# La Maddalena Archipelago

A national park of more than sixty islands off Palau. A 20-minute ferry, boats to Cala Corsara and Budelli, Garibaldi's Caprera and the park rules.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/la-maddalena-archipelago · Revisado: 2026-11-13

## What is La Maddalena?

It's an archipelago of more than sixty islands and islets of granite and schist on the north-east tip of Sardinia, opposite Palau. Since 1994 it has been a national park, the island's first: more than 20,000 hectares of sea and land and about 180 km of coastline. Only two islands have village life. La Maddalena, the largest, with the town of the same name, founded in 1770 and for a long time a base of the Italian navy. And Caprera, joined to it by a road over the Passo della Moneta, where Giuseppe Garibaldi lived the last 26 years of his life.

The rest are islands with no road, reached by boat: Spargi, with Cala Corsara; Budelli, with the Spiaggia Rosa; Santa Maria and Razzoli, separated by the shallow waters of Porto della Madonna, the so-called natural pools; and Santo Stefano, opposite Palau. The water is so clear that from the deck you can see the sandy bottom several metres down, and the rocks have shapes carved by the wind.

## How do you get there from Spain?

Fly to Olbia (OLB), which has a direct flight from Barcelona. From other Spanish cities there is usually a connection, or you fly to Alghero or Cagliari and cross the island by car. From Olbia to Palau it's about 42 km, three quarters of an hour by car along the coast road towards Santa Teresa. At Palau you take the ferry to La Maddalena: a twenty-minute crossing with two operators, Delcomar and Maddalena Lines, with departures all day and a night service.

If you go by boat from Barcelona, Grimaldi Lines arrives at Porto Torres, in the north of Sardinia; from there it's about two hours by car to Palau.

## Where to stay: Palau or La Maddalena?

Palau is the gateway: the ferries and almost all the boat excursions leave from its harbour, and from there you can also visit the Roccia dell'Orso and the Monte Altura fortress. If you only want one day of boating, sleep in Palau and you don't have to take the car across. La Maddalena pays off if you want Caprera, the coves on the scenic road and dinners in the old town without depending on the last ferry. With two or three nights, the best thing is to combine: one in Palau, at the Hotel La Vecchia Fonte, by the harbour, and the rest on the island, at the Hotel Miralonga or at the Abbatoggia campsite. For eating, La Grotta in the old town, the pizza at Sergent Pepper's or the terrace of La Gritta in Palau. There are two day plans from Olbia, by boat round the islands and round Caprera by car, and a two-night getaway.

## How do you see the islands?

On an excursion boat. It's the way to see Spargi, Budelli and Santa Maria. The big boats leave Palau at 10:00 and return around 17:00, with three or four swimming stops: Cala Corsara, Cala Santa Maria and the Budelli pools. With Elena Tour Navigazioni from €52.50 per person, plus the municipal landing contribution, which is paid separately: €2.50 in May, September and October and €5 from June to August. Children under 6 don't pay it.

By car round La Maddalena and Caprera. A scenic road circles the island of La Maddalena and passes near coves such as Spalmatore, Cala Francese or Bassa Trinita; another crosses to Caprera over the Passo della Moneta. You can take your car across on the ferry or hire a car, a motorbike or a bike on the island.

Underwater. The park's seabeds have granite, posidonia meadows and shoals with red gorgonians, such as the Washington shoal between Budelli and Spargi. Guided diving or snorkelling is done with authorised centres, such as Argonauta, at Abbatoggia.

## The park rules

The park keeps a close watch, and these rules affect your visit:

The Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli can't be set foot on. Since 1998 landing, swimming and anchoring in front of it have been forbidden so the pink sand wouldn't vanish into visitors' pockets. It can be seen from the boat or from the nearby Cavaliere beach.

Don't take sand, stones or shells from any beach.

Diving, fishing and water sports need authorisation from the park. If you dive with a centre, it takes care of that.

Boat routes change with the wind and the park's instructions. An operator may skip a cove on a day when the mistral makes it dangerous or the park closes it.

The landing contribution is charged on excursions from May to October.

The park's website (lamaddalenapark.it) wasn't responding when we prepared this page; before going, check the season's rules there, especially if you want to walk to Cala Coticcio, on Caprera, which has restricted access.

