If you want Sardinia at its postcard-best, this is the way to do it. A full day on the water around the La Maddalena Archipelago means you’ll spend your time where it counts: swimming stops at famous coves, plus views that don’t need filter work. And yes, you also get a real lunch cooked onboard, so you’re not hunting for food between beaches.

I particularly like the format. You dock close to shore via walkways, so you’re not lugging gear through sketchy entry points, and you get a historic center stop in La Maddalena for about one hour. The biggest catch is practical: this is a popular route with multiple boats, so beaches can be crowded and time in La Maddalena can feel tight.

Before you go, check the cash rule. The disembarkation/landing fee in La Maddalena is cash-only (no credit cards), and you pay it at check-in before boarding. If you’re traveling in a group, also note you’ll want to book together so you’re not split across different boats.

Quick Key Points You’ll Care About

• Walkway docking: swim stops are set up with direct access from the boat to the beaches.
• Two main swim blocks: plan on long enough stretches to actually get in the water (not just a quick dip).
• Pink Beach close-up (outside access): you’ll see the area connected to the story of the Pink Beach, closed since 1992.
• Town time is short but useful: around an hour in La Maddalena for quick wandering and coffee.
• Lunch is included and cooked onboard: either seafood pennette or a simpler pasta option (depending on service).
• Cash landing fee: budget for €2.50 or €5 per person depending on the month.

What You’re Really Buying for $65 (and What’s Extra)

The headline price for this boat day is about $65 per person, which is a solid deal for an 8-hour day that includes roundtrip transport and a meal. You’re paying for access—boats that can reach beaches in the national park, plus onboard service that keeps you from turning the day into a logistics puzzle.

Two items can change your final cost. First, the landing/disembarkation fee is not included. It’s €5 per person in June, July, and August, and €2.50 in May, September, and October—and it must be paid in cash at check-in. Second, drinks aren’t included, and you’ll likely want them while you’re relaxing on deck after swimming.

The value also depends on your expectations. If you’re hoping for a calm, private-water experience, this is not that kind of day. The route is designed for lots of passengers, and in peak months you should expect other boats and busy beaches.

Santa Teresa Gallura: Meeting the Boat Without Losing Time

Your meeting point is at the port area in Santa Teresa Gallura, by the Coast Guard office and Cafe La Marina bar. The check-in desk is there, and you should plan to arrive 60 minutes before the start time. The boat departs from the port around 8:00–8:15 AM check-in window, so build your day around that early start.

Two things matter here. One: you need cash ready for the landing fee at check-in, and the instructions are clear that credit cards don’t work for that fee. Two: if you booked online, you still can’t skip the check-in line. Everyone has a reservation, so you’ll join the queue with everyone else.

If you’re going as a group or multiple families, don’t split reservations. The operator notes you might not be guaranteed to board the same boat if you book separately. That’s a small detail that can cause a big headache once the boats fill up.

Parking is workable too if you drive. There’s parking about 200 meters away from the boats. You can pay with coins or through the Easy Park app. (The parking meter doesn’t accept banknotes.)

The Boat Day Rhythm: Comfortable Ride, Real Restrooms, and Audio Guidance

This isn’t a tiny skiff adventure. It’s a full day on the motorboats run by the Consorzio delle Bocche (the Consorzio delle Bocche route uses three boats). The boats are set up for day-tour passengers, and you’ll have practical comforts like restrooms onboard.

You also get a multilingual audio service in Italian, English, or French. It’s not the same as having a guide chatting nonstop at your elbow, but it helps you connect the dots while you’re moving between islands and swim areas.

One rule to plan around: you can’t dive from the boat. The itinerary focuses on swimming from the dock-like access points via walkways, which is safer and easier for the staff to manage. If you love snorkeling, you’ll want to stick to what’s permitted at the swim stops and in the water.

Stop One: Santa Maria Beach and the First Big Swim

Your first beach stop docks at Santa Maria. The setup is designed to make swimming straightforward: the motorboat can dock near the beach pier, and there are walkways so you can reach the water without a complicated scramble.

