← Strictly Sardinia
Loading summary
Transcript5 lines
- [00:01]
A
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.
- [00:30]
B
You're listening to a podcast right now. Driving, Working out, Walking the dog. If you're into podcasts, chances are you have something to say, too. With RSS.com, starting your own is free and easy. Upload an episode and we distribute it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and hundreds more. Track your listeners, see where they're from, and start earning from ads like this. Even with just 10 listeners a month, if you've been thinking about starting a podcast, this is your sign. Start free@rss.com.
- [01:17]
C
Hello, I am Claudia. I was born and raised in Sardinia and I still live here. Here I'm the person behind the Streetly Sardinia blog and this podcast where I share practical advice to help you plan your trip to Sardinia. In the last episode, I talked about why Sardinia is not a theme park. Today we're looking at another question. I get all the Should I visit the La Maddalena Archipelago or the Baune Coast? If you've been researching Sardinia, you've almost certainly come across both there. They're probably the island's two most famous coastal destinations. They're home to some of the most photographed beaches in Europe, and they're often presented as though you have to choose one over the other. Personally, I think that's the wrong way of looking at it. You're not choosing between a good destination and a better destination. You're choosing between two completely different experiences. Both offer crystal clear water. Both have spectacular beaches. Both these desert their reputation. But that's where the semi directly, largely end. One is an archipelago of granite islands that you explore by ferry, car and boat. The other is a rugged limestone coastline where the journey to the beach is often just as memorable as the beach itself. By the end of this episode, I hope you'll know which one suits your travel style better. And if you're lucky enough to have enough time, you may decide you don't have to choose at all. Before we get started started, don't forget to check the episode description I've linked my complete guides to both destinations. You'll find much more practical information, suggested hotels, boat tours and maps. You'll also find the link to book a one hour travel consultation with me if you'd like more personalized help planning your itinerary. So let's begin with the Maddalena Archipelago. Maddalena Archipelago lies just off Sardinia's northeastern coast of opposite the town of Palau. It's made up of seven main islands and dozens of smaller islets protected as part of La Maddalena National Park. Only two islands are inhabited, La Maddalena and Caprera. The remaining ones, such as Pardi, Budeli, Razzoli, are protected and can only be reached by boat. One thing that surprises many visitors is just how easy the archipelago is to explore. People sometimes hear the word archipelago and imagine complicated transport or expansion, extensive private boat tours. It's actually remarkably straightforward. The ferry from Palau takes around 20 minutes, runs frequently throughout the day, and once you've arrived you can easily drive around both La Maddalena and Caprera. For the Ara Islands. There are plenty of organized boat excursions departing every day during the tourist season. The landscape here is unlike almost anywhere else in Sardinia. Instead of dramatic flifs, you'll find smooth granite rocks sculpted by the wind over thousands of years, small, sheltered bays and wide sandy beaches surrounded by incredibly clear water. It's a kind of scenery many people picture when they think of a Mediterranean island. Some of Sardinia's best known beaches are found here. Calacoticcio on Caprera is probably the most famous, nicknamed Tahiti because of its extraordinary water colors. Access here is regulated during the tourist season, so it's always worth checking the current rules before you visit. I do have a post on my blog that explains how to visit Caracoto. How to find a guide for the hike that takes you there, so make sure to pop into my website strictly sardinia.com to read that. Another highlight is Cala Granada on Sparji island, which is most visitors reach during a boat excursions around the archipelago. One of the reasons I enjoy recommending La Maddalena is the variety. You can spend one day exploring Caprera by car, stopping at different beaches along the way. The next day you can join a boat tour and discover several islands that are otherwise inaccessible. It never feels repetitive because every day can be slightly different. Boat trips are a huge part of the experience here. Rather than traveling along one coastline, you're constantly moving between islands, sea stopping to swim at different coves, seeing the landscape change throughout the day. It Also passed by Budelli, the famous pink beach island. Although landing is no longer permitting, you can still admire it from the boat. I think protecting