Cruising on a sailing maxi-catamaran

The best part of this day is the boat itself: a roomy sailing maxi-catamaran that lets you enjoy Corsica from the water without the throb of a motor. Gwen and Claire welcome you from Santa Giulia Beach with coffee and snacks, then set a relaxed course toward the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve. I especially like the Corsican lunch served on board and the easy access to paddles, masks, and swimming fries for the afternoon.

The route follows the wind, so the exact stops can change. That is good seamanship, but it means you may not reach every planned bay or island. If calm water and a fixed sightseeing list matter more to you than sailing conditions, keep that tradeoff in mind.

The day at a glance

• Sail from Santa Giulia Beach: Meet near the Moby Dick hotel, then walk about five minutes from the beach entrance to the pontoon.
• Follow the wind toward Bonifacio: Your route may include Lavezzi, Sperone, or Santa Manza, depending on conditions.
• Eat a full Corsican lunch aboard Ciao: Expect a house aperitif, cold cuts, Corsican cheese with fig jam, pasta salad, rosé wine, fresh fruit, coffee, and a local digestif.
• Use the water gear freely: Paddles, snorkels, and swimming fries are provided during the long swimming stop.
• Finish near Porto Novo: The return includes another swim stop and a Pietra local beer.
• Plan for a full nine hours: This is a proper day on the water, not a short coastal cruise.

Setting out from Santa Giulia Beach

Your meeting point is at Exclusive Sailing Santa Giulia, in front of the Moby Dick hotel. Free parking is available just before the hotel’s private parking area. From there, pass beneath the wooden footbridge to reach Santa Giulia Beach, then walk to the right along the beach. The pontoon is about five minutes away.

That last walk is easy, but you should not arrive carrying more than you need. Bring a towel, swimsuit, sunglasses, sandals or flip-flops, biodegradable sunscreen, a camera, and a light jacket. Comfortable clothes help, especially if the wind picks up later in the day.

Gwen and Claire welcome you aboard with coffee and small snacks. This early touch matters. You have time to settle in, learn where things are, and get comfortable before the boat leaves the bay. The atmosphere is personal rather than formal, with the couple handling both the sailing and the hosting.

Ciao gives you room to enjoy the ride

Ciao is a sailing maxi-catamaran, and its size changes the feel of the day. You are not packed into a narrow speedboat, and you are not simply being ferried from one point to another. The wide layout gives you places to sit, stretch out, take photographs, or watch the water from a different angle.

The first sailing leg lasts about an hour. The boat then continues through the day with additional sailing periods of about one hour and 30 minutes. The exact pace depends on the wind, which is part of the point of choosing a sailing trip.

You may spend some stretches gliding quietly under sail. At other times, the crew may adjust the route to suit the conditions. One practical note is worth keeping in mind: the sea can shape the schedule. A September departure had to skip some planned places because of the weather, so do not treat Lavezzi, Sperone, or Santa Manza as guaranteed stops.

That flexibility is not a flaw in the crew’s planning. It is a normal part of sailing. Still, it is the main consideration for anyone who wants a strict, checklist-style excursion.

Lavezzi, Sperone, or Santa Manza

The main stop lasts two and a half hours. Depending on the wind, the boat may anchor near the Lavezzi Archipelago, Sperone, or Santa Manza. These are among the most attractive coastal settings in southern Corsica, with clear water, rocky shorelines, and good conditions for swimming and photographs.

Lavezzi is the most distinctive name on the route. The archipelago is known for its exposed rock formations and clear water around the islands. If you stop there, you can spend time looking around on your own, taking pictures, snorkeling, or simply staying aboard and enjoying the view.

Sperone and Santa Manza offer a different feel, but the same basic idea applies: the stop is built around water time and a slow meal, not a guided historical walk. You should think of this as a coastal sailing day with free time at anchor, rather than an island tour with a detailed commentary at every stop.

The long pause is one of the strongest parts of the schedule. Two and a half hours gives you enough time to eat without rushing, swim more than once, try the paddleboard, and still sit quietly for a while. Short boat excursions often squeeze all of that into 30 minutes. This one gives the afternoon room to breathe.

A Corsican lunch with wine and local flavors

Lunch is served on board after a house aperitif. The meal begins with cold cuts and Corsican cheese paired with fig jam, followed by pasta salad. Rosé wine is included, and dessert is a fresh fruit salad. Coffee and a local digestif finish the meal.

This is not a restaurant tasting menu, and it is not meant to be. The food is practical for a boat day, easy to serve, and connected to Corsican ingredients. The cold cuts and cheese give you a taste of the island without turning lunch into a long formal affair.

The meal is also part of the value. At $200 per person, you are paying for nine hours, sailing, the crew, drinks, snacks, lunch, and water equipment. A separate meal, boat rental, and snorkel rental could add up quickly in southern Corsica. The price is not a bargain-basement outing, but it is reasonable for a full-day, all-inclusive sailing experience.

Drinks are supplied during the day, including coffee, snacks, wine with lunch, and a Pietra beer near the final swimming stop. If you prefer not to drink alcohol, the important point is that the package includes more than just the boat ride. The available food and drinks help keep the day simple once you leave shore.

Swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding

After lunch, the schedule opens up. Paddles, snorkels, and swimming fries are available for you to use. The swimming fries are useful for anyone who wants extra support in the water, not just confident swimmers.

Snorkeling is a major reason to choose this trip. The clear water around southern Corsica can make even a simple swim feel special, and having masks ready on board means you do not need to arrange separate equipment. Bring your own mask only if you prefer a particular fit, since the supplied gear is part of the package.