## When to go?

May, June and September. The sea is already or still good for swimming, boats run every day and the coves aren't crowded. July and August are high season: more boats at Cala Corsara, ferries full with cars and high prices. In October there are still excursions and the water keeps the summer's warmth, but the wind cancels more departures. From November to March the ferry still runs and the island can be visited, but the boat excursions, the diving centre and many restaurants close.

## What to see on land

On La Maddalena, the old town: 18th-century lanes, the church of Santa Maria Maddalena and the port of Cala Gavetta, with a column bearing Garibaldi's effigy. On Caprera, the Compendio Garibaldino, the white house where the hero lived and died, with his tomb, the mill and the oil press he built with his son. It needs a reservation and closes on Mondays.

In Palau, the Roccia dell'Orso, a granite rock shaped like a bear above Capo d'Orso, and the Monte Altura fortress, a military citadel from 1887 camouflaged among rocks that is visited with a guide.

## Dónde está
- Cerca: Olbia and the Costa Smeralda (a 16.5 km), Stintino and Asinara Island (a 103.6 km), Gulf of Orosei (a 105.3 km), Barbagia (a 112.3 km)

## Qué hacer
- **Boat Trip from Palau to Spargi, Santa Maria and the Budelli Pools** (7 h · All ages · Desde 52.5 € per person): The archipelago's small islands have no roads or ferry harbours: you see them by boat. The classic trip is a large excursion boat that leaves Palau in the morning, makes three swimming stops in coves on Spargi, Santa Maria and Budelli, passes in front of the Spiaggia Rosa and returns mid-afternoon. It is the day that justifies the trip to this corner of Sardinia.
The route
With Elena Tour Navigazioni, the boat leaves the harbour of Palau at 10:00; check-in is from 8:45 to 9:15 in front of the ferry terminal. First it crosses to La Maddalena, where you have a little free time in the centre and where passengers leaving from the island board at 11:30.
Then come the swimming stops:

Cala Corsara, on Spargi: four little white-sand beaches among dunes with junipers and granite rocks sculpted by the wind, such as the Roccia della strega. Off this island a Roman merchant ship of the 2nd century BC sank; part of its cargo is in the Nino Lamboglia Museum in La Maddalena.
Cala Santa Maria, on the island of Santa Maria, another pale beach with very shallow water.
Porto della Madonna, the channel between Budelli, Santa Maria and Razzoli, which they call the natural pools because of the colour of the water. Here you swim from the boat.

From the boat you see Budelli's Spiaggia Rosa, the pink-sand beach. Since 1998 you cannot land, swim or anchor in front of it: the colour was being lost because people took away the sand. The return to Palau is by Punta Sardegna and Porto Rafael, around 17:00.
What it costs and what is not included
The published price is from €52.50 per person, with a reduction for children up to 10. Separately, you pay the municipal landing contribution: €2.50 in May, September and October and €5 from June to August; under-6s do not pay it. Food and drink are not included: bring a sandwich and water or ask what they sell on board.
You book on its website, paying at the time or 72 hours before. Cancelling is free up to 24 hours before, and if the boat does not sail because of the weather you get your money back.
Who it is for
Everyone. It is a large, stable boat, with shade, and the stops are long. With children, bring water shoes, a cap and sun cream: there is no shade in the coves. If you want to reach small coves or have more time at each, look for a motor launch or a RIB; this boat plays it safe.
Getting to Palau
Palau is about 42 km from Olbia, three-quarters of an hour by car. Park near the harbour and arrive with time to spare: in July and August the town fills up in the morning. If you are sleeping in La Maddalena, board on Via Amendola at 11:30.
- **The Compendio Garibaldino on Caprera, the House Where Garibaldi Lived** (1 h 30 · All ages · Desde 8 € per person): Giuseppe Garibaldi, the general of Italian unification, retired to Caprera and lived there for the last 26 years of his life. He did not build a palace: he built a farm. The Compendio Garibaldino is that estate, now a state museum, with the house, the buildings he raised with his own hands and his granite tomb.
What you see
The centre is the white house, built in 1856 and 1857, with seven connected rooms: atrium, three bedrooms, study, dining room and kitchen, and a room added later, the death room, where he died. Around it are the wooden house and the iron house, which holds his library, and the farm part: the oil mill, the oven, the stable and the windmill, built by Garibaldi, his son Menotti and his closest collaborators.
In the cemetery area is the general's granite tomb and those of Francesca Armosino, his last wife, and of his children. All of it lies in a large estate of Mediterranean vegetation, with views of the sea.
Hours, price and booking
It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:30, with the ticket office open until 18:30. It is closed on Mondays. Booking is compulsory: it is done online on the ministry's website, by phone on +39 335 7505401 or by email.
Admission costs €8. The reduced price, €2, is for young people aged 18 to 25, and under-18s go in free, as in all Italian state museums. The combined ticket with the Memoriale Giuseppe Garibaldi, the other museum dedicated to him on the island, costs €13. On the first Sunday of each month state museums are free.
Getting there
Caprera is joined to La Maddalena by the paso della Moneta road. From La Maddalena harbour it is about fifteen minutes by car or scooter. If you do not bring your car across from Palau, you can hire a scooter or bike on the island.
Who it is for
For anyone curious about Italian history, and fine for families: children do not pay, the visit is short and the farm can be understood without knowing much about Garibaldi. Combine it with a Caprera cove in the afternoon or with lunch in La Maddalena's old town.
- **Boat to Cala Coticcio, Spargi and Santa Maria from Palau** (7 h · All ages · Desde 52.5 € per person): Cala Coticcio is the best-known cove on Caprera, on the east coast of the island, with pale sand between granite rocks and water so clear that it is called Tahiti. Reaching it on foot is not free: the park restricts access along the path. The simple way to see it is by boat: the Maxi Tour by Elena Tour Navigazioni includes it, with swimming from the deck, on a day that also takes in Spargi and Santa Maria.
The route
The boat leaves Palau at 10:00, with check-in from 8:45 to 9:15 in front of the ferry terminal, and stops at La Maddalena, where you have a little time to see the centre and where those leaving from the island embark at 11:30. Then:

Cala Corsara, on Spargi, with its four little white-sand beaches.
The Spiaggia Rosa of Budelli, seen from the boat; you cannot go ashore.
Cala Santa Maria, on the island of the same name, with a swimming stop.
Cala Coticcio, on Caprera, with swimming from the boat.

The return to Palau, around 17:00, skirts the island of Santo Stefano and Capo d'Orso, where the bear-shaped rock that gives the headland its name stands.
Difference from the classic itinerary
The company's other itinerary, from May to October, swaps Cala Coticcio for Budelli's natural pools. The Maxi Tour only runs from June to September. If you are in doubt: the classic lets you swim in the Budelli channel, and the Maxi Tour adds the Caprera cove.
Price
The company publishes its seven-hour tours from €52.50 per person, with a reduction for children up to 10; confirm the exact price of the Maxi Tour for your date when you book. The landing contribution is paid separately: €5 from June to August and €2.50 in September, free up to age 6. Lunch is not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before and a refund if it is cancelled for bad weather.
Cala Coticcio on foot
If you prefer to walk, the Cala Coticcio path has limited access regulated by the National Park. Its website was not responding when we prepared this page: check at lamaddalenapark.it how to book and whether a guide is needed before you go.
- **A Walk Round La Maddalena's Old Town and Cala Gavetta** (1 h 30 · All ages · Free): La Maddalena is a small, young town: it was founded in 1770 and was for a long time a base of the Italian navy. The walk starts at the quay where the ferry arrives and takes a morning or the end of the afternoon, when the excursion boats empty.
The route
From the ferry quay walk towards Cala Gavetta, the small harbour of boats and sailing yachts, in the heart of the old town. In the square stands a column with the effigy of Giuseppe Garibaldi, who lived and is buried on neighbouring Caprera. Behind it begin the cobbled alleys with 18th-century houses, shops, bars and restaurants.
Climb to the church of Santa Maria Maddalena, the parish church that gives the island its name, and pass the town hall, another of the 18th-century buildings. In the centre they remember the episode the town is proudest of: in 1793 a French force including a young Napoleon Bonaparte tried to take the island and was repelled by a fleet commanded by Domenico Millelire, born in La Maddalena.
If you have time left
The Museo Navale Nino Lamboglia tells the island's seafaring history and holds part of the cargo of a Roman merchant ship of the 2nd century BC sunk off Spargi, found in 1939. Confirm the hours before going, because we have not been able to check them.
When to go
Early in the morning, before the excursion boats arrive from Palau, or from six in the evening, when the harbour fills with people going out to dinner. In summer, shade is in the narrow streets, not on the quay.
- **The La Maddalena Panoramic Road and the Bridge to Caprera** (4 h · All ages · Free): The island of La Maddalena has a panoramic road that goes right round it, between granite rocks, mastic scrub and views of the other islands and of Corsica. Short tracks lead off it to coves where you can swim without a boat. And on the east side, another road crosses to Caprera by the paso della Moneta bridge. It is the half of the trip that does not depend on the sea.
How to do it
It leaves the town and circles the island. By car or scooter you do it in a morning with stops; by bike, allow for hills and summer traffic. The Abbatoggia campsite, in the north, serves as a reference: it is about 5 km from the harbour along the Strada Provinciale Panoramica, turning at the Baia Trinità junction.
The coves you find
Sardegna Turismo lists among the island's beaches Bassa Trinita, Cala Francese, Cala Lunga, Monti d'a Rena, Punta Tegge and Spalmatore. They are sandy coves between granite rocks, different from one another: some open to the wind and others sheltered. Check what facilities each has before you go. In July and August, arrive early or go late: these are the coves everyone who is not on a boat goes to.
Caprera
Once across the bridge, Caprera is the green island of the archipelago, with pine woods and tracks. There is the Compendio Garibaldino, the hero's house, and Forte Arbuticci. There are coves all round its coast; the best known, Cala Coticcio, has access on foot restricted by the park, so the easy way to see it is by boat.
Getting around
If you come from Palau without a car, La Maddalena has car, scooter and bike hire; several accommodations have agreements with these companies. If you cross with your own car on the ferry, bear in mind that in July and August the ferries carrying vehicles are full at peak times.
- **Try Dive or Guided Snorkelling in the Park with Argonauta** (3 h · Snorkelling for children who swim; diving depending on the course · Desde 65 € per person): From the deck of the boat you see the seabed; with mask and snorkel, or with a tank on your back, you see it up close. The seabeds of the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park are granite, with posidonia meadows and shoals where red gorgonians grow, such as the Washington shoal, between Budelli and Spargi. In the park, diving needs authorisation: the simple way is to go with a centre that has it.
With whom
Argonauta Diving La Maddalena is a PADI centre with more than thirty years of activity, with another base at Cala Gonone. It has its information point on Via Abbatoggia, in the north of the island, next to the beach. They go out in a RIB: the best-known dive sites are reached in under half an hour, and Razzoli and the Lavezzi islands in under an hour. The equipment is new and they have guides with HSA certification for people with disabilities.
What you can do