it was absolutely the right decision. The beach indeed suffered for many years of the damage from visitors. Removing its distinctive pink scent and preserving it is far more important than unrestricted access. Another thing I think people should know is that La Maddalena offers more than just beaches. The town itself is lively without ever feeling overwhelming. It's a lovely place to wander in the evening, with plenty of restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops along the harbor. If you're staying for several days, there are a few interesting cultural attractions. In Caprera, for example, you can visit the Garibaldi Compendium, which is Upper Garibaldi Special spent the last years of his life scattered across the islands. Several historic military forts remind us of the archipelago strategic importance over the century. So while the beaches are undoubtedly the main reason people visit, you don't necessarily have to spend every single day or every single hour by the sea. That's something we'll come back to later when we compare the two destinations closely. Now let's head across the island to somewhere completely different. The Baunai coast, or as we call it locally, the Golfo di Orosei. Although people compare it with La Maddalena all the time, I think this is a completely different destination. If La Madeleine is about exploring the archipelago, the Baune coast is about experiencing one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic coastlines. Here, there is no island to hop between. You have more than 40 km of limestone cliffs rising straight out of the sea. Sea interrupted by small beaches, hidden coves and sea caves. It's one of the wildest landscapes in Sardinia. One of the reasons this has remained so beautiful is that it's never been easy to reach. Before we go any further, I'd like to clear up something that often confuses visitors. When people say they're visiting the Baunai coast, they're not referring to Baune town itself. They're talking about the coastline where the beaches such as Cala Luna, Cala Mariolu, Cala Goloriza, Calabriola are located. Each has its own character, but what they have in common is that reaching them is part of the experience. Unlike many beaches elsewhere in Sardinia, you cannot drive there. For most visitors, there are two ways to explore the coast. The first is by boat Accession depart from Calagonone or Santa Maria Navarrese or Apartax throughout the tourist season, stopping at several beaches during the day. Now, just to be clear, Calagonone is located at the northern end of the Golf of Di Rose. Santa Maria Navares and Abatax are located at the southern end. In my opinion, the beach the boat tours is the best option to explore the Gulf of Orzee for most people. Not just because it's easier, but because the coastline itself is one of the highlights. Seeing the Normos cliffs rising from the sea gives you a completely different experience. Experience. You quickly realize that the beaches are only part of what makes this area so special. The second option to explore is hiking. If you've listened to previous episodes, you'll know that I enjoy hiking. And the Baune coast offers some of the best hikes in Sardinia. The trail to Calagolorice is probably the best known, but it's far from being the only one. The area is crossed by an extensive network of trails leading to viewpoints, canyons and secluded beaches. Or, you know, difficult to reach beaches. That said, they're not casual walks. The terrain is rocky, the climbs can be steep, and in summer, the heat makes everything more demanding. So if hiking is one of the main reasons you're visiting Sardinia, this area won't disappoint. But come prepared. Wear proper footwear. Don't underestimate the difficulty. The beaches themselves are extraordinary. Cala Gonorza is probably the most recognizable one, thanks to the limestone pinnacle that towers it. It's a protected natural monument. Visitor numbers are limited, and if you're hiking there during the season, you'll need to book in advance. Cala Mariolo is another favorite. Famous for the tiny white pebbles and the exceptionally clear water, Cala Luna is one of Sardinia's best known beaches. It has a long stretch of sand and enormous caves carved into the cliffs behind it. If it's your first visit, it's easy to understand why these places have become so famous. One thing I would encourage you to keep in mind, though, is that the Gulf of isn't just about collecting famous beaches. It's about spending spending a day immersed in nature. The boat trips, the cliffs, the caves, the changing colors of the sea and the sheer scale of the landscape all contribute to the experience. And that's what people tend to remember long after they've gone home. Another difference compared to La Madalena is what you'll find away from the coast. This part of Sardinia isn't about museums, historic towns, or even in promenades. It's about the outdoors. If you have a car, you you can spend some time in the Golgo