# Gulf of Orosei Limestone cliffs of the Supramonte plunging into the sea, sea caves and coves with no road. Explored by boat or gommone from Cala Gonone and on foot through canyons such as Gorropu. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/gulf-of-orosei · Revisado: 2026-11-11 ## How do you get there from Spain? Fly to Olbia or Cagliari, or take the ferry from Barcelona. Cala Gonone, the gulf's port, is on the east coast: from Olbia you reach it by car along the coast road in a couple of hours. Without a car it's complicated: hire one at the airport. ## How do you get around? By car to reach Cala Gonone, Dorgali, Baunei and the access points to Gorropu. Once there, the gulf is explored by boat: almost no cove has a road. The scheduled boats, mini-cruises and licence-free gommoni leave from the Cala Gonone quay. ## What do you need to book? In August, the next day's boat and the entry to the Grotta del Bue Marino, which runs in turns of 120 people. The gommone too. Gorropu can't be booked: you pay at the entrance. ## Dónde está - Cerca: Barbagia (a 25.1 km), Olbia and the Costa Smeralda (a 90.9 km), Bosa and the Planargia (a 95.8 km), La Maddalena Archipelago (a 105.3 km) ## Qué hacer - **Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna by Boat from Cala Gonone** (6 h · All ages · Desde 42 € per adult, boat): The Gulf of Orosei is a limestone wall tens of kilometres long with coves that can only be reached by sea or long trails. This trip combines the two visits closest to Cala Gonone: a sea cave with a walkway and a beach with no road, and lets you choose how long to stay on the sand. What the Grotta del Bue Marino is It is a karst cave open to the sea, south of Cala Gonone, in the municipality of Dorgali. Its name, "sea ox", is what the fishermen called the monk seal, which had one of its last Mediterranean refuges here. The guided visit, on foot, follows a walkway through the southern branch, among stalactites and rock chambers. Entry is run by the Dorgali council and is paid separately from the boat. What Cala Luna is A beach of sand and pebbles at the foot of a cliff with caves, at the mouth of the Codula di Luna, between Dorgali and Baunei. No road reaches it: you come by boat or on foot along a long trail. The caves at the back give shade by mid-morning. Times and departures The boats of the Nuovo Consorzio Trasporti Marittimi Cala Gonone leave the quay every hour, from 9:00 to 17:00, and need a minimum of ten passengers. From Cala Luna there are return trips at 12:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30 and 18:30. Times may change depending on the weather and the season, and the ticket office, opposite the quay, announces the day's times. The 2026 fare season runs from 27 March to 31 October. 2026 prices Boat Bue Marino + Cala Luna: €42 adults and €21 for ages 3 to 8 (€40 and €20 from 10 to 31 August). Cala Luna only, return: €35 and €20. Cave only: €32 and €16. Cave entry: €10.50 general and €5.50 reduced in spring and autumn; €12.50 and €6.50 from June to September. The consortium warns that this may change. Children under 3 do not pay for the boat; from age 9 the adult fare is charged. With children It is a good family outing: a short boat ride, a cave with a walkway and a beach to stop at for the rest of the day. It is cooler inside the cave than outside. At Cala Luna there is no guaranteed lifeguard: keep an eye on children in the water. Combine it with If you want to go further, the mini-cruise to Cala Goloritzé reaches the southern coves. If you would rather take the helm yourself, the no-licence dinghy stops wherever you like, and by paddle, the kayak from Cala Gonone reaches the cave and Cala Luna in a day. - **Gola di Gorropu, the Canyon of the Supramonte** (5 h 30 · From age 6 if used to walking · Desde 6 € per adult): The entrance to the canyon is at the end of a walk along the Flumineddu river valley, which is usually dry in summer. What you pay for is access to the inside of the gorge, where the path becomes a passage between giant rocks. What it is The water that runs down the northern slopes of the Gennargentu gathers in the Flumineddu river, which crosses the Supramonte. Over millennia it has eroded and dissolved the limestone, opening a gorge about a kilometre and a half long and some 500 metres deep, which in places on the bottom narrows to 4 or 5 metres. The walls hold fossils, and in the cracks grows a plant that lives only here, Aquilegia nuragica, the Gorropu columbine. Around the canyon there are numerous nuraghi, the stone towers of prehistoric Sardinia. What is impressive is that nothing is artificial: no road, dam, bridge or cable car crosses or skirts the canyon. You can only get there on foot. It is run by the Chìntula cooperative, the official concessionaire, which charges the entry and offers guides and transfers. Who it suits Anyone used to mountain walking: between the approach and the visit it is five or six hours, and the return includes an ascent. Children aged 6 to 17 pay the reduced fee and, if they walk well, enjoy the giant boulders of the easy stretch. It is not for those unused to walking nor for a