The stop length is listed as about 1.5 hours for the swim portion. That’s long enough for the day to start feeling like a vacation instead of a schedule. You can swim, float, and then take a slower break on the sand or rocky edge—without feeling like the boat will leave immediately after you change.

Bring the usual beach items because they’re not provided. You should pack sunglasses, swimwear, and a towel. A beach umbrella isn’t included, so if you like shade, plan to bring it or expect to pay for it at or near the beach.

Also, keep your expectations realistic about crowds. If you’re visiting during busy months, Santa Maria can be popular because it’s accessible and looks incredible from the water. The good news: even when it’s busy, the water visibility is the main event.

Pink Beach Moment: Seeing the Legend Without Promises of Access

One of the most interesting parts of this route is the close-up look at Pink Beach, a signature spot within the park. Here’s the key fact: it has been closed since 1992. So you’re not going to walk on it as part of this tour.

What you’re getting instead is the “I saw it” context. The Pink Beach area is tied to the legend that made the beach famous, and it’s also linked in culture to Michelangelo Antonioni’s film Red Desert. If you’ve heard stories about that shoreline, this is where you connect the story to the geography—even if the actual access is off-limits.

This is a good moment to stay alert and look around. Boat trips like this can become one long “sit and swim” block. This is the one stop that feels more like understanding the place.

Lunch Onboard: Simple, Included, and Usually the Day’s Reset Button

Lunch is included as your first course cooked onboard. The exact menu can vary, but the options listed are:

• pennette ai frutti di mare (seafood pasta), or
• pasta in bianco with oil and parmesan cheese.

In practical terms, onboard lunch does two valuable things. First, it keeps your timeline stable. You don’t lose time changing plans mid-day. Second, it gives you a chance to refuel before the second beach stop and the return ride.

From what you can glean from the experience style, lunch is designed to be straightforward rather than fancy. That’s not a deal-breaker, because after all that swimming, a hot plate of pasta tends to taste better than you expect. If you know you’re the type who gets hungry between meals, consider bringing small snacks for backup—but avoid adding so much you feel weighed down.

Drinks are available onboard at the bar, but they cost extra. Since you’re already dealing with cash for the landing fee, it’s a good time to have cash ready for drinks too.

La Maddalena Historic Center: About an Hour to Wander

After the swim sequence, you’ll get a stop in the historic center of La Maddalena for about one hour. This is a short window, but it’s long enough for the “postcard stroll” goal: quick walking around, a coffee break, and photos that capture the island’s human side.

What to expect: it’s a port town feel—streets near the center are walkable and easy to enjoy at a relaxed pace. The trick is time management. If you arrive with a big plan (museum, long meal, shopping mission), you may feel rushed.

Because you’re visiting as part of a boat schedule, plan to keep your wandering compact. Think: walk, look, grab a drink, then head back with time to re-board. During peak season, the time pressure can feel sharper because many tour boats funnel into the same central area.

Stop Two: Spargi Beach and the “Wow” Factor Time

Your second main swim stop is at Spargi. The boat-to-beach access is similar: the motorboats dock using walkways from the docks, so you can get in the water without turning it into an obstacle course.

Spargi tends to be the highlight for many people because it’s one of the places where the water color and clarity feel at the top of the list for the region. The scenery from the boat is part of the fun too—you get to watch how the coastline breaks into coves and ridges.

The same swim-stop guidance applies: no diving from the boat, and count on about 1.5 hours. If the morning swim was your warm-up, the afternoon stop is when you’ll actually stop thinking about time and just enjoy the water.

If crowds annoy you, you’ll still likely see them here. Even with that, the whole day is built around sharing the space with other boats, because that’s how the park is visited.

Return to Santa Teresa Gallura: Done, Dusty, and Happy

You’ll head back around 5:00 PM. By this point, you’ve usually had the full range: morning docking and swimming, a lunch reset onboard, a short historic-center stroll, and one more swim block before the ride back.

