marina di Porto Cervo stern-to, €300-600/night peak Aug. Premium full services. Anchor in Cala Granu on sand at 5-7 m for cheaper alternative (no shore power).
Porto Cervo → Olbia
20 nm south back to Olbia via Caprera. Cala Coticcio on Caprera (the "Tahiti of the Med", boat-only access, sand bottom 4-6 m, sheltered from N) is the headline anchorage of the entire Maddalena park. Refuel at Olbia Marina before tying up.
Things to do
Anchor swim at Cala Coticcio "Tahiti of Med"
Visit Garibaldi's house museum on Caprera
Snorkel the Spargi Shipwreck cannons
Refuel and clean the boat at Olbia Marina
Mooring tip
Olbia Marina stern-to with lazy lines, €100-150/night peak. Refuel at the entrance fuel berth. Park rules: Cala Coticcio mooring buoys must be pre-booked online for July-August.
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