Don't leave
Bonifacio without taking a
boat trip around its extraordinary coastline, where you'll get the best perspective of the town's precarious position on top of the magnificent
chalky cliffs.
We decided for one of the circuits that includes the goulet, the
calanques (
deep rocky inlets;
calanche in Corsican), with their clear aquamarine waters, and the magical Grotte du Sdragonato with its gloriously multicoloured sea bed.
There are several boats in the
Bonifacio Marina that tour the caves around the marina. The tour we took costs 12 Euros per person (thanks to bigger group), and our guide narrated the tour.
It is possible to hire local guide (in French, but with written papers in other landuages too).
Along the ride, you can see
fortifications up on top of the cliff walls that measure almost 2 miles in length that were built by the Genovese back in the 11th and 12th centuries.
You'll see
Montlaur barracks that housed the French Foreign Legion from 1962 to 1983 and will passed along the
lighthouse Madonetta which signals the entrance to the port of Bonifacio.
From the boat, you can see a diagonal line that cuts through the cliff, this is the
King of Aragon's Steps.
If you have not climbed those steps, make sure you make time to do that before you leave Bonifacio.
Stops: Phare de la Madonetta (lighthouse), Grotte Marine du Sdragonato (large cave open from sea), Baie et Ilots de Fazzio (inlet with beaches and small islands),
Cala de Paraguane (geologically interesting inlet) and back around Gouvernail de la Corse and town on cliffs to Grain de Sable (isle).
Duration: 1 hour
Cost: 12-15 euro
Guide: local or yours
Enjoy your cruise and let us know your experience!