Boat trips · Compared
La Maddalena boat tours from Palau: which one to book
Dozens of boats leave Palau every summer morning for the same seven islands. They are not the same day out. Here is how to choose.
How to choose in one minute
- Budget, or children with you? A large motor boat. Steady, shaded, and the cheapest way to see the islands.
- You want to be in the water as much as possible? A RIB (gommone): more stops, coves the big boats can’t reach.
- You want the day to feel like a holiday rather than a tour? A sailing boat, catamaran or wooden boat with lunch on board.
- Four or more of you, or a special occasion? A private skipper, leaving early before the other boats arrive.
Operators sailing from Palau
Delfino Tours operates Corsara, matched to the current GetYourGuide listing. Compare its departure and exclusions; an operator name does not mean lunch or landing fees are included. Delfino Tours / Corsara listing ↗
What the price includes, and what it doesn’t
Every trip includes the boat, the crew and the route through the national park. Beyond that, read the listing for three things:
- The landing fee. La Maddalena charges €5 a person on trips to the smaller islands from June to August (€2.50 in April, May and September; under-7s free). Big boats usually collect it in cash at boarding.
- Lunch. On large boats you usually bring your own or buy food on board; sailing, catamaran and wooden-boat days include lunch, often with wine.
- Getting to the harbour. You make your own way to Palau. Parking near the port costs €1 an hour from May to October and fills early in August.
When to go
June and September are the best months: the sea averages 21 °C and 23.5 °C, timetables are full, and the classic coves are less crowded than in July and August, when the water reaches 24–25 °C. In peak season the classic stops are busy by late morning, which is the strongest argument for a small boat or a private skipper who leaves early.
Wind, weather and cancellations
The maestrale, the north-west wind that funnels through the Strait of Bonifacio, decides more about your day than the operator does. On a strong day boats keep to the sheltered side of the archipelago, cut the exposed stops, or don’t sail at all. Check the live wind forecast.
Book your trip early in your stay, so a cancelled day can be moved. If the operator cancels you get another date or a refund, and most listings on GetYourGuide can be cancelled free up to 24 hours before.
Where the boats leave from
Most trips board in Palau, at the ferry terminal on Piazza del Molo or the marina beside it; check-in is usually 30–60 minutes before departure. Some smaller operators use Porto Rafael or other moorings nearby, and many also pick up in La Maddalena, useful if you are staying on the island. The listing gives the exact meeting point.
Your questions, answered
Questions that shape your trip
Practical answers before you choose a route or book an activity.
Is a no-license rental RIB sensible for a first-time skipper?
Being eligible to rent does not establish competence in wind, anchoring or restricted waters. Ask the rental firm about the exact boat, permitted route, briefing, insurance and weather cancellation. For an inexperienced group, compare a skippered trip. Current park/maritime restrictions matter even on a small rental boat.
Which boat works for children aged two and five: RIB, sailboat or large excursion boat?
Compare the actual vessel’s shade, usable toilet, seating, boarding and swim ladder, child life jackets and age restrictions. Boat type alone does not settle suitability. The four-hour RIB listing has conflicting infant wording alongside an under-two exclusion: obtain written confirmation for your children before paying.
Is a four-hour RIB automatically better if I get seasick?
Shorter duration reduces time committed, but does not guarantee a gentler ride. Compare exposure, seating, planned crossings and that day's sea conditions. Ask the operator about the vessel and cancellation terms; seek professional advice about medication rather than copying forum dosing suggestions.
Cala Coticcio guided hike: booking, access and the trail
Check the sources
Research reviewed .
Can a private boat cover Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria and Cala Coticcio in one day?
A private boat still has sea conditions, navigation restrictions and limited time. Give the skipper ranked priorities rather than a guaranteed stop list; ask whether advertised locations mean swimming, landing or passing. A shorter four-hour product lists alternatives, not a promise to visit every named cove.
The ferry from Palau to La Maddalena
Check the sources
Research reviewed .
Side by side
The four kinds of boat
Price follows group size, and group size decides how crowded every swim stop feels.