day of strong heat without water. The expert sections require scrambling among boulders: if you have no experience, do them with a guide or stay on the easy ones. How to get to the start By Genna Silana. The cooperative's Base Camp is on the SS125 road, at kilometre 190.5, the pass between Dorgali and Urzulei. From there the path goes down towards the canyon. It is the most direct option if you come from the Cala Gonone coast or from the south, but remember the whole return is uphill. By Sa Barva. From the Dorgali area you drive to the Sa Barva bridge, over the Flumineddu, and from there walk up the valley. It is a longer approach. For either, a car is essential: there is no public transport to the starting points. When to go The canyon opens every day. April, May, June, September and October are the ideal months: good temperatures and long days. In July and August, the approach in the sun gets tough; start very early and reach the entrance as soon as it opens, at 10:00. In winter you can go, but after heavy rain the river rises and the passage may close. Because you have to leave the canyon before 16:00, work out your start time counting the approach: there is no point reaching the hut at three. What it costs €6 per adult and €4 for ages 6 to 17, in cash, at the entrance hut. It cannot be booked. Guided excursions, night outings and the 4x4 return transfer are paid separately and arranged with the cooperative. If the weather is bad In heavy rain or after storms, do not go: the bottom of the canyon is the riverbed. Swap the day for the coast of the Gulf of Orosei or for Dorgali, and leave Gorropu for when the water has passed. - **No-Licence Dinghy Round the Gulf, from Cala Gonone to Cala Sisine** (8 h · Adults at the helm; families on board): What it is You hire an inflatable boat, a gommone, and drive it yourself around the Gulf of Orosei for the whole day, with no guide and no boat timetables. With a 40 hp engine you do not need a boating licence. You stop where you like: in a cove for a swim, in front of a cave or in the middle of the water for lunch. It is the freest way of exploring this coast, where the coves can only be reached by sea or long trails. The hire is offered by the Nuovo Consorzio Trasporti Marittimi Cala Gonone, the same consortium as the scheduled boats to the coves, from Cala Gonone harbour. How far you can go The consortium suggests as destinations Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, Cala Biriola, Cala Mariolu and Cala dei Gabbiani, and the entrance to the Grotta del Bue Marino and the Grotta del Fico. A reasonable plan for a day: Early departure from Cala Gonone, when the sea is usually calmest. Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna, the closest, south of the harbour. Cala Sisine, further south, at the mouth of another gully. Cala Biriola and Cala Mariolu, with very clear water, already in the municipality of Baunei. Return to the north with time to reach the harbour at the handback time. At Cala Goloritzé, the southernmost of the famous ones, motorboats cannot come within 200 metres or land: it is a natural monument. Respect also the buoys and the access lanes to the beaches, where sailing among bathers is forbidden. Price and booking The hire page does not publish prices or give details of handback times, deposit, fuel or the skipper's minimum age. Book on their website or by phone and ask everything when you do, especially whether fuel is included and what time you must return the boat. In July and August the boats sell out: book several days ahead. Safety Even if no licence is required, you will be driving a boat on the open sea. Before setting out: Ask them to explain the engine, the anchor and the safety equipment, and ask about the day's forecast. Set out early: the wind usually picks up as the day goes on. Always anchor on sand, never on posidonia, and at a distance from the shore in coves with bathers. Carry your phone charged in a waterproof bag. The consortium says there are support boats around the gulf for assistance. If the sea is rough or a strong wind is blowing, do not go out even if you have a reservation: ask at the harbour whether they will change the date. What to bring Plenty of water, food for the whole day, sun protection, cap, sunglasses and a long-sleeved T-shirt: there is no shade on a boat. Mask and snorkel, water shoes for the pebble coves and a waterproof bag for phone and documents. With children If the children have already been on boats and are comfortable in the water, it is a great family day: stops whenever needed and swims in different coves. Ask for life jackets in their size when you collect the boat. With very small children, the boat to the Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna is simpler. If you do not want to take the helm The mini-cruise to Cala Goloritzé does a similar route with a skipper. By paddle, the kayak from Cala Gonone reaches Cala Luna. - **Gulf Mini-Cruise to Cala Goloritzé** (8 h · Everyone · Desde 80 € per adult): What it is A whole day by boat from Cala Gonone southwards, skirting the limestone cliffs of the Supramonte as far as Cala Goloritzé, the