Guided snorkelling, for those who do not dive: €65 with equipment and €45 for children. It is the option for families and for those who swim well but do not want a tank.
Discover Scuba Diving, the try dive: about three hours with an instructor at your side, to breathe underwater for the first time. €130, or €160 if done from the boat.
Dives for certified divers: an outing with one dive costs €85, or €95 with hired equipment; with two dives, €115 or €140. There are packages of 4 to 10 dives.
PADI courses, from Open Water Diver (€560 with equipment) to Divemaster.

When
The centre is open every day from 8:00 to 19:00 in season. For 2027 they announce the season as 15 June to 30 September.
Getting there
Via Abbatoggia is in the north of La Maddalena, about 5 km from the harbour along the panoramic road. You need a car, scooter or bike. If you are sleeping at the Abbatoggia Village, it is on foot.
- **Monte Altura Fortress, in Palau, with a Guided Visit** (All ages; not all of it is accessible · Desde 5 € per person): Above Palau, on top of a granite hill, there is a military citadel that is barely visible from below. The Monte Altura fortress was built in 1887 to watch over and defend the north-east coast of Sardinia, and it was made from the hill's own rock so that it blended into the landscape. Today it is visited with a guide, and from the top you see Palau, the archipelago and, on clear days, the mountains of Corsica, about 15 km away.
What you see
It is a complete 19th-century citadel, in good condition: storehouses, ammunition depots and the powder magazine, the quarters of officers, non-commissioned officers and soldiers, the mess rooms where they ate, the wash-houses and the telegraph office. The rocks emerge between the walls, and stone steps climb the granite to the lookout posts.
The guides tell the history of the area with names that ring a bell: Domenico Millelire and the French attack of 1793 in which Napoleon Bonaparte took part, Admiral Horatio Nelson, Garibaldi and the sailors of the cruiser Trieste and the battleship Roma, sunk in the Second World War.
2026 hours
The visit is guided, with departures at fixed times. From 1 April to 9 August and from 2 to 30 September, every hour from 10:15 to 17:15 or 18:15 depending on the month, with a break at midday. From 1 to 24 October, until 17:15; from 25 October to 2 November, from 9:15 to 16:15. In 2026 it closed from 10 August to 1 September and closes for winter from 3 November. Visits are in Italian and English; for Spanish, ask beforehand.
Prices and booking
€5 for adults, €2.50 for ages 11 to 18 and free up to 10. The combined ticket with the Roccia dell'Orso and Palau's Ethnographic Museum costs €7 (€4 for ages 11 to 18). You book online on its website or by phone and WhatsApp on +39 347 0913032. The visitor centre is at Via Punta Sardegna 4, in Palau.
Bear in mind
Not all of the route is accessible for people with reduced mobility. Animals are allowed. Wear closed shoes: there are steps and rock. It is a good plan for the afternoon you come back from the boat or for a windy day when the excursions do not sail.
- **Roccia dell'Orso, the Bear-Shaped Rock above Palau** (1 h · All ages; many steps · Desde 3 € per person): On the cape that closes Palau's bay to the east, the wind has carved a block of granite into the shape of a bear looking out to sea. The Roccia dell'Orso gives its name to the whole headland, Capo d'Orso, and is one of the clearest viewpoints over the archipelago: below you are the La Maddalena channel, Caprera and Santo Stefano, and the boats coming and going from Palau.
The climb
From the visitor centre, at Via Roccia dell'Orso 8, a path among myrtle, broom and mastic climbs to the rock. There are many steps, so a good part of the route is not practicable with reduced mobility. Allow an hour for the way up, photos and the way back. Local legend says the cape could be the land of the Laestrygonians, the giants who frightened Odysseus in the Odyssey.
2026 hours and price
It is open from 1 April to 2 November, from 9:30. Closing time changes with the month: 18:30 in April, 19:00 in May, between 19:30 and 20:30 in June and July, 22:30 in August, 20:00 or 19:30 in September, and 18:30 or 17:30 in October. Last admission is about 45 minutes before closing. From 3 November it closes for winter.
Admission costs €3, €2 for ages 11 to 18, and is free up to 10. The joint ticket with the Monte Altura fortress and Palau's Ethnographic Museum costs €7. It is bought online or at the visitor centre. Animals are allowed.
When to go
At the end of the afternoon, with low light over the islands. In August it is open until 22:30, so you can climb after the excursion boat, which returns to Palau around 17:00. At midday, in summer, there is no shade on the rock.

## Dónde comer
- **La Grotta** (Restaurant, La Maddalena, €€€€). Qué pedir: the aragosta alla Sette-Otto, the family's lobster recipe for more than sixty years; if you do not want lobster, the spaghetti alla Grotta with seafood and the fish of the day alla Filomena
- **Sergent Pepper's** (Restaurant, La Maddalena, €). Qué pedir: the Gallurese pizza, with fresh sausage and pecorino, or the Sarda, with cured sausage; if you do not want pizza, the zuppa gallurese, the northern Sardinian soup of bread, broth and cheese
- **La Gritta** (Restaurant, Palau, €€€). Qué pedir: the fish of the day in the version the chef suggests and a Sardinian wine from a small producer on the list; ask for a terrace table for the sunset over the islands