Large motor boat
The classic “giro delle isole”
- Typical price
- ≈ €50–60 pp
- Group
- Corsara holds 210; capacity varies
- Why
- Steady in a chop, usually with shade and a toilet on board, the full loop at a fixed price.
- Why not
- Everyone arrives at the same coves at the same time in July and August.
- Choose it for
- First visits, families, tight budgets.
Inflatable (gommone)
Fast and small
- Typical price
- ≈ €47 pp (half day)
- Group
- Around a dozen
- Why
- Reaches coves the big boats cannot, more swim stops, more time in the water.
- Why not
- Bumpy and wet in wind, little shade. Not for bad backs or babies.
- Choose it for
- Strong swimmers and snorkellers.
Sailing boat or catamaran
With lunch on board
- Typical price
- ≈ €90–150 pp
- Group
- 8–12 people
- Why
- Quiet, unhurried, lunch at anchor. The day feels like a holiday, not a tour.
- Why not
- Fewer stops, and the route follows the wind rather than a fixed plan.
- Choose it for
- Couples, slow travellers.
Private skipper
Your boat, your route
- Typical price
- ≈ €540–610 per boat (4 h RIB)
- Group
- Just your group
- Why
- Leave early, beat the crowds, stay where you like.
- Why not
- Only good value split between four or more.
- Choose it for
- Families or friends sharing the cost.
Booked through GetYourGuide
The trips we’d book
Six departures that cover every style, chosen on reviews, what is included and how the day is paced.
We may earn a commission on bookings through these links. How this works.
Large motor boat · full day
From Palau: La Maddalena Islands Full-Day Trip by Boat
from ≈ €51 per person
Best for: the lowest price for the full loop
- About 1.5 hours at Spargi, then Budelli, Santa Maria and Caprera
- Food and drinks sold on board
- Landing fee paid in cash
Motor boat · lunch included
From Palau: La Maddalena Archipelago Boat Tour with Pasta
from ≈ €52 per person
Best for: anyone who would rather not pack lunch
- Seafood pasta lunch served at Budelli
- About 2 h at Santa Maria and 1.5 h at Cala Corsara
- Free time in La Maddalena town; landing fee included
Inflatable (RIB) · half day
Palau or La Maddalena: 4-hour RIB tour of the archipelago
from ≈ €47 per person
Best for: strong swimmers short on time
- Small group, fast boat, more coves
- Spargi coves and Caprera (Cala Napoletana or Coticcio)
- Stops depend on wind and park rules
Traditional wooden boat · skipper
Palau or La Maddalena: Boat Tour in the Archipelago
from ≈ €110 per person
Best for: couples who want a slower day
- Skippered wooden boat, lunch on board
- At least three stops of about an hour each
- Route chosen on the day to suit the wind
Sailing boat · lunch
Maddalena Archipelago: Island-Hopping Sailing Tour and Lunch
from €119 per person
Best for: a sailing day with everything included
Route Master BV · Updated
- Santa Maria, Budelli’s natural pools and Spargi
- Lunch with wine and beer, national park entry covered
- Free cancellation up to 24 h before
Catamaran · max 12 · lunch
From Palau: La Maddalena Archipelago Catamaran Tour w/ Lunch
from ≈ €140 per person
Best for: comfort and space on deck
- Snorkel kit, Sardinian aperitif and pasta lunch
- Wine, Prosecco and soft drinks included
- Three stops chosen by the captain
Trips with lunch on board → More boat trips in the archipelago ↗
Prices
Every trip, side by side
| Trip | Time | From | Lunch | Landing fee | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From Palau: La Maddalena Islands Full-Day Trip by Boat Large motor boat · full day | 7 h · departs 10:30 | ≈ €51 pp | Sold on board | Cash on board | ★ 4.4 |
| From Palau: La Maddalena Archipelago Boat Tour with Pasta Motor boat · lunch included | 7 h | ≈ €52 pp | Included | Included | ★ 4.0 |
| Palau or La Maddalena: 4-hour RIB tour of the archipelago Inflatable (RIB) · half day | 4 h | ≈ €47 pp | Check listing | Check listing | ★ 4.8 |
| Palau: La Maddalena Archipelago Cruise with Lunch and Drinks Motor boat · small group · lunch | 7 h · departs 09:30 | ≈ €98 pp | Included | Check listing | — |