cove with the rock needle. On the way the boat stops at several coves for swimming. It is the way to see the farthest coves of the Gulf of Orosei without walking for hours through the hills or taking the helm yourself. It is run by the Nuovo Consorzio Trasporti Marittimi Cala Gonone, the village's boatmen's consortium, with a ticket office opposite the quay. The route The boat leaves the Cala Gonone quay and sails south close to the coast. It passes the area of the Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna, continues towards Cala Sisine and the coves of Baunei, and reaches Cala Goloritzé. The order of stops and the time at each cove depend on the day, the sea and the boat: the ticket office confirms them when you buy. Bear in mind that at Cala Goloritzé, a natural monument, motorboats cannot come within 200 metres of the shore or land. From the boat you see it head-on; to set foot on its beach you have to walk down the trail from the Golgo plateau. 2026 prices According to the consortium's fares: Mini crociera nel Golfo: €80 adults and €40 for ages 3 to 8. Mini-cruise with a visit to the Grotta del Bue Marino: €90 and €40, plus entry to the cave (€10.50 in spring and autumn, €12.50 from June to September). Minicrociera Exclusive: €110 and €55, from 15 June to 15 October. Children under 3 do not pay and from age 9 the adult fare is charged. If you leave from La Caletta or Orosei, further north, there is another mini-cruise, on the motor vessel Imperatrice, for €68 in June, July and September and €73 in August. Times and season The 2026 season runs from 27 March to 31 October. The mini-cruises leave every hour in the morning and the return depends on the departure time. In low season the 10:00 and 11:00 departures are guaranteed. The ticket office announces the exact times each day: drop by the afternoon before. In strong sea or wind the route may be shortened or suspended. What to bring Swimsuit, towel, high-factor sun protection and a cap: on deck you spend many hours in the sun. Bring water and food, because you cannot count on finding facilities at the coves. Water shoes for the pebble coves and a layer for the return, when it gets cool on the boat. If you get seasick, take something before setting out. With children It is a long day for small children, although the swimming stops make it bearable. If it is their first boat trip, try the shorter boat to the Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna first. Ages 3 to 8 pay half. Alternatives If you want to stop wherever you fancy, the no-licence dinghy covers the same coast at your own pace. And if you prefer the mountains, the Gola di Gorropu is half an hour away by car. - **Trail to Cala Goloritzé from the Golgo Plateau** (3 h 30 · Used to walking): What it is Cala Goloritzé is a cove of white pebbles in the municipality of Baunei, at the southern end of the Gulf of Orosei, with a limestone needle rising 143 metres above the water and a natural rock arch on the right of the bay. The beach was formed after a rockfall in 1962, and fresh water wells up from the ground there. It has been a natural monument since 1993 and in 2025 The World's 50 Best Beaches list placed it first. To protect it, from the sea it can only be seen from afar: since 2007 motorboats cannot come within 200 metres or land. The only way to set foot on the beach is to walk down from the Golgo plateau, and access by land is regulated by reservation. The route Start: the trail car park, on the Golgo plateau, above Baunei. Distance and descent: about 3.5 km of trail and around 500 metres of descent, according to the Baunei council's tourist service. Time: an hour and a half down and about two hours back up. Difficulty: demanding, especially on the way back, which is all uphill. The path goes down a gully between holm oaks and limestone. The descent is easy to follow, but the surface is loose stone in places: watch where you step. The climb back is what you have to plan for: in the afternoon sun and after hours on the beach, it feels long. Booking and times Access on foot needs a reservation. According to Italy's official tourism website, you book online from the third day before your visit, at Baunei's tourist service or on the Heart of Sardinia website. The Selvaggio Blu ticket includes access to the cove. Trail staff may ask for your confirmation and receipt. The council gives these times: The trail opens at 7:30 and closes at 14:00: after that you cannot start the descent. Arrive before 10:00, to avoid the hottest hours. You can stay on the beach until 17:00. The ticket price does not appear on the official pages we consulted: you see it when booking. The rules are reviewed every year, so confirm dates and conditions with Baunei's information point before going. What to bring The council requires closed shoes with a good sole, preferably hiking shoes: you cannot go down in flip-flops. Bring plenty of water, at least two litres per person, food, sun protection and a cap. There are no facilities on the beach. Water shoes are useful for the pebbly shore. When to go The best time is from May to June and from September to October: the water is