The paddleboards add another choice. You can move around the cove under your own power, take a short turn, or stay close to the catamaran. The free time is not tightly directed, so you can match the pace to your mood. Active swimmers can make good use of the equipment, while anyone seeking farniente, the Corsican art of doing very little, can remain on deck.

You should bring a towel and wear beach clothing under your regular clothes. The crew provides the water equipment, but the information does not specify changing rooms or shower facilities, so it is sensible to prepare for a straightforward beach-and-boat day.

The return along the coast

After the main stop, Ciao sails for about an hour before making another photo and swimming stop. The final water break takes place near Porto Novo, with a Pietra beer and more time for snorkeling, paddling, or swimming.

This second stop helps prevent the day from feeling like one long outing followed by a rushed return. You get another chance to enter the water, take photographs, and enjoy the coast from a different position. It also gives the crew some flexibility if the first stop needs to be shortened or changed because of wind.

The last sailing leg lasts about 30 minutes before you return to Santa Giulia. By then, the day has included several changes of pace: quiet sailing, a long meal, water activities, and another short stop. That variety is useful because nine hours on a boat can feel long if the schedule has no breaks.

What the weather can change

The captain adapts the route to the wind. This is a real benefit in Corsica, where a sheltered bay may be more enjoyable and safer than a famous stop exposed to rougher conditions. The crew’s ability to adjust the plan protects the quality of the day.

The tradeoff is certainty. You may not visit every location named in the plan, and the order of stops can change. A four-star rating from one September booking came with exactly this issue: the weather prevented the boat from reaching the expected places.

I would book this trip if you care most about sailing, swimming, food, and a comfortable day on the water. I would hesitate only if visiting a specific island is the main reason you are booking. In that case, confirm the likely route on the day, but understand that wind still has the final say.

Language, pace, and the crew

The live tour is offered in French and English. Gwen and Claire are the couple welcoming you and running the boat, and their role is central to the experience. The strongest praise focuses on their attentive, professional, approachable manner and on the way they adjust the day to the weather.

That personal scale is useful. You are not dealing with a large excursion operation where food, gear, and instructions pass through several people. The same couple welcomes you, sails the boat, serves the meal, and helps make the swimming stops work.

The pace is relaxed but full. You should expect a full day rather than a quick scenic outing. There is enough free time to choose your own level of activity, but the schedule also includes several sailing legs, so you will spend a meaningful part of the day underway.

Who will enjoy this sailing day most

I would recommend it to couples, families with older children, and anyone who wants a mix of scenery and activity without planning every detail. It works especially well for people who enjoy being on the water but do not want to rent and operate their own boat.

It is also a good choice if you want to sample Corsican food while seeing the coast. The cheese, fig jam, cold cuts, rosé, fruit, and local beer give the day a regional character that a plain boat transfer would not provide.

You may want a different activity if you dislike changing plans, do not enjoy swimming, or want a heavily narrated sightseeing tour. There is no detailed guided walking tour described at the stops. The experience is built around sailing, eating, relaxing, and choosing your own water activities.

The 4.8 rating from 18 verified bookings reflects a strong overall response, with particular praise for the snorkeling, the food, the boat’s generous space, and the crew. That is a small sample, so I would use it as a helpful signal rather than a guarantee. The most consistent practical message is simple: the boat and the hosts are the heart of the day.

Is $200 a fair price?

At $200 per person, this is an upper-midrange day trip, but the price covers more than a seat on a boat. You receive approximately nine hours of time, a sailing catamaran, coffee, snacks, lunch, wine, other drinks, swimming equipment, snorkels, paddles, and the services of an English- and French-speaking crew.

The catamaran’s size and the long two-and-a-half-hour stop also matter. You are paying for room to spread out and for enough time to use the equipment rather than taking one quick swim before heading home.

Value depends on how much of the package you use. If you plan to swim, snorkel, paddle, eat on board, and stay for the whole day, the cost is easier to justify. If you only want a short scenic cruise and would skip the food or water activities, a shorter excursion may suit you better.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. Check the available starting time before booking, since the exact departure time is not fixed in the information provided.

Should you book Ciao?

Book this sailing day if you want a relaxed but active way to see southern Corsica, with lunch and equipment already handled. The best reasons are the roomy maxi-catamaran, the personal care from Gwen and Claire, and the long swimming stop with snorkels and paddleboards ready to use.

Do not book it expecting a guaranteed visit to every named island or a tightly fixed route. Wind may change the plan. For most people, that is a fair exchange for a safer and more comfortable day at sea. At $200, it is a good fit for you if you will use the full package and value time on the water over a quick, low-cost transfer.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran leave from?

The departure point is Santa Giulia Beach, in front of the Moby Dick hotel. The pontoon is on the right after you reach the beach by passing under the wooden footbridge.

Is parking available near the meeting point?

Yes. Free parking is available just before the Moby Dick hotel’s private parking lot. From there, allow about five minutes to walk to the beach pontoon.

How long does the experience last?

The sailing day lasts nine hours. The schedule includes several sailing periods, a two-and-a-half-hour main stop, and a final swimming stop near Porto Novo.

What food and drinks are included?

The package includes coffee and snacks on arrival, a house aperitif, cold cuts, Corsican cheese with fig jam, pasta salad, rosé wine, fresh fruit salad, coffee, a local digestif, and a Pietra beer during the return journey.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkels, paddles, and swimming fries are available for you to use during the water stops.

Which places will the boat visit?

The route heads toward the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve. The main stop may be at the Lavezzi Archipelago, Sperone, or Santa Manza, depending on the wind. A later swimming stop is planned near Porto Novo.

What languages are spoken on the tour?

The live tour is offered in French and English.