| From Palau/La Maddalena: All inclusive Yacht Tour Yacht · max 10 · lunch | 7 h | ≈ €92 pp | Included | Check listing | ★ 4.8 |
| Maddalena Archipelago: Island-Hopping Sailing Tour and Lunch Sailing boat · lunch | 6.5 h | €119 pp | Included | Check listing | ★ 4.9 |
| Palau or La Maddalena: Boat Tour in the Archipelago Traditional wooden boat · skipper | 8 h | ≈ €110 pp | Included | Check listing | ★ 5.0 |
| From Palau: Maddalena Archipelago Sailing Tour and Lunch Sailing boat · lunch | 8 h | ≈ €129 pp | Included | Check listing | — |
| From Palau: La Maddalena Archipelago Catamaran Tour w/ Lunch Catamaran · max 12 · lunch | 7 h | ≈ €140 pp | Included | Check listing | ★ 4.9 |
Dated GetYourGuide “from” prices. Amounts marked ≈ were converted from USD using the recorded ECB rate; other amounts were observed in EUR. Check the final price for your date.
How the day runs
The classic loop, stop by stop
-
Morning
Palau harbour
Check in at the quay. Big boats board in a short window, so arrive early and have the landing fee ready in cash if it is not included.
-
First swim
Spargi
Cala Corsara or Cala Granara: pale sand between granite boulders, usually an hour or more at anchor.
-
Slow pass
Budelli · Spiaggia Rosa
Seen from outside the buoy line only. Landing, anchoring and swimming here are banned.
-
Long stop
Santa Maria & Razzoli
The shallow channel of Porto della Madonna, the “natural pools”. Often the stop with lunch.
-
Late afternoon
La Maddalena town
Free time in town on many itineraries, before the short run back to Palau around 17:30.
Order and stops change with the wind and the park’s rules. On a strong maestrale day, boats keep to the sheltered side and may skip Budelli altogether.
Questions people ask
How much does a boat trip to La Maddalena cost?
In October 2026, full-day trips on the large motor boats started at about €51–60 per person. A 4-hour RIB trip started at about €47. Sailing and catamaran days with lunch ran from about €92 to €140, and a private 4-hour RIB was about €540–610 for the whole boat. All prices side by side.
How long is the day?
Most full-day trips last about 7 hours, leaving Palau between 09:30 and 10:30 and returning around 17:30. Wooden-boat and some sailing days run to 8 hours; RIB trips last 4.
What is the landing fee, and is it included?
It is La Maddalena’s “contributo di sbarco”, not a park ticket: €5 per person from June to August on trips to the smaller islands, €2.50 in April, May and September, €0.50 from October to March. Children under 7 don’t pay. Some boats include it; many collect it in cash at boarding.
Can you swim at the Pink Beach (Spiaggia Rosa)?
No. Swimming, anchoring, stopping and landing in front of the Spiaggia Rosa are banned. Boats pass outside the buoys. More on the Pink Beach rules.
Can a boat trip take me to Cala Coticcio?
Some itineraries stop off Cala Coticcio, where authorised passenger boats have a mooring buoy, and some RIB trips include it when conditions allow. Walking onto the beach needs a guided visit. How Cala Coticcio works.
What happens if it is windy?
Operators change the route to sheltered coves or cancel when the maestrale is strong. If the operator cancels, you get another date or a refund; most listings also allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Are the boat trips suitable for children?
Large motor boats are easiest with small children: steady, shaded and usually with a toilet. Fast RIBs are not a good idea with babies, and some catamarans don’t take children under 4. Under-7s don’t pay the landing fee.
Should I leave from Palau or from La Maddalena?
Palau has the most departures. If you are staying on La Maddalena, many boats also board there, which saves the ferry.
Palau Sardinia
Take the planning checklist
Save a short checklist before choosing a date. Keep the operator’s final details with your booking.
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