already good and the climb is not an oven. In July and August set out first thing, as soon as the trail opens, and climb back before the middle hours if you can. In rain the trail becomes slippery: leave it for another day. With children and dogs It is a route for children used to mountain walking, who can cope with a two-hour climb. Dogs can walk the trail but cannot enter the beach: think about that before bringing one. For climbers The needle, Punta Caroddi, is a classic climb. The council asks those who plan to climb it to start before 15:00. If you are interested in climbing in the area, see the guided climbing in Cala Gonone. If you do not want to walk The mini-cruise from Cala Gonone reaches Cala Goloritzé, which you see from the water, and the no-licence dinghy lets you stop at the neighbouring coves. - **Climbing with a Mountain Guide on the Cala Gonone Walls** (4 h · From teenagers; beginners or experienced): What it is Around Cala Gonone, the Supramonte limestone falls to the sea in grey and yellow walls, and that has made the Gulf of Orosei one of the sport-climbing destinations of the Mediterranean. The rock has good grip and is stable, and many routes face the sea. There are sectors for beginners and multi-pitch walls for experienced climbers. If you have never climbed or do not know the area, the way to do it is with a guide. In Cala Gonone, the agency Prima Sardegna works with mountain guides who organise climbing outings and introductory courses, as well as via ferratas, abseils, canyons and the Selvaggio Blu, the multi-day trek along the Baunei coast. What an outing is like With a guide, the day is adapted to your level: If you have never climbed: a first outing or course at an easy sector, with the guide setting up the rope from above, to learn how to tie in, move on the wall and come down. If you already climb: the guide takes you to the sectors that suit your grade and saves you the time of finding the approaches, or accompanies you on a multi-pitch route. Prima Sardegna does not publish on its website the duration or programme of each outing. Ask when booking what is included: equipment (harness, helmet, climbing shoes), transfer to the sector and number of people per guide. Where you climb Sardegna Turismo, the region's tourism website, highlights some places in the area: Buchi Arta: a sector near Cala Gonone reached by car from Dorgali following the Cala Luna sign, through dense woodland and then up the bends of the scala s'Arga. La Poltrona: grey slabs at the most panoramic point above Cala Gonone. Millennium: a route that crosses the cave of the same name. Arcadio: an amphitheatre of grey limestone with fifteen routes that drop towards yellow overhangs. If you climb on your own, get a climbing guidebook to the area: it will tell you approaches, grades and the orientation of each sector. When to go You can climb all year thanks to the mild climate, but spring and autumn are the best seasons, with temperatures of about 15 to 25 °C. In summer the sun on the rock is very harsh: if you go in July or August, climb first thing or on shaded walls and leave the afternoon for the sea. In winter, on good days, there are very pleasant sectors in the sun. Price and booking Prima Sardegna does not publish the climbing fee in its 2026 price list: you ask. Book by phone, email or at its office, at Viale Lungomare Palmasera 32 in Cala Gonone. In high season book several days ahead, because the guides also go out on the Selvaggio Blu and canyons. Who it is for The introduction is for anyone in good shape, without fear of heights and keen to try. Teenagers usually enjoy it; for small children, ask the guide whether they work with that age. If you already climb, Cala Gonone is good for several days. Combine it with After a morning on the wall, in the afternoon you can go down to the sea with the kayak from Cala Gonone or relax at Cala Luna with the boat to the Grotta del Bue Marino. If you prefer walking, the Gola di Gorropu is a canyon in the same Supramonte. - **Kayaking Beneath the Cliffs of Cala Gonone** (4 h · Beginners in sit-on-tops; families with children who swim · Desde 35 € per kayak, 4 hours): What it is You paddle from Cala Gonone beach southwards, hugging the limestone wall of the Gulf of Orosei, enter small caves and stop for a swim in pebble coves. It is slower than the boat, quieter and lets you see the cliff up close. It is run by Prima Sardegna, an agency in Cala Gonone that has operated since 1995 and hires out kayaks with all the equipment. The standard outings are on your own: you hire the kayak and follow a suggested route. If you prefer to be accompanied, Prima Sardegna provides an escort for your group. Routes Prima Sardegna suggests these itineraries from Cala Gonone: Half day, about 4 hours: to Cala Fuili, the Grotta del Bue Marino and Oddoana. It is about 3.5 to 5 km each way, close to an hour's paddling in each direction. The meeting is at 9:00 and the return before 13:00. Full day, about 7 hours: Bue Marino, Oddoana and Cala Luna. Between 6 and 6.5 km each way, one and a half to two hours' paddling in each direction, with most of the day at Cala Luna. Trek and kayak: they take you to Cala Fuili, you walk about 5 km to Cala Luna, about two hours of medium difficulty, and return paddling. It needs a minimum group and the kayak is returned before 18:00. Two days with camping: to Cala Sisine, about 12.5 km each way. If you want to enter the Grotta del Bue Marino, the ticket is bought separately online: it is a guided visit on foot, of about 50 minutes. 