Boat & yacht charter in Sardinia & Costa Smeralda
The Maddalena archipelago is the reason to come: forty-odd islands and islets in a national park, with water that does not look like it belongs to the Mediterranean.
Sardinia's north-east corner packs more into thirty miles than most coasts manage in a hundred. The Costa Smeralda and the Maddalena archipelago sit within easy reach of one another, which is why almost every charter here starts somewhere between Olbia and Palau.
Choosing the base
Porto Cervo is the Costa Smeralda address, with Porto Rotondo and Portisco close by and rather more practical. Palau and Cannigione are the natural bases for the archipelago itself — you are inside the park within twenty minutes. Olbia is the airport town and the easiest arrival, with Porto San Paolo just south for Tavolara and the Molara pools.
The archipelago
Caprera, Spargi, Budelli and Santa Maria form the heart of the park. The colours are the draw, and so is the protection: this is one of the few places on the Italian coast where you can find flat water in almost any wind by simply moving to the other side of an island. Access is regulated by zone, mooring is controlled in places, and a park fee applies — worth settling before you leave the dock.
Beyond the archipelago
Tavolara, the limestone slab rising out of the sea south of Olbia, is a full day out and a complete change of register. Corsica is close: the Strait of Bonifacio puts the Lavezzi within a comfortable day of Palau, weather permitting.
Where to board
Porto Cervo
The Costa Smeralda address. Superyachts and peak-season prices.
Porto Rotondo & Portisco
A few miles from Porto Cervo, markedly more practical bases.
Palau
The gateway to the Maddalena park — inside it within twenty minutes.
Cannigione
At the head of the Arzachena gulf, sheltered and family-oriented.
Olbia
Airport town, the simplest arrival by air.
Porto San Paolo
South of Olbia, facing Tavolara and the Molara pools.
Where to drop the hook
La Maddalena & Caprera
The heart of the national park, connected by a bridge.
Spargi
Cala Corsara and the shallow turquoise bays on its south side.
Budelli
The pink beach — protected, and viewed from the water only.
Tavolara
A limestone wall out of the sea, south of Olbia. A day of its own.
Costa Smeralda
Cala di Volpe, Liscia Ruja and the coves between them.
May to October. The archipelago is at its best in June and September — the same water, without August's mooring queues and prices.
RIBs and day-boats for the archipelago, catamarans for a week inside the park, and the full range of crewed motor yachts out of Porto Cervo.
Self-drive day-boats run roughly €200–300 in shoulder season and €280–400+ in August; a captained day on a comfortable motorboat €700–1,500; crewed yachts from €1,500 to well beyond €7,000 a day in Porto Cervo at the peak.
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
Do I need a permit for the Maddalena park?
Yes — the archipelago is a national park with zoned access and a fee for boats. Charter operators normally handle it, but confirm it is included before you leave.
Porto Cervo or Palau?
Porto Cervo if the marina itself is part of the plan. Palau or Cannigione if the archipelago is — you will be at anchor sooner and pay materially less for the berth.
Can I reach Corsica from here?
The Lavezzi are a comfortable day from Palau in settled weather. As always in this strait, the wind decides — and your charter contract may restrict leaving Italian waters.
Request a boat in Sardinia & Costa Smeralda
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.