Portisco–La Maddalena–Costa Smeralda: a 7-day north Sardinia loop
A north-east Sardinia week from Portisco: Porto Cervo, the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park with Caprera and the northern islands, and a short return along the Costa Smeralda. Legs are short; the northern islands are the weather-gated part of the week.
- Base
- Portisco
- Total distance
- 63 nm
- Best season
- June and September bring a warm sea and quieter anchorages; July–August is the busiest time, and the mistral can blow at any point in the season.
- Boat
- A 38–50 ft sailing yacht or catamaran, with a skipper or bareboat — your choice; a catamaran's shallow draft helps among the archipelago's shoals.
- Who it suits
- Short legs suit a first charter with a skipper; bareboat needs a recognised licence and comfort with mistral forecasts, park rules and buoy moorings.
Route map
Day by day
Day 1 · Portisco
no passage · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: Handover, provisioning and fuel in a marina protected by a long breakwater, about 20 minutes from Olbia airport — a quiet first night in the Gulf of Cugnana.
Eat: Gallura cooking: zuppa gallurese, a baked dish of bread, cheese and broth, with a glass of Vermentino di Gallura.
Good to know: Confirm the berth, check-in time and fuel-return rule with the base before arrival.
Day 2 · Porto Cervo
11 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: A modest leg north along the Costa Smeralda with a swim stop in one of the granite coves, then a night in Porto Cervo's harbour and a walk around the piazzetta.
Eat: Seafood pasta, with pane carasau — the crisp Sardinian flatbread — on the side.
Good to know: Berths are in high demand in July–August: confirm before leaving Portisco, and keep an anchorage such as Cala di Volpe as the fallback.
Day 3 · La Maddalena
11 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: Past Capo Ferro into the archipelago and La Maddalena town: the old harbour of Cala Gavetta, Piazza Garibaldi and the island's lanes.
Eat: Fresh fish and spaghetti with clams in the old town, and seadas — fried cheese pastry with honey — for dessert.
Good to know: The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park requires a navigation permit for boats — arrange it before entering the park (ask your base). Some zones are closed to boats or to anchoring; follow the park map.
Day 4 · Porto Palma (Caprera)
5 nm · anchorage · Open in Google Maps
See and do: A low-mileage day: in the morning visit Garibaldi's house and museum on Caprera, reached by the road bridge from La Maddalena, then make the short hop to Porto Palma, a wide bay on Caprera's south side.
Eat: Dinner on board with pecorino sardo, pane carasau and a bottle of Vermentino.
Good to know: Anchor only where park zoning allows and keep off seagrass; use mooring buoys where they are provided, and check the current rules locally.
Day 5 · Porto della Madonna
11 nm · mooring buoys · Open in Google Maps
See and do: The northern islands: the turquoise pool between Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria. See Budelli's Pink Beach (Spiaggia Rosa) from the water — landing there is not allowed.
Eat: Plan meals on board and bring provisions from La Maddalena.
Good to know: This is the exposed end of the week near the Strait of Bonifacio: go only in settled weather, use the park buoys and check whether overnight stays are allowed. In a mistral, skip the northern leg and stay in the sheltered part of the archipelago.
Day 6 · Cala di Volpe
19 nm · anchorage · Open in Google Maps
See and do: Back south past Capo Ferro to Cala di Volpe, a sheltered Costa Smeralda bay close to the base — a last swim and an easy night.
Eat: A last evening on board with Sardinian cheeses, cured meats and bread.
Good to know: Be in the base area the afternoon before checkout, not on the final morning.
Day 7 · Portisco
6 nm · marina · Open in Google Maps
See and do: A short morning leg back to Portisco for fuel, the log and the inspection before disembarking.
Eat: Coffee and a cornetto ashore before the transfer.
A plan, not a promise: wind and sea decide each day. Your skipper or the charter base will adjust the route to the forecast.
What a week here costs
Median weekly price of the boat in Italy over the next 12 months, from our live catalogue. Skipper, fuel and extras are not included; crewed yachts include the crew.
- Sailing yacht
- €3,385€2,600–€4,350
- Catamaran
- €5,823€4,624–€7,647
- Motor yacht
- €15,300€10,500–€24,750
- Crewed yacht
- €12,000€7,067–€20,900
Read the full route guideAbout the destinationBoats available herePlan this route with Helm