Plateau, where the trail heads to the hikes to Cala Goloriza. Cala Mariolo and Cala Biriala are located. But here you also find places like Sustero, one of Europe's deepest natural sinkholes, and the little church of San Pietro and several scenic viewpoints. Overall, people come here for hiking, boat trips and beaches. The towns that serve as getaways to the coast reflect that. Calagonone and Santa Maria Navarrese are both lovely places to stay. They have good restaurants, attractive waterfronts and everything you need for a comfortable holiday. But they're relatively small and the atmosphere is much, much quieter compared to that of La Madalena town. And for many visitors, that's part of the appeal. Life slows down. Everything revolves around the sea and the mountains. Before we move on to the comparison, there's one other point I want to make. People often assume that the Baunai coast, because it's harder to reach, is also much quieter. That to be true, but it isn't. It hasn't been for a long time. Between June and the first week of September, the famous beaches along the Gulf of Roseille are extremely busy, and the same is true for La Maddalena. So I really wouldn't choose one destination over the other based on the hope of avoiding crowds. If your priority is quieter beaches and fewer people, I'd actually recommend looking somewhere else entirely, such as the Cosa Verde in southern Sardinia, where tourism is much less concentrated it now we've looked at both places individually, the obvious question is which one is a better option for your trip? Let's compare them directly. By now you realize there isn't a universally better destination. It depends entirely on the kind of holiday you want. When people book a consultation with me, I don't answer this question straight away. Instead, I ask a few things. How. How long are you staying in Sardinia? Will you have a car? Do you enjoy hiking? Are you traveling with children? Those almost always. When answered, point me point towards one destination or the other. Let's start with what I think is the biggest difference. Accessibility. Although you need to take a ferry from Palau to reach La Maddalena, I still think it's an easier destination. Overall, Once you're there, getting around is simple. Many beaches can be reached by car with relatively short walks. And if you want to see the smaller islands, Organiz trips are plentiful and easy to book. The Baunais coast requires a bit more planning. Most of the famous beaches can only be reached by boat or on foot, so you naturally working around boat timetables or hiking routes. Neither option is difficult, but Baunet coast is a bit less flexible than La Madalena. That's one of the reasons I usually recommend La Madalena to families with young children or anyone who wants a more relaxed beach holiday. The next difference is the landscape. Completely subjective. La Maddalena. Granite islands, sheltered bays, white sandy beaches. Scenery changes constantly because you move in between different islands. Baune coast, one continuous stretch of coastline dominated by towering limestone cliffs that plunge into the sea. It's a more rugged and in many ways more dramatic coastline. I don't think it's more beautiful than the other. I simply think they're different. Then there are the beaches themselves. If your idea of the perfect beach is soft white sand and easy access, probably lean towards La Madalena. If you prefer beaches tucked beneath spectacular cliffs where reaching them feels like part of the adventure, you probably love the Baune Coast. Again, there isn't a right answer. It comes down to personal preference. Boat trips are another important consideration. Honestly, the experience is very similar in both cases. You get on the boat, you stop in various places, spots for swimming and snorkeling. You get dropped off in beaches, you get back on the boat and move to a next spot. Both of them are very, very, very active. Now, let's talk about the hiking. This is another point that often causes confusion. Both destinations offer hiking opportunities. Caprera has several trails with beautiful views, suitable for most, most reasonably fit people. Baune coast is another story. The hikes here are demanding longer distances, steeper climbs, rougher terrain and much greater physical effort. If you're an experienced hiker looking for some of Sardinia's best trail, the Golfo di Rosei is the clear winner. If you're simply hoping to combine a few scenic hikes with beach days, La Madarena is probably a better fit. Another thing people often overlook is what happens after your day at the beach. La Madarena, I think, offers a bit more variety to town, is lively in the evenings, with plenty of restaurants, bars and cafes. There are cultural attractions such as the Baribaldi compendium and historically, military forts. If you fancy taking a break from the sea, the Baunai coast is different. Calagon and Santa Maria Navarrese are lovely places to stay, but they're much smaller, much quieter. The