## By plane: Flying to Olbia and Driving to Palau
The nearest airport is Olbia, with a direct flight from Barcelona; from other Spanish cities there is usually a connection, or you fly to Alghero or Cagliari and cross the island by car. From Olbia to Palau, where the ferry to La Maddalena and the boat excursions leave from, it is about 42 km, three-quarters of an hour along the coast road.
### Dónde dormir if you're flying
- **Hotel Miralonga** (Hotel): A three-star above the harbour
Hotel Miralonga is on La Maddalena's Strada Panoramica, about 800 metres from the harbour where the ferry from Palau arrives, on the slope facing the channel and the archipelago. It has three stars and 50 rooms, each with a separate entrance. It is a practical, family hotel, not a luxury one: what sets it apart is the view and the pool on the terrace.
The rooms
There are several types: Economy, Sea View with balcony and sea view, Family and Family Sea View for families, and triples. The Sea View rooms have a bathroom with shower and hairdryer, television, desk, fridge or minibar and free wifi. If you are going to spend time at the hotel, ask for a sea view: the balcony over the islands is the reason to sleep here.
Pool, breakfast and services
The panoramic terrace has a small pool and a sun deck. They serve breakfast, with cakes and sponges, according to their photos, and an aperitivo with a sea view at the end of the day. Reception is open 24 hours, there is a lift, a coin-operated laundry and free wifi. For the car they have covered parking and a garage, a rarity in the centre of the island. Opposite there is a supermarket, and next door, a tennis court and five-a-side pitch.
The hotel organises guided diving and snorkelling, marine biology courses and boat trips round the archipelago. The website does not publish prices or check-in and check-out times: ask when you book.
Getting there
From the Palau ferry to the hotel it is 800 metres: with a suitcase, a short uphill walk or a minute by car. One advantage: by showing your booking confirmation you get 20% off a return ticket with Maddalena Lines, useful if you cross with your car. From the hotel, the old town and Cala Gavetta are a walk away, and the panoramic road starts at the door.
- **Hotel La Vecchia Fonte** (Hotel): A step from the boats
La Vecchia Fonte is a four-star hotel in the centre of Palau, 150 metres from the tourist harbour and a few steps from the boarding point for the ferry to La Maddalena. If you are going to spend the day on a boat round the archipelago, here you get up, have breakfast and walk to the quay without touching the car. The nearest sandy beach is 350 metres away, two minutes' walk.
The lobby reproduces the interior of an old sailing ship, with wood and ship's lamps, and sets the tone of the house: classic and well kept, more for couples than large groups.
The rooms
There are Classic and Superior doubles with sea view, Junior Suites and Deluxe Suites with sea view, and two suites with a private jacuzzi on a panoramic terrace: the Royal SPA Suite and the Presidential Wellness Suite. The decor is Sardinian in style, with wooden headboards and embroidery.
Services
Breakfast is a continental buffet, with gluten-free products. The bar The One has two terraces over the harbour, with aperitivi, local wines and breakfasts with home-made sweets. Reception is open 24 hours, and there is room service, laundry, beach towels and fibre wifi. They can arrange half board at a restaurant 50 metres away.
For the car there is a ten-space garage at €19 a day, subject to availability. They arrange a taxi from Olbia airport, from €105 per trip, and have agreements for hiring a car, scooter, bike or boat and for excursions in the park. Dogs of up to 10 kg are allowed in the Classic doubles with outdoor space, with a cleaning supplement.
Getting there
Palau is about 45 minutes from Olbia, its harbour and its airport, and half an hour from the Costa Smeralda. The hotel is on Via Fonte Vecchia, in the centre. The website does not publish prices or check-in and check-out times; if you arrive early, the hotel recommends booking the night before to have the room, or it keeps your luggage.
### Servicios
- **Delcomar Palau–La Maddalena Ferry**: Passenger and car ferry between Palau and La Maddalena · about 20 min · all day and at night · passenger from €3.70
- **Maddalena Lines Palau–La Maddalena Ferry**: Passenger and vehicle ferry between Palau and La Maddalena · 15–20 min · frequent daily departures

