From Palau: South Corsica Trip by Wood Speedboat with Lunch

The best part of this trip is the chance to reach southern Corsica by classic wooden boat, rather than simply look across the Strait of Bonifacio from Sardinia. I like the small capacity, limited to 10 participants, and the flexible route, which lets the skipper choose safer, more enjoyable waters when wind conditions change. The planned stops at Lavezzi, Isola Piana, and Bonifacio give the day a good mix of swimming, scenery, and time ashore.

I also like that lunch is part of the outing, not an afterthought. Previous menus have included antipasti, mussels cooked with Sardinian mirto, pasta, coffee, liqueurs, pastries, and a later snack. The main consideration is that this is an exposed sea trip: pregnant women and wheelchair users cannot join, and the itinerary may change or skip the Bonifacio harbor stop if conditions or mooring space do not cooperate.

Key points to know before booking

• Lavezzi is the main swimming stop: Plan on clear water, rocky coves, and about an hour in the sea.
• The route crosses into Corsica: You may see Isola Piana and the white cliffs of Bonifacio, with a possible town visit.
• The boat feels personal: The Sorrentine Gozzo Aurora carries up to 10 participants plus crew and has shaded seating, a sun deck, a bathroom, and two cabins.
• Lunch is a real part of the day: Fresh fish and local produce are served onboard, with a snack later in the afternoon.
• The skipper controls the route: Wind and sea conditions decide whether you swim beneath Bonifacio or visit the town.
• The price covers the main extras: At $154 per person, fuel, skipper, lunch, snack, snorkelling equipment, inflatable gear, and SUP use are included.

Crossing the Strait of Bonifacio from Palau

This eight-hour outing begins in northern Sardinia, with departure from Palau or La Maddalena depending on the option you book. The exact meeting point can vary, so check your confirmation closely rather than assuming every departure leaves from the main Palau port.

The first stretch takes you across the Strait of Bonifacio toward the southern Corsican islands. The crossing is part of the experience, not just transport. You are moving between two countries and two island groups, with open water, rocky islands, and changing views along the way.

The boat is the 11-meter Sorrentine Gozzo Aurora, a wooden motorboat with a vintage fishing-boat look. It has a 4.5-meter beam, a large sunbathing area, a shaded section, a boarding ladder, a hot-water shower, two cabins, and one bathroom. That matters on a full day at sea. You can move between sun and shade, rinse off after swimming, and use the toilet without needing to return to shore.

The boat carries no more than 10 participants plus the crew. I consider that a strong point for this route. Ten people can share lunch and the swimming stops without the crowded feel of a large excursion vessel. It also gives you a fair chance to ask the skipper about the islands and local waters.

Skippers Marco and Federico have been praised for being friendly and attentive, and the tour runs in Italian and English. The exact skipper on your departure may vary, but you can expect a live guide rather than a recorded commentary. The crew chooses the route according to wind conditions, which is sensible in this part of the Mediterranean.

Lavezzi Island and Cala Acciarino

The first planned stop is Cala Acciarino on Lavezzi Island. This is one of the day’s strongest reasons to book. The Lavezzi archipelago is known for pale rock, shallow-looking water, and small coves that work well for swimming and snorkelling.

You should expect roughly one hour at this stop. The boat carries snorkelling equipment and inflatable accessories, so you do not need to arrange those separately. A SUP is also included, giving you another way to spend the stop if you want a break from swimming.

The water is the main attraction here. Past menus and accounts of the trip describe clear water with plenty of fish, but conditions can vary with wind and sea movement. Bring sunscreen and a towel, and use the boat’s shaded area if the sun becomes too strong.

Lavezzi is not a beach-club stop with rows of services. The appeal is the natural setting and the chance to swim from the boat. That also means you should be comfortable using a boarding ladder and getting in and out of the water from the vessel. If you prefer an easy beach landing, this may feel less convenient.

The route calls for three stops of about one hour each, but the skipper can adjust the timing. A stop may be shortened if the sea changes, or the order may be altered to find calmer water.

Isola Piana and a long lunch onboard

The next planned swim is at Isola Piana. It gives the day a second chance to get into the water and breaks up the crossing with another quiet coastal stop.

This is where the boat’s layout becomes useful. You can swim, use the snorkelling gear, try the SUP, or stay onboard under the shade. Not everyone in a group wants the same pace, and the mix of deck space and water activities makes that easier.

Lunch is served onboard after the swimming stops. The exact menu can change, but the food is based on fresh fish and local produce. A meal served at sea is more than a simple convenience here. It saves you from losing an hour to a restaurant and keeps the day focused on the water.

One previous meal included a generous spread of antipasti, mussels prepared with mirto, a pasta course, coffee, liqueurs, and pastries. There was also something to eat later in the afternoon. You should not treat that specific menu as guaranteed, but it gives you a useful idea of the meal’s scale.

If you have dietary restrictions, the supplied information does not list special menu arrangements. Ask the operator before booking if food matters to you. The tour includes lunch, but it does not promise a particular dish or accommodation for every diet.

The boat has a bathroom, which is important during a full day with lunch onboard. Still, this is a compact vessel, not a floating restaurant. Keep expectations practical, especially when 10 people are on board.

Bonifacio cliffs or time in town

The afternoon plan depends most heavily on the day’s conditions. The boat may stop beneath the white cliffs of Bonifacio for another swim, or it may attempt to moor in Bonifacio harbor and give you time to walk around town.

