After a wonderful cruise on La Costa Brava, The Octopus crossed the warm waters of the Mediterranean to reach the province of Cagliari. Located on the south coast of Sardinia, this region is known for its white sandy beaches covering miles of immaculate coastlines, its idyllic anchorages and its hiking trails which are perfect to explore the charming natural landscape.
Even though southern Sardinia is less popular than the north, it is just as attractive! Archaeological sites, natural caves that you can explore, fine sandy beaches and refreshing local food, everything is there for you to have a memorable experience !
Without further due, let us follow The Octopus on a tour of the top anchorages of southern Sardinia!
Best anchorages in South Sardinia
Weather and climate in South Sardinia
With average temperatures around 22 degrees and a Mediterranean climate, it feels like summer all year long in southern Sardinia. Although winters are humid, they remain mild and pleasant. Thanks to these ideal weather conditions, Cagliari is a dream destination all year long.
Golfo di Palmas
To begin our journey on the south coast of Sardinia, The Octopus takes you to an anchorage with a magical setting: Golfo di Palmas. From your boat, you will witness a breathtaking landscape where time seems to stand still. The fascinating beauty of this place will transport you in an idyllic atmosphere.
Once comfortably anchored in a sandy seabed resting at about 5 meters deep and sheltered from eastern winds, you will enjoy the natural landscape that lies before you. Large dunes of white sand dotted with greenery bathed in turquoise crystal-clear waters, and no noise but the whisper of a light breeze… How not to be charmed by this exceptional setting?
A true paradise but be aware, a small part of the beach is under military control and only opens to the public from 20th of June to September 19th. The rest of the beach is open all year long.
In addition to the beautiful landscape it offers, this anchorage is located near the marina and the city (Port Pino) where you can enjoy the many amenities, bars and restaurants it features.
Malfatano Beach
Our next destination, Malfatano Beach, has a magical setting that makes it a must-see destination in South Sardinia. Nested in a bay behind Capo Malfatano, this anchorage is isolated and wild. With its natural setting and breathtaking panorama, It is unsurprisingly one of the best rated anchorage in the region on Navily. David, who anchored at the anchorage in 2021 aboard his sailboat LiberaMente, kept an unforgettable memory:
“In the top 10 of our favorite bays. The landscape here is unique, bordered by red rocks and intense shrubs. Crystal clear waters and banks of Posidonia. At night, you will only hear the song of crickets as there are no people around. From an orographic perspective, it is highly protected. For boats with draft over two meters stay clear of the buoy field. For those who do not want to cook a restaurant on the small beach with tender service.”
At Malfatano Beach, the seabed rests at about 5-8 meters deep and is made of sand and posidonia on which you have to be careful not to drop anchor. Once anchored in the sandbanks well protected from south-western to north-eastern winds, you will enjoy your stay peacefully. Hiking fans will find their happiness in this unique place with many beautiful hiking trails on both sides of the bay.
Tuerredda Ovest & Tuerredda Est
The Octopus’ next destination is Tuerredda, a beautiful bay in South Sardinia. The anchorage, surrounded by typical Mediterranean maquis, is very appreciated by sailors :
“Beautiful bay, stunning clear water with beautiful beach. You can drop anchor relatively close to the beach in the sandy seabed.”
Leo, Dory Man – Sailboat~ 10.55m.
Take the Navily user’s advice and be careful where you cast your anchor: even if the seabed is mainly made of sandbanks, there are also some rocks and posidonia.
Tuerredda is divided in two parts by a small Island. You can anchor on both sides of the island, at Tuerredda Ovest and Tuerredda East.
Tuerredda Ovest is located at the west of the bay and offers good protection from western to south-eastern winds. There, you will find a little beach at the back of the bay. It is one of the most famous beaches in South Sardinia thanks to its white sand and crystal-clear waters. In these beautiful shallow waters you will enjoy a swim for a moment of pure relaxation. After a nice day spent discovering this magical setting, you can enjoy a well deserved meal at the small beach restaurant.