## By car: La Maddalena by Car
A car is useful for getting from Olbia to Palau in 45 minutes and, taken across on the ferry, for driving round La Maddalena and Caprera on the panoramic road. For boat day you do not need it: the excursions leave from Palau harbour.
Presupuesto orientativo: 90–160 € por persona y día.
### Dónde dormir if you're driving
- **Hotel Miralonga** (Hotel): A three-star above the harbour
Hotel Miralonga is on La Maddalena's Strada Panoramica, about 800 metres from the harbour where the ferry from Palau arrives, on the slope facing the channel and the archipelago. It has three stars and 50 rooms, each with a separate entrance. It is a practical, family hotel, not a luxury one: what sets it apart is the view and the pool on the terrace.
The rooms
There are several types: Economy, Sea View with balcony and sea view, Family and Family Sea View for families, and triples. The Sea View rooms have a bathroom with shower and hairdryer, television, desk, fridge or minibar and free wifi. If you are going to spend time at the hotel, ask for a sea view: the balcony over the islands is the reason to sleep here.
Pool, breakfast and services
The panoramic terrace has a small pool and a sun deck. They serve breakfast, with cakes and sponges, according to their photos, and an aperitivo with a sea view at the end of the day. Reception is open 24 hours, there is a lift, a coin-operated laundry and free wifi. For the car they have covered parking and a garage, a rarity in the centre of the island. Opposite there is a supermarket, and next door, a tennis court and five-a-side pitch.
The hotel organises guided diving and snorkelling, marine biology courses and boat trips round the archipelago. The website does not publish prices or check-in and check-out times: ask when you book.
Getting there
From the Palau ferry to the hotel it is 800 metres: with a suitcase, a short uphill walk or a minute by car. One advantage: by showing your booking confirmation you get 20% off a return ticket with Maddalena Lines, useful if you cross with your car. From the hotel, the old town and Cala Gavetta are a walk away, and the panoramic road starts at the door.
- **Hotel La Vecchia Fonte** (Hotel): A step from the boats
La Vecchia Fonte is a four-star hotel in the centre of Palau, 150 metres from the tourist harbour and a few steps from the boarding point for the ferry to La Maddalena. If you are going to spend the day on a boat round the archipelago, here you get up, have breakfast and walk to the quay without touching the car. The nearest sandy beach is 350 metres away, two minutes' walk.
The lobby reproduces the interior of an old sailing ship, with wood and ship's lamps, and sets the tone of the house: classic and well kept, more for couples than large groups.
The rooms
There are Classic and Superior doubles with sea view, Junior Suites and Deluxe Suites with sea view, and two suites with a private jacuzzi on a panoramic terrace: the Royal SPA Suite and the Presidential Wellness Suite. The decor is Sardinian in style, with wooden headboards and embroidery.
Services
Breakfast is a continental buffet, with gluten-free products. The bar The One has two terraces over the harbour, with aperitivi, local wines and breakfasts with home-made sweets. Reception is open 24 hours, and there is room service, laundry, beach towels and fibre wifi. They can arrange half board at a restaurant 50 metres away.