This end-of-day timing works well because it doesn’t eat your evening. You’re back while dinner plans are still possible, even if you’re tired. And you’re likely to feel it: a long day on the water plus sun plus saltwater adds up.

Make sure you’ve got your towel and swim stuff packed so you’re not scrambling. It’s also worth double-checking that you have your cash handled earlier in the day—because once you’re onboard, you’ll want to focus on relaxing.

Price, Comfort, and Crowds: The Real Tradeoffs

This tour does a lot right, but it has a specific tradeoff: it’s a popular, high-capacity boat day. That shows up in three ways.

First, seating can be a mixed bag. On a bigger day, you might find seats are limited for part of the trip. The practical fix is simple: get to the boat early, and during the less scenic stretches, be ready to stand or move around if needed.

Second, the beaches can feel busy at the times you arrive. The operator can’t control other tour boats, and the park is popular for a reason. If you’re sensitive to crowds, plan to go with a mindset of enjoying the water quality over the beach vibe.

Third, your time in La Maddalena is short. The historic center stop is about an hour. It’s enough to see it, but not enough for a deep shopping spree or a long sit-down meal.

All that said, this is still good value if your main goal is classic La Maddalena Archipelago swimming plus an included onboard lunch.

Who This Tour Fits Best

You’ll likely love this if:

• You want a full-day boat route without arranging private transport.
• You care more about swimming and sea views than about staying in one quiet village.
• You’d rather have lunch handled onboard than trying to coordinate meals ashore.

You might skip it (or pick a different style) if:

• You hate crowds and want a secluded-feeling day.
• You’re hoping for lots of time in La Maddalena center (this is about an hour).
• You need a guaranteed seat all day—on busy trips, that can be hit-or-miss.

Kids usually do fine on this kind of day as long as they’re okay with a long outing and sun protection. If you’re traveling with older travelers, the dock-and-walkway design is generally manageable, but the day is still long.

Pets are allowed on board (except in August), but pets aren’t allowed on the beach under any circumstances. If that affects your planning, double-check timing and rules before you go.

What to Pack (So the Day Feels Easy)

At minimum:

• Swimwear
• Towel
• Sunglasses
• Cash for the landing fee

Also smart:

• Sunscreen (you’ll want it for both swim stops)
• A light layer if you get chilly on the boat late day
• Small snack backup if you’re prone to hunger between lunch and re-boarding

And don’t forget the big one: cash-only matters. The landing fee must be paid in cash before boarding, and credit cards don’t count for that fee.

Should You Book This Boat Tour?

Book it if your top priority is seeing the La Maddalena Archipelago the practical way—boat access, swim stops, and a simple included lunch. The itinerary is built for maximum time in the water and scenery, with just enough town time to say you walked the streets of La Maddalena.

Skip it if you want a quiet, slow, beach-only day with long town time. This route is popular, and the schedule is designed for many passengers.

If you do book, do two things and you’ll improve the experience immediately: arrive early at check-in, and bring the cash for the landing fee.

FAQ

What time do I meet at the port?

The meeting/check-in at the port is around 8:00 AM to 8:15 AM. You’re also advised to arrive 60 minutes before the activity starts.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included as a first course cooked onboard, listed as pennette ai frutti di mare or pasta in bianco with oil and parmesan.

Do I need cash for an extra fee?

Yes. There is a landing/disembarkation fee payable in cash only at check-in. It’s €5 per person in June, July, and August, and €2.50 per person in May, September, and October.

Can I skip the check-in line if I booked online?

No. If you booked online, you still cannot skip the line during check-in.

Are beach umbrellas and towels included?

No. Beach umbrella and towels are not included.

Is diving allowed from the boat?

No. Diving from the boat is not permitted.

Are pets allowed?

Small pets are allowed on board (except in August), but pets are not allowed on the beach under any circumstances.