You can also anchor on the other side of the island, at Tuerredda East. The anchorage offers a similar setting, just like a mirror perfectly reflecting the breathtaking beauty of Tuerredda Ovest. With relatively limited protection from north-western to eastern winds, Tuerredda Est is a dream destination for sailors in search of a wild getaway. In fact, on this side of the bay, there are no shops or restaurants. Only the sea and hills as far as the eye can see…
Poetto
Continuing along the coast to the west, The Octopus reaches its next stopover, Poetto. Although it is very crowded in the summer season, its unique setting makes it a must-see destination in the province of Cagliari. A place best to visit at the beginning or at the end of the season to avoid the summer crowd.
As it is close to Marina Piccola and Cagliari, from the anchorage you will have access to many amenities. A bus that will take you to the city, bars, shops and traditional restaurants will set the tone for your stopover!
From the deck of your boat, you will enjoy a view of the beach. At Poetto’s beach, you will enjoy the sea and the sun during the day, but also to spend a great evening in the summer, all in a festive atmosphere.
To conclude on this anchorage, it benefits from a good protection from winds blowing from the south-west to the north by the west, as well as a good holding in sandbanks and some seagrass to avoid.
Spiaggia di Campulongu
Spiaggia di Campulongu, located at the west of Capo Carbonara, is an anchorage you absolutely have to visit when sailing in South Sardinia. It is characterized by its clear, shallow waters and fine sand. In high season, such a beautiful place attracts a great number of sailors, but the bay is wide enough to comfortably accommodate many boats. In low season, Spiaggia di Campulongu is ideal and it will satisfy your wildest escape dreams! Just like Loïc and Mary, who also appreciated the anchorage for its proximity to the marina di Villasimius, you will be able to relax in its peaceful atmosphere.
“Very calm anchorage outside the summer period. In the immediate vicinity of the very neat marina where you can find the essentials. Very well sheltered from winds outside the southern sector.”
Malo – sailboat ~ 12m.
In addition to its good protection from northerlies and south-easterlies, at Spiaggia di Campulongu you can drop anchor easily in a seabed made exclusively of sand, resting at about 5 – 7 meters deep. You’ll only have to make sure not to anchor in the swimming area, easily identifiable with buoys.
Finally, you can have a nice walk to Villasimius where you will find bars, restaurants, supermarkets, pharmacies, and the city’s archaeological museum.
Porto Giunco
For our next stopover, we head to the east, on the other side of Capo Carbonara. At Porto Giunco, a heavenly beach bathing in crystal clear waters will welcome you. Behind it, you will find the Notteri pond. Its color blends with the deep blue of the sea and it is separated from it by a narrow strip of sand. It adds a touch of magic to this landscape, depicting an extraordinary scene. The pond shelters a unique and diversified fauna: seagulls, waders, cormorants and even pink flamingos for the greatest pleasure of birdwatchers.
Porto Giunco’s beach is also an ideal starting point for a hike along the coast. Walking to the south of Capo Carbonara, you can reach the Torre di Porto Giunco, an incredible viewpoint if we believe Navily users’ comments.
Finally, Porto Giunco offers good protection from southern to north-western winds. There, you will drop anchor easily in the sandy seabed at a depth of about 6 meters.
Cala sa Figu
To wrap up our list of the best anchorages in southern Sardinia in style, we are now going up the coast to reach Cala sa Figu. This landscape, at the crossroads between sea, greenery and cliffs plunging into clear waters, is a true wild paradise. This beautiful setting makes it a really appreciated anchorage on Navily.
Michela, who anchored at Cala sa Figu in July 2021, shared her experience:
“Splendid cove. Sandy seabed. About twenty meters from the beach, there is a submerged rock. Seabed of about 6 meters deep. The cove is divided in two by a large rock. A small tunnel in the sea, that you can go through even without going underwater, joins the two beaches, completely different in type of sand. On the left side of the bay, a couple of pathways go up the mountain to give you a wonderful view over the entire gulf. Little protection from south southwest winds.”
One last dream-like anchorage for The Octopus on his trip in South Sardinia…
Our journey on the south coast of Sardinia is now coming to an end. Of course, this region has many other beautiful anchorages very popular among sailors. Find them on the Navily app and get inspired for your next cruise! To discover more about Sardinia, don’t hesitate to read our other blog posts on the best anchorages in La Maddalena, the National Park of Asinara or on the best marinas of the Island !
Fair winds Captains,
The Octopus.
SAREN
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