La Maddalena Sailing Tour: Swim, Island Lunch & Snorkeling

4.76

(148 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I’d wanted to see those wild blue waters around La Maddalena ever since I saw a photo online—didn’t expect to actually jump off a boat into them. We left Palau early, just a handful of us and our captain (he introduced himself as Marco, but everyone called him “Capitano”). The wind was soft but steady; you could smell the seaweed and something almost sweet in the air. I was nervous about the sailing part but Marco made it feel like we were just out for a picnic with friends. He let me help pull the ropes once—my hands stung after, but in a good way.

First stop was Cala di Santa Maria. The water really is that color—sort of electric turquoise—and I’m not sure if I’ve ever laughed so much just diving in. Someone (I think her name was Anna?) brought homemade almond cookies for the aperitif, which we ate still dripping wet on deck. There’s this moment when you’re drying off, salty hair sticking to your face, sipping cold wine, and you forget every single thing except how good it feels right then.

We sailed over to Budelli next. Capitano took us by dinghy so we could walk along Spiaggia Rosa—the pink sand isn’t bright or fake-looking, just this soft blush under your feet. There were little shells everywhere. Lunch happened back on board: pasta with clams, fresh bread, local wine (maybe too much). I tried saying “grazie” with a Sardinian accent—Marco laughed and said I sounded like his aunt from Milan.

After lunch we drifted toward Spargi for more swimming and snorkeling. The sun felt heavy by then; I lay on the deck half-asleep listening to someone humming quietly nearby. It’s funny what sticks with you—the taste of salt on your lips or how quiet it gets when everyone’s just floating in their own thoughts. On the way back to Palau I kept thinking about how ordinary everything looked from shore compared to out there between islands. Still can’t quite shake that feeling.