For the car there is a ten-space garage at €19 a day, subject to availability. They arrange a taxi from Olbia airport, from €105 per trip, and have agreements for hiring a car, scooter, bike or boat and for excursions in the park. Dogs of up to 10 kg are allowed in the Classic doubles with outdoor space, with a cleaning supplement.
Getting there
Palau is about 45 minutes from Olbia, its harbour and its airport, and half an hour from the Costa Smeralda. The hotel is on Via Fonte Vecchia, in the centre. The website does not publish prices or check-in and check-out times; if you arrive early, the hotel recommends booking the night before to have the room, or it keeps your luggage.
- **Abbatoggia Camping Village** (Campsite): A campsite between four coves
Abbatoggia is in the north of the island of La Maddalena, on a small peninsula surrounded by four coves, inside the National Park. It is the accommodation closest to the sea on this list: the free beaches are 20 metres from the motorhome area, and from the front-row houses you see the water from the porch. The Argonauta diving centre has its information point in the same area.
It is a beach-holiday place, simple and outdoors, for those who want to swim as they step out of the door and do not mind being far from the town.
Mobile homes

Fronte Mare: 32 m², for four or five people, with two bedrooms (one double and one with two beds, not bunks), kitchen with living area, air conditioning, private bathroom and porch. They are, according to the campsite itself, the least modern.
Family and Family Prima Fila Vista Mare: 24 m², for three or four people, a few steps from the beach, with two bedrooms, kitchen and porch.
Orizzonte: 21 m², for two, with a roof terrace with views. Animals are not allowed.

All have free wifi, which warns that it may be slow with a lot of traffic.
Tent and motorhome
There is a large shaded area for tents, with electrical hook-up, toilets and free hot showers and a paid laundry. The motorhome pitches measure 8 × 6 m, with water loading and unloading at the service area; electricity is on request and you need a long cable.
Bar, restaurant and activities
The restaurant is open every day at lunchtime and in the evening, also to those not staying, with sea-and-land cooking and Sardinian dishes such as suckling pig or gnocchetti sardi. The bar serves breakfasts and sunset aperitifs. At weekends there are themed nights with live music. They hire pedalos, and have discounts on car, scooter, bike and boat hire, and on the motor vessel Città di Chiavari.
Getting there
From the commercial harbour it is about 5 km: follow the Strada Provinciale Panoramica to the Baia Trinità junction, turn right and continue about 800 metres. You need a car, scooter or bike. The website does not publish prices or opening dates: ask when you book.
### Servicios
- **Delcomar Palau–La Maddalena Ferry**: Passenger and car ferry between Palau and La Maddalena · about 20 min · all day and at night · passenger from €3.70
- **Maddalena Lines Palau–La Maddalena Ferry**: Passenger and vehicle ferry between Palau and La Maddalena · 15–20 min · frequent daily departures

## As a family: La Maddalena with Children

With children, La Maddalena is a plan of large boat, shallow-water coves and the odd short visit on land. Excursion boats have reduced prices up to age 10 and under-6s do not pay the landing tax; at the Garibaldi Compendium and on the Palau visits, children go in free.

