# La Maddalena by boat from Olbia: Spargi, Santa Maria, the Budelli pools and dinner in Palau Drive to Palau, a boat from 10:00 to 17:00 with swims at Cala Corsara, Santa Maria and the Budelli pools, Roccia dell'Orso at sunset and seafood dinner facing the islands. Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/sardinia/la-maddalena-archipelago/itineraries/maddalena-islands-by-boat-from-olbia · Revisado: 2026-11-13 ## El día - 08:00 · Salida: 45 min by car (From Olbia to Palau along the coast road; park near the port) - 09:00 · Boat Trip from Palau to Spargi, Santa Maria and the Budelli Pools (Elena Tour Navigazioni · check-in from 8:45 to 9:15 at the ferry terminal, departure at 10:00 · from €52.50 plus the landing tax · bring lunch) · Elena Tour Navigazioni, From €53 per person - 10 min by car - 17:30 · Roccia dell'Orso, the Bear-Shaped Rock above Palau (€3 · last entry about 45 min before closing, from 18:30 to 22:30 depending on the month) - 10 min by car - 19:45 · La Gritta (book by phone and ask for the terrace; open from April to October) · La Gritta, €€€ - 22:00 · Vuelta (To Olbia in about 45 minutes) The small islands of La Maddalena can only be seen from the sea, and from Olbia they fit into a day. You drive three-quarters of an hour to Palau, board an excursion boat at ten and swim in three places: Cala Corsara, on Spargi; Cala Santa Maria; and the natural pools of Budelli, with the Spiaggia Rosa seen from the deck. Back on land, you climb the Roccia dell'Orso in the afternoon light and have seafood dinner at La Gritta, with the islands in front of you. ## Getting there from Spain Fly to Olbia (OLB), with a direct flight from Barcelona; from other cities, with a connection. Hire a car at the airport: Palau is about 42 km away, 45 minutes by the coast road towards Santa Teresa. You do not need to take the car across to La Maddalena: the boat leaves from the port of Palau and calls at La Maddalena in the morning. ## The day, hour by hour 8:00 · Leave Olbia. Park near the port of Palau; in summer the town fills up early. 9:00 · Check-in and boat. Check-in with Elena Tour Navigazioni is from 8:45 to 9:15 in front of the ferry terminal and the boat sails at 10:00. It first stops at La Maddalena, with some free time in the centre, and continues to Cala Corsara, Cala Santa Maria and Porto della Madonna, the natural pools of Budelli, where you swim from the boat. You see the Spiaggia Rosa without going ashore: landing has been forbidden since 1998. It costs from €52.50, plus a landing tax of €2.50 or €5 depending on the month. Bring your own lunch. 17:00 · Back to Palau. The boat returns via Punta Sardegna and Porto Rafael. 17:30 · Roccia dell'Orso. Ten minutes by car, on Capo d'Orso. An hour for the climb up the steps and the view over the channel and the islands. €3. 19:45 · Dinner at La Gritta. At Porto Faro, the tip of Palau beside the lighthouse, with a terrace facing the archipelago and seafood cooking by Roberto Pierro. Book by phone. 22:00 · Back to Olbia. Three-quarters of an hour. ## Cómo llegar ### By car From Olbia to Palau along the coast; leave the car in Palau and do not take it across. ### Without a car La Vecchia Fonte, in Palau, arranges a taxi from Olbia airport from €105 each way; if you sleep there, everything else is done on foot or by boat, except the Roccia dell'Orso. ## Consejos ### Check the wind the day before In a mistral the boat changes route or does not sail; keep the Monte Altura fortress as plan B. ### Bring food and water The boat does not include lunch and there are no bars at the coves. ### Mind Sundays La Gritta is closed on Sundays except from 15 June to 15 September. ## Preguntas frecuentes ### Can you see La Maddalena in a day from Olbia? Yes: Palau is 45 minutes away and the excursion boat runs from 10:00 to 17:00. ### How much does the boat cost? From €52.50 per person with Elena Tour Navigazioni, plus the landing tax of €2.50 to €5. ### Do you need to take the car across to La Maddalena? No. The boat leaves from Palau. ### Can you land on the Spiaggia Rosa? No, it is forbidden. You see it from the boat.