How do you get to Cala Goloritzé?

On foot from the Golgo plateau, in Baunei: about 3.5 km and 500 metres of descent, an hour and a half down and two back up. By boat it can only be seen from 200 metres away.

Yes. Access by land is booked online from the third day before the visit.

What time do you have to set out?

The trail opens at 7:30 and closes at 14:00. Baunei asks you to arrive before 10:00 and leave the beach before 17:00.

Trail to Cala Goloritzé from the Golgo Plateau

A 1 h 30 walk down from the Golgo plateau to Cala Goloritzé, with 500 m of descent; access by reservation and trail open 7:30 to 14:00.

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.