Boat & yacht charter in Corsica
The one Mediterranean island where the coast still does most of the talking. Granite, maquis, water you can read the bottom through at fifteen metres — and anchorages that remain, in places, genuinely empty.
Corsica is big enough that the choice of base decides the trip. From end to end it is over a hundred and fifty miles of coast, and the north-west has nothing in common with the south. Pick the region first, the boat second.
The south — granite and short hops
Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio open onto what most people picture when they think of Corsica: the Lavezzi islands, a nature reserve under ten miles from Bonifacio, and the beaches of Palombaggia, Santa Giulia and Rondinara. Distances are short, the water is exceptional, and Sardinia is close enough to make the Strait of Bonifacio a day out rather than a passage. It is also the busiest part of the island in August.
The west — Scandola and the gulfs
Calvi and, further south, the Gulf of Porto give access to the Scandola reserve and the Piana calanques — red porphyry falling straight into deep water. This is the dramatic Corsica, less about beaches than about cliffs, and it rewards a boat that can cover ground.
Cap Corse and the centre
Ajaccio is the largest charter base on the island and the most central: from there you can work either the south-west or the north-west. Macinaggio, at the top of Cap Corse, is the departure point for the wildest and least visited stretch of all.
What the coast demands
Corsica is more exposed than the Riviera. The Strait of Bonifacio in particular funnels wind and can turn unpleasant quickly, and several of the finest anchorages have no shelter at all if the breeze swings. It is the destination where taking a skipper changes the trip the most — not for the licence, but for the local reading of the weather.
Where to board
Ajaccio
The largest base on the island, and the most central.
Porto-Vecchio
Southern Corsica, the Lavezzi and the crossing to Sardinia.
Bonifacio
The cliff-top harbour. Under ten miles from the Lavezzi reserve.
Calvi
North-west base for Scandola and the Gulf of Porto.
Macinaggio
Top of Cap Corse — the wildest and least crowded stretch.
Where to drop the hook
Îles Lavezzi
Granite islets in a nature reserve. The reference anchorage of the south.
Réserve de Scandola
UNESCO-listed volcanic coast. Access is regulated — check before planning.
Rondinara
An almost circular bay between Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio.
Palombaggia & Santa Giulia
The postcard beaches south of Porto-Vecchio.
Golfe de Porto & Piana
Red cliffs falling into deep water, on the west coast.
May to early October. July and August are busy in the south; June and September are the sweet spot everywhere, with warm water and space at anchor.
Sailing monohulls and catamarans for the week — Corsica is a proper cruising ground. RIBs and day-boats from Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio for the Lavezzi run.
Bareboat sailing yachts commonly start around €300 a day and catamarans around €400, before season and skipper. Day charters to the Lavezzi are considerably less.
Orders of magnitude observed on the market, not quotes. The real price depends on the boat, the week and what is included.
Frequently asked questions
North or south Corsica?
South for beaches, short distances and the Lavezzi; west and north for cliffs, Scandola and solitude. If you want both in one week, base yourself in Ajaccio.
Can I sail across to Sardinia?
Yes — the Strait of Bonifacio is short, and La Maddalena is a realistic day from Bonifacio. Check your charter agreement first: not every contract allows leaving French waters.
Is a skipper worth it here?
More than anywhere else on this coast. The strait is demanding, several of the best anchorages are unsheltered, and local knowledge of where to sit when the wind turns is what makes the week.
Request a boat in Corsica
Tell us your dates, how many of you there are and what kind of day you have in mind. We come back with two or three boats that actually fit — from our network of owners and vetted fleets.