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Sailing yachts anchored among granite rocks off the coast of Corsica

Mediterranean · yacht charter

Corsica.

Corsica yacht charter from Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio, working the granite south and the Scandola reserve on the west coast. A wilder Mediterranean island than its marinas suggest, within an overnight of Sardinia across the Strait of Bonifacio.

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Overview

What to expect.

Corsica is the wilder end of the western Mediterranean charter map: a granite island of cliffs, maquis and deep-water bays, closer in feel to a mountain range dropped into the sea than to the manicured coast of the Riviera opposite. Bonifacio, set into a limestone cleft at the southern tip, and Porto-Vecchio on the south-east coast are the principal embarkation ports, and most weeks begin from one of the two.

Yacht charter routing in Corsica tends to divide along two coastlines. The south and south-east are the sheltered, social side: the Lavezzi islands, the Golfe de Porto-Vecchio, and the beaches of Santa Giulia and Palombaggia, all within short hops of Bonifacio. The west coast is the dramatic counterpart, running up past Ajaccio to the Golfe de Porto and the Scandola nature reserve, where the red porphyry cliffs meet the water and anchoring is managed against the reserve’s protections.

The through-line for a longer week is the Strait of Bonifacio. Southern Corsica and the Sardinian Maddalena archipelago sit within a short passage of each other, separated by the Lavezzi and Cavallo islands, which makes the two islands a single cruising ground rather than two separate briefs. A ten-day charter can work the Corsican south, cross the Strait, and cover the Maddalena coves before turning back, with cross-border documentation arranged ahead by the advisor.

Corsica rewards a settled forecast more than most Mediterranean grounds, since the west coast is open to the Libeccio and the anchorages there are less forgiving in a blow. June and September return the best balance of weather and space, with July and August the busiest weeks on the southern coast. An advisor holding the Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio relationships fixes the embarkation port, the coast and the Sardinian crossing as one brief.

Private yacht charter in Corsica

Corsica is the wildest island of the western Mediterranean: granite mountains falling straight into clear water, long empty bays and a coastline protected for much of its length. It lies within a long day's cruising of the French Riviera and a short crossing from Sardinia, which makes it as natural an extension of a Riviera week as it is a charter in its own right.

The coasts of Corsica

The south. Bonifacio sits in a narrow inlet below its cliff-top citadel. Offshore, the Lavezzi islands, and around Porto-Vecchio the bays of Rondinara, Santa Giulia and Palombaggia, hold remarkably clear water.

The west. The Sanguinaires islands off Ajaccio, the red cliffs of the Gulf of Porto and the Scandola nature reserve, a UNESCO site seen from the water, with the fishing hamlet of Girolata, reached only by sea or on foot.

The north. Calvi and its citadel, Saint-Florent, and the Agriates coast with the white beaches of Saleccia and Lotu, then Cap Corse and its small harbours.

When to go

The season runs from May to September. June and September bring warm water, settled weather and room in the anchorages; July and August are the busiest months, especially around Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio. The mistral can blow hard on the west coast and the Strait of Bonifacio is often windy, so the route is set day by day against the forecast.

Combining Corsica with Sardinia and the Riviera

The Strait of Bonifacio separates Corsica from the Maddalena archipelago and the Costa Smeralda in Sardinia, an easy crossing for a yacht. Many weeks begin in the south of Corsica and end in Porto Cervo, or join Corsica to a Riviera charter from Nice or Monaco. See our Sardinia yacht charter guide and the French Riviera.

How a Corsica charter is arranged

Tell us your dates, the size of your group and the coast you have in mind, and we will come back with a shortlist of yachts, the route and the full cost before anything is signed. Start the conversation.

Fleet

Yachts available in Corsica.

Available on request

The current selection for Corsica is shared privately on request. Speak to a yacht advisor for a curated shortlist.

Request the selection

Season

When to cruise.

Best months
May to September
Prevailing winds
Mistral · Meltemi · Sirocco
Typical base ports
Bonifacio · Porto-Vecchio · Ajaccio · Calvi
Sailing yachts anchored in Rondinara Bay on the southern coast of Corsica

Late May through September. June and September return the best balance of weather and space; July and August carry the largest fleet and the busiest southern anchorages. The Libeccio from the south-west is the wind to plan around on the exposed west coast, where the Scandola and Golfe de Porto anchorages are less forgiving in a blow. Most briefs work the sheltered south first, with the Strait of Bonifacio crossing to Sardinia the natural extension for a longer week.

