La Maddalena Islands: Catamaran Day Tour & Seafood Lunch

5.00

(211 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You see that pale pink sand?” our captain asked, pointing as we drifted closer to Budelli Island. I squinted at the shore — honestly, I’d never seen water this clear. There was a salty breeze that made my hair stick everywhere and the sound of someone laughing as they jumped in first (not me — I hesitated). Our group was just twelve people, mostly quiet at first but by the time we reached Spargi Island, everyone had found their sea legs. The catamaran felt steady under bare feet, sun-warmed and smelling faintly of sunscreen and something herbal from the galley below.

Lunch was one of those simple things that somehow tastes better at sea — plates of seafood pasta passed around while Vermentino wine kept appearing like magic. I tried to say “grazie” with a Sardinian lilt; Li laughed and corrected me gently. Our guide told stories about growing up near Santa Teresa di Gallura and how the islands always look different depending on the wind. There was a moment after eating when everyone went quiet, just listening to the water slap against the hull. It’s funny how quickly you stop caring about your phone out here.

The snorkeling gear came out after Razzoli Island — I’m not much of a swimmer but even paddling close to the boat you could see silver fish darting between rocks. Someone spotted a jellyfish (tiny, harmless), and for a second we all hovered above it like kids at an aquarium. The crew poured us little glasses of myrtle liqueur before heading back toward Santa Teresa; sweet and sharp, burned a bit going down. I still think about that view behind us — islands fading into late afternoon light — and how quiet it got on deck for a while. Guess nobody really wanted it to end.