focus here is the outdoors. Most people spend their days hiking and taking boat trips. Apart from exploring the Gogo Plateau, there aren't many reasons to leave nature behind. Neither approach is better. It simply depends on what you're looking for. Now, let's come back to the crowds. As I said, between June and September. Both are extremely busy. They're among Sardines best known destinations. Thousands of people visit them every day during the summer, so I really wouldn't base your decision based on the hope of avoiding the crowds. Finally, think about your itinerary. If you're staying around Olbia, Porto, San Paolo, San Teodoro, Santa Teresa di Gallura, visiting La Madrid Elena makes perfect sense. If you sing around Calagonone, Arbita, Santa Maria Navarrese, the Gulf of is the obvious choice. One of the biggest mistakes I see visitors make is trying to drive across the island just to tick another famous place off their list. Personally, I'd much rather see you spend two or three days exploring one area properly than spend half your holiday in the car. So after everything we've discussed, here's my advice. Choose La Maddalena if you want easy logistics because beautiful sandy beaches, excellent boat trips and a destination that offers a little bit more variety beyond the beach, choose a Baune coast if you're looking for dramatic landscapes, challenging hikes and a holiday centered around nature. If you're lucky enough to have 10 days or two weeks in Sardinia, don't choose. Visit both. They're not competitors. They're simply two different sides of the island. And together they just show how incredible, incredibly diverse Sardinia is. Before we finish, I'd like to leave you with one final thought. One of the things I love the most about Sardinia is its diversity. People often imagine the island as one long stretch of beautiful coastline, but that's not the reality. Every part of Sardinia has its own character, and the Maddalena Archipelago and the Bonnai Cows are perfect examples of that. They're both extraordinary destinations and I don't think it's really a question of which one is better, it's a question of which one is better for you. If your itinerary allows, again, visit both. I don't see. Together they showcase two very different sides of Sardinia. One last piece of advice, don't try to see everything in one trip. Every year I hear from people who want to squeeze every famous beach into a week long holiday. I understand the temptation, but Sardinia is a large island and you enjoy it much more if you slow down. Choose one area split, spend a few days exploring it properly and allow yourself time to simply enjoy being here. You can always come back to discover another part of the island and wherever you decide to go. Remember that both La Maddalena Archipelago and the Baune coast are protected environments, so respect local regulations say unmarked trails where required. Don't remove sand shells or stones. Always leave these places as you found them. They're among Sardinia's greatest treasures and preserving them is everyone's. Now, before we finish, don't forget to check the episode description. I've linked to my complete guides to both destinations where you find detailed practical information, hotel recommendations, suggested boat tours, and plenty of tips to help you plan your visit. You'll also find the link to book a one hour travel consultation with me. If you would like personalized advice on planning your sedinir itinerary Next week we'll tackle a topic that's sparkles a lot of debate Are influencers really ruining Sardinia? We look at where overturing really comes from, whether social media deserves the blame it's often given, and what visitors can do to help protect the island. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd really appreciate it if you could leave it a rating, a good review and share the podcast with anyone who's planning a trip to Sardinia. Thank you so much for listening and until next week, goodbye.
- [19:58]
A
Grainger knows when you're a procurement manager for an office park, you're not managing one building, you're managing all of them. And to stay ahead, you need to see through walls and around corners. Lights about to fail, filters ready to clog H Vac on its last leg. If you wait until something breaks, you're already behind. Count on Grainger for quality products, easy reordering and 24. 7 support. Call 1-800-GRAINGER click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
- [20:28]
B
You're listening to a podcast right now. Driving, working out, walking the dog. If you're into podcasts, chances are you have something to say too. With RSS.com starting your own is free and easy. Upload an episode and we distribute it to Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and hundreds more. Track your listeners, see where they're from, and start earning from ads like this. Even with just 10 listeners a month, if you've been thinking about starting a podcast, this is your sign. Start free@rss.com.