2026 prices According to Prima Sardegna's price list: Single kayak: €35 or €40 for 4 hours and €45 or €55 for the day, depending on the model. Double sit-on-top kayak, the most stable: €45 for 4 hours and €65 for the day. Triple family kayak: €55 for 4 hours and €85 for the day. Children's kayak: €25 for 4 hours. Escort: €180 for half a day and €250 for the day, for the group. The price is per kayak, not per person. It includes life jacket, paddle, waterproof bag, phone case, rope, sponge, pump and spray skirt. It does not include food, drink or entry to the cave. Meeting point and season The base is at Viale Lungomare Palmasera 32, on the Cala Gonone seafront. Prima Sardegna advertises kayaking all year; in practice, the sea decides. Do not go out in wind or swell: this stretch of coast has nowhere easy to land outside the coves. Who it is for If you have never paddled, choose a sit-on-top, which does not capsize easily and is easy to get on and off: this is what the company itself recommends. Closed kayaks are for those who already have experience. With children who swim well, the triple family kayak or a double with an adult works; for the half day you do not need any special fitness, for the whole day it helps to be used to exercise. What to bring Comfortable sports clothes, swimsuit, cap, high-factor sun protection, towel, food and at least two litres of water per person, as Prima Sardegna asks. For the trekking option, hiking shoes and a rucksack. Combine it with If you like the plan but prefer not to paddle, the boat to the Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna does the same route under engine. And to stay on the water the next day, the no-licence dinghy goes much further. ## As a family: The Gulf of Orosei with the Family With children, the gulf is a boat-and-beach plan. The scheduled boats have a reduced fare for ages 3 to 8 and under-3s do not pay; leave the long walks for when they are older. ### What works best The boat to the Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna, half a day with a cave and a beach The mini-cruise to Cala Goloritzé, without walking The no-licence dinghy, to stop at whichever cove you like The kayak, if the children swim well Gorropu as far as the easy stretch, with children who walk ### Where to sleep Cala Gonone, next to the quay ### Where to eat Culurgiones and pane carasau; bring food for the coves ### Keep in mind There are no facilities at the coves: water, food and shade are up to you The beaches are pebbly: water shoes The approach to Gorropu has little shade ### Qué hacer as a family - Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna by Boat from Cala Gonone - Gola di Gorropu, the Canyon of the Supramonte - No-Licence Dinghy Round the Gulf, from Cala Gonone to Cala Sisine - Gulf Mini-Cruise to Cala Goloritzé - Kayaking Beneath the Cliffs of Cala Gonone ## With teenagers: The Gulf of Orosei for Teenagers Here a teenager has everything: canyons, caves, coves to jump into and one of the best-known climbing areas in the Mediterranean. ### What works best The Gola di Gorropu, with expert-level routes Climbing with a mountain guide in Cala Gonone The trail to Cala Goloritzé, with a reward at the end The kayak beneath the cliffs ### Where to sleep Cala Gonone, to get around the village on foot ### Where to eat A sandwich and plenty of water for the routes ### Keep in mind The climb back from Goloritzé is hard and in the sun Gorropu has opening hours: entry before 15:30 ### Qué hacer with teenagers - Grotta del Bue Marino and Cala Luna by Boat from Cala Gonone - Gola di Gorropu, the Canyon of the Supramonte - No-Licence Dinghy Round the Gulf, from Cala Gonone to Cala Sisine - Gulf Mini-Cruise to Cala Goloritzé - Trail to Cala Goloritzé from the Golgo Plateau - Climbing with a Mountain Guide on the Cala Gonone Walls - Kayaking Beneath the Cliffs of Cala Gonone ## Consejos ### Check the sea before you set out With a strong mistral or levante the boats change route or don't sail. ### Set out early The coves fill up by mid-morning with hired boats. ### Bring cash The entry to Gorropu is paid only in cash. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### How many days do I need? Three at the very least: one for the boat, one for Gorropu and one for Cala Goloritzé on foot or by mini-cruise. ### Can you hire a boat without a licence? Yes, in Cala Gonone there are 40 HP gommoni that don't require a boating licence. ### How much does the boat to Cala Luna cost? €35 return per adult and €20 for ages 3 to 8. ### When do the boats run? From 27 March to 31 October, with the Grotta del Bue Marino open from Easter to 1 November. ### How much does Gorropu cost? €6 adults and €4 for ages 6 to 17, in cash and at the entrance.