The cliffs are a memorable view from the water. Seen from below, they give the Corsican coast a much bigger sense of scale than the small island coves. If the boat anchors beneath them, you get a final swim with a dramatic backdrop.

A town stop is less certain. Harbor space may not be available, and the skipper may decide that remaining offshore is the safer or more pleasant option. I would book this excursion for the sea and the islands first, treating a walk in Bonifacio as a welcome extra rather than the central promise.

This distinction matters when you compare it with a land-based Bonifacio visit. If your main goal is to explore the citadel, streets, or restaurants of Bonifacio, choose an experience designed around town time. If you want to see the cliffs, swim, and cover more water in one day, this boat trip makes better sense.

The return to Palau or La Maddalena completes an eight-hour day. The schedule includes a snack before or during the return, but exact timing depends on the route and sea conditions.

What the $154 price really covers

At $154 per person, this is not a cheap boat ride. It is also more than a basic transfer between Sardinia and Corsica. You are paying for an eight-hour small-group outing with a skipper, fuel, lunch, snack, snorkelling equipment, inflatable accessories, and SUP use.

The small capacity changes the value. A group of up to 10 gives you more room than a big day boat and makes the skipper’s route decisions feel more relevant to your day. You also get a boat with a bathroom, shower, shaded area, sunbathing deck, and cabins.

Lunch adds another useful saving. You do not need to carry a full meal or find somewhere to eat during the route. If you made separate plans for boat hire, fuel, gear, and food, the price would quickly rise.

The value is strongest if you want several things at once: Corsican islands, swimming, a classic boat, a provided meal, and a small group. It is weaker if you only want a short beach stop, a guaranteed visit to Bonifacio town, or the lowest possible cost.

The tour is confirmed with at least four participants. That protects the operator from running a long sea route with too few people, but it means you should not assume the trip operates with only one or two bookings.

What to bring and how to prepare

Keep your packing simple:

• Towel
• Sunscreen
• Beachwear

The boat supplies snorkelling equipment, a SUP, and inflatable accessories. You do not need to arrange those items yourself, though you may prefer to bring personal goggles if you have them.

Sun protection matters on an eight-hour trip. Even with a shaded area, you will spend time exposed on the deck and in the water. Reapply sunscreen after swimming, and use the shaded section when you are not taking part in an activity.

The trip is not suitable for pregnant women or wheelchair users. Infants up to 11 months can travel free, but you must tell the skipper in advance using the contact number provided after booking. This is a safety requirement, not an optional note.

Pets are not allowed. The tour is also not designed for people who need step-free access, since boarding involves a ladder and the day includes getting on and off a boat.

The boat may require passengers to go barefoot onboard, based on how the experience has operated previously. Follow the crew’s instructions at boarding, and do not bring bulky luggage. A towel, swimsuit, sunscreen, and a light cover-up are enough for most people.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this trip if you want a full sea day rather than a quick sightseeing cruise. It suits couples, friends, and small families with older children who like swimming and can manage a boat ladder.

It is also a good match if you want to combine Sardinia and Corsica without arranging separate transport, meals, and water equipment. The route gives you several settings in one day: Lavezzi’s coves, Isola Piana, the Bonifacio cliffs, and possibly Bonifacio harbor.

You will likely enjoy it less if you need a fixed timetable. Wind can change the route, and the town stop depends on available mooring space. The skipper’s discretion is a practical safety feature, but it means the day is not fully predictable.

I would also think twice if you dislike spending many hours on the water. The tour includes swimming and rest time, yet the crossing and return take a large part of the day. This is a boat experience first, with sightseeing woven into it.

The rating has been perfect across eight published ratings, and the strongest praise centers on the boat, crew, swim locations, and food. The clearest practical takeaway is that the experience works because those parts support one another: the boat reaches beautiful water, the crew adjusts the route, and lunch gives the day a comfortable pause.

Should you book the Palau to Corsica boat trip?

Book it if you want Lavezzi and Bonifacio in one day, prefer a small wooden boat to a large excursion vessel, and value having lunch, snorkelling gear, fuel, and a skipper included in one price.

Choose another plan if Bonifacio town is your main goal, if you need accessible boarding, or if you want a guaranteed route with no weather changes. For everyone else, the combination of clear-water swim stops, an intimate boat, local food, and a flexible Corsican route makes $154 a reasonable price for a long day at sea.

FAQ

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from the port of Palau or from La Maddalena, depending on the option booked. The meeting point can vary, so check the details for your selected option.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts eight hours. Starting times depend on availability.

Which islands and places are included?

The planned route includes Lavezzi, Isola Piana, and the white cliffs of Bonifacio. The skipper plans at least three stops, usually lasting about one hour each.

Will the boat stop in Bonifacio town?

It may. The boat can stop beneath the cliffs for swimming or attempt to moor in Bonifacio harbor. A town stop depends on available mooring places and the skipper’s decision.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch and a later snack are included. The meal features fresh fish and local produce, although the exact menu can vary.

What equipment is provided?

The boat provides snorkelling equipment, inflatable accessories, and a SUP. Fuel and the skipper are also included.

What languages are available?

The live tour is available in Italian and English.

Can infants or pets join the tour?

Infants up to 11 months can join free of charge, but you must notify the skipper in advance. Pets are not allowed.