### What works best
The boat excursion to Spargi, Santa Maria and the Budelli pools, with clear, shallow water

Guided snorkelling with Argonauta, €45 for children

The Roccia dell'Orso, an hour's climb to the bear-shaped rock

The Monte Altura fortress, with a guided visit and free up to age 10

The Compendio Garibaldino, free for under-18s

### Where to stay
Hotel Miralonga, with Family rooms and a pool

Abbatoggia Camping Village, with two-bedroom mobile homes 20 m from the beach

### Where to eat
Sergent Pepper's, pizza all day and no booking

La Grotta has a fish and chips dish for children

### Bear in mind
There is no shade or bars in the coves: bring water, food and a cap

The Roccia dell'Orso has many steps: a baby carrier is better than a pushchair

Boat day lasts seven hours

### Qué hacer as a family
- Boat Trip from Palau to Spargi, Santa Maria and the Budelli Pools
- The Compendio Garibaldino on Caprera, the House Where Garibaldi Lived
- Boat to Cala Coticcio, Spargi and Santa Maria from Palau
- A Walk Round La Maddalena's Old Town and Cala Gavetta
- The La Maddalena Panoramic Road and the Bridge to Caprera
- Try Dive or Guided Snorkelling in the Park with Argonauta
- Monte Altura Fortress, in Palau, with a Guided Visit
- Roccia dell'Orso, the Bear-Shaped Rock above Palau

## With teenagers: La Maddalena with Teenagers

For teenagers, the archipelago is water: diving for the first time, jumping off the boat at Cala Coticcio and going round the island by scooter or bike. Garibaldi's history and the fortresses work better in short doses.

### What works best
The try dive with Argonauta, about three hours with an instructor

The boat to Cala Coticcio, with swimming from the deck

The panoramic road, by bike or scooter, with stops at coves

The Monte Altura fortress, an 1887 citadel with a powder magazine and rock steps

### Where to stay
Abbatoggia Camping Village, with the sea at the door and the diving centre nearby

Hotel Miralonga, with a pool on the terrace

### Where to eat
Pizza at Sergent Pepper's or takeaway for the quay at Cala Gavetta

### Bear in mind
The try dive has age requirements: ask Argonauta when you book

At the fortress and the Roccia dell'Orso, ages 11 to 18 pay a reduced entrance fee

### Qué hacer with teenagers
- Boat Trip from Palau to Spargi, Santa Maria and the Budelli Pools
- The Compendio Garibaldino on Caprera, the House Where Garibaldi Lived
- Boat to Cala Coticcio, Spargi and Santa Maria from Palau
- The La Maddalena Panoramic Road and the Bridge to Caprera
- Try Dive or Guided Snorkelling in the Park with Argonauta
- Monte Altura Fortress, in Palau, with a Guided Visit
- Roccia dell'Orso, the Bear-Shaped Rock above Palau

## Consejos

### Choose a big or small boat
The big boat is cheaper and more stable; the small boat or motorboat reaches coves the big one can't enter.

### Check the wind the day before
With a strong mistral, boats change route or don't sail.

### Don't take the car across if you're only going by boat
The excursions leave from Palau: park there and board.

### Book the Compendio
The visit to Garibaldi's house needs a prior reservation.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long is the ferry from Palau to La Maddalena?
About 20 minutes. There are departures all day with Delcomar and Maddalena Lines, and also at night.

### Can you go to the Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli?
You can't land or swim in front of it since 1998. It can be seen from the boat or from the Cavaliere beach.

### How much does a boat excursion round the archipelago cost?
From €52.50 per person with Elena Tour Navigazioni, plus the landing contribution of €2.50 to €5 depending on the month.

### Do I need a car?
For the boat day, no: you leave from Palau. For Caprera and the scenic road, yes, or a motorbike or bike.

### How many days do I need?
Two or three: one by boat round the islands, one for La Maddalena and Caprera and, if you can, another for diving or repeating coves.

### When do the excursion boats run?
From May to October; the itinerary that reaches Cala Coticcio, from June to September.