The La Maddalena archipelago is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in Sardinia and in the whole Mediterranean. Sixty islands and islets of granite shaped by the wind, protected within a National Park, with a sea that shifts from turquoise to deep blue in just a few metres. Here the beaches aren't reached by car: they're discovered from the sea, one cove after another. In this guide we take you through the beaches of the La Maddalena archipelago that are truly worth seeing, and explain the best way to visit them.
Spargi: Cala Corsara and Cala Granara
Spargi is the dream island for those who love clear water and secluded beaches. Cala Corsara, on the south side, is one of the most loved in the archipelago: pale sand, shallow water and rocks sculpted by the wind into curious shapes. Nearby, Cala Granara offers emerald-green water and a silence that, early or late in the day, feels suspended in time. Spargi is uninhabited and protected: you can only reach it by sea, and that's exactly what keeps it so pristine.
Budelli and the famous Pink Beach
Budelli is famous worldwide for its Pink Beach, whose grains are tinted pink by fragments of a marine microorganism. It is one of the symbols of Sardinia, now under full protection: you cannot land or walk on it, but you can admire it from the sea in all its beauty. Around Budelli lie other stunning spots such as Cala di Roto and the Porto della Madonna, the natural lagoon between Budelli, Razzoli and Santa Maria where the water is shallow and clear like a swimming pool.
If Budelli is the beach that made you dream of Sardinia, we've written a full guide on how to visit the Pink Beach of Budelli.
Santa Maria: white sand and calm water
The island of Santa Maria offers long stretches of pale sand and shallow seabeds, perfect for those who love warm, calm water. Its sheltered, uncrowded beaches are ideal for a relaxing stop and a swim in a sea that looks painted. From here the view opens onto the archipelago and the Strait of Bonifacio, with Corsica on the horizon.
Caprera: Cala Coticcio, the "Tahiti of Sardinia"
Caprera is the greenest island in the archipelago, rich in pines and Mediterranean scrub. Its jewel is Cala Coticcio, nicknamed the "Tahiti of Sardinia" for the unreal colour of its water and the pink rocks framing the bay. Access by land is regulated and limited: arriving by sea remains the simplest and most evocative way to enjoy it.
How to visit the beaches of the archipelago
The most spectacular beaches — Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, Cala Coticcio — are on uninhabited, protected islands reachable only by sea. The best way to discover them is a sailing tour: you sail from one cove to the next, stop for swims in the clearest waters, and experience the sea at the right pace, without crowds and without rush.
Our daily Sardinia Daily Charter tours depart from La Maddalena aboard Ichnusa II, a Bénéteau Oceanis 473, with a skipper and an itinerary designed to reach the archipelago's finest coves in a single day.
👉 Discover itineraries, availability and booking for our La Maddalena sailing tour.