Ports

Marinas and anchorages.

  • Bonifacio

    The harbour set into a limestone cleft at the island’s southern tip. The principal southern embarkation and the closest base to the Strait of Bonifacio and the Lavezzi islands.

  • Porto-Vecchio

    The south-east harbour, sheltered at the head of its gulf. Embarkation for the Santa Giulia and Palombaggia anchorages and the eastern coast.

  • Ajaccio

    The west-coast capital and marina. Used for one-way routings toward the Golfe de Porto and the Scandola reserve.

  • Calvi

    The north-west harbour beneath its citadel. The northern turning point for a full west-coast run.

Frequently asked

Practical questions.

When is the cruising season in Corsica?
Late May through September. June and September are the calmer, quieter windows; July and August carry the largest fleet and the busiest anchorages on the southern coast. The Libeccio from the south-west is the wind to plan around on the exposed western side.
Where do charters depart from?
Bonifacio at the southern tip and Porto-Vecchio on the south-east coast are the principal embarkation ports, with Ajaccio on the west and Calvi in the north-west used for one-way routings. The choice follows the coast you want to cover first.
Can a charter reach the Scandola reserve?
Yes. The Scandola nature reserve and the Calanques de Piana on the west coast are a highlight of a longer Corsican week. Anchoring inside the reserve itself is restricted, so the routing works the edges and the neighbouring Girolata bay, which the crew brief in advance.
Can a Corsica charter combine with Sardinia?
Yes, and it is the natural pairing. The Strait of Bonifacio separates the two islands by a short passage, with the Lavezzi and Cavallo islands in between. A ten-day brief can work southern Corsica and the Sardinian Maddalena archipelago as one cruising ground. Cross-border documentation is arranged in advance.
How long is a typical charter in Corsica?
Seven nights covers the southern coast from Bonifacio to Porto-Vecchio and the eastern anchorages. Ten nights or more opens the full west-coast run to Scandola and Calvi, or a crossing to Sardinia. An advisor fixes the routing to the time and the coast that matter most.
What are the principal anchorages?
The Lavezzi islands and the cliffs below Bonifacio in the south, the Golfe de Porto-Vecchio and Santa Giulia on the south-east, and the Golfe de Porto and Scandola on the west. Palombaggia is the best known of the southern beaches and the busiest in high summer.
How do you reach a Corsica charter?
Figari airport serves the south, a short transfer from Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio; Ajaccio, Bastia and Calvi serve the rest of the island. From the French Riviera, the crossing to Calvi is a long day under way, so many clients fly in and join the yacht in Corsica.
What does a Corsica yacht charter cost?
Corsica follows western Mediterranean rates. As a guide, a crewed yacht in the 30 to 50 metre range runs from around EUR 100,000 to EUR 400,000 per week, higher in July and August, with the advance provisioning allowance and gratuity additional. The full figure is set out before anything is signed.
What size of yacht suits Corsica?
Motor yachts from around 25 metres suit short island routes in the south. For the crossing from the Riviera and longer itineraries, a larger yacht is more comfortable. Berths in Bonifacio and Calvi are limited for the largest yachts in high summer, so berths and anchorages are planned ahead.
Can a charter visit the Lavezzi islands?
Yes. The Lavezzi archipelago lies in the Strait of Bonifacio, within the protected marine area between Corsica and Sardinia, with clear water and granite coves. Anchoring is regulated in parts of the reserve, and the captain plans the stops accordingly.

Plan your charter

Send a brief.

Share your dates and party size. A private advisor will reply within the hour.

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For an urgent brief, a private advisor is on WhatsApp during operating hours.

WhatsApp +971 4 608 6008enquiries@balthazaryachting.com

Marinas & ports

  • Bonifacio
  • Porto-Vecchio
  • Ajaccio
  • Calvi

Calls returned within the working day. First response within the hour on WhatsApp.

Field notes

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Plan a charter

Plan a charter in Corsica.

A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.

Speak to a yacht advisor
+971 4 608 6008
enquiries@balthazaryachting.com
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