Our most recommended things to do in Piana

From Ota: Scandola Nature Reserve Eco-Friendly Boat Tour

1. From Ota: Scandola Nature Reserve Eco-Friendly Boat Tour

Discover the Scandola Nature Reserve and visit the charming village of Girolata as you embark on a boat tour off Porto on the coast of Corsica. Sail in silence on the waters of the reserve on an eco-friendly hybrid boat and enjoy access to prime seating thanks to priority boarding. Meet the ship’s friendly crew who will assist you with the boarding process and then set off to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Nature Reserve, which is only accessible by sea and subject to strict protection. See coastal caves and observe diverse marine life and seabirds, such as ospreys and peregrine falcons, from a respectable distance so as not to disturb the natural environment. Learn about the reserve’s ecology through live French commentary throughout the tour. Stop for 30 minutes in the remote and quaint coastal village of Girolata, surrounded by the sea and only accessible by boat. Walk around the village or cool off with a swim and be on the lookout for the resident wild cows that roam the streets, cafés, and beach of Girolata. Upgrade and extend your experience with an optional trip to the stunning Calanche de Piana rock formation. Admire a beautiful pink granite geological landscape, which has been uniquely created from centuries of strong winds and sea spray.

Sagone/Cargèse: Scandola Reserve & Girolata Boating Day Trip

2. Sagone/Cargèse: Scandola Reserve & Girolata Boating Day Trip

Explore the hidden wonders of the Corsican coast that are accessible only by sea on a day trip by speedboat. Visit the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, enjoy free time to wander through Girolata, and see the natural pools of Calanques de Piana. Begin your cruise in either Sagone or Cargèse, depending on the option you select. Board a 12-seater speedboat and cruise towards the famous Scandola Nature Reserve. As you sail through the Reserve, learn about the jagged cliffs and red rock formations you see from your guide. After leaving the Reserve, take a 30 minute wander through the small village of Girolata, which is only accessible from the sea. Soak up the sun on the sandy beach, go for a swim, or browse the shops. After you've finished, board the boat and continue to the Calanques de Piana. Jump into the clear water for a refreshing swim in the Calanques de Piano before cruising around the stunning caves of Capo Rosso. Return to Sagone or Cargèse past the red cliffs of Corsica.

From Porto: Calanche de Piana Boat Tour

3. From Porto: Calanche de Piana Boat Tour

Depart Porto and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Calanche de Piana in the Gulf of Porto by silent hybrid boat to respect the environment. Located halfway between Ajaccio and Calvi, close to the village of Piana, the Calanche de Piana is part of a volcanic complex that towers up to 300 meters above sea level at its highest altitude. Marvel at the pink granite rocks shaped over centuries by changes in the temperature, strong winds, and sea spray. Discover a series of fantastic rock formations sculpted into spectacular shapes and surrounded by crystal blue waters. Rich with marine life and seabirds, the area also demonstrates a tremendous diversity of rocks in locations that give a particular aspect to the surroundings.

Cargèse: Scandola, Girolata, and Piana Afternoon Boat Tour

4. Cargèse: Scandola, Girolata, and Piana Afternoon Boat Tour

Discover the west coast of Corsica between Cargese and Scandola from a comfortable passenger boat. Enjoy the intense colors of the afternoon on the red rocks, the blue water and the green maquis. From the port of Cargese, start for an incredible journey. As soon as you leave the port, admire the Omigna tower, entirely renovated a few years ago. Then head to Arone and its long sandy beach . Start by discover the tiny cave located at the very start of the Capo Rosso, when the rock change of color. Along the coast, the water is so clear that you can appreciate the seabed by transparency. Enter the bay of monk seal, also called the "swimming pool" because of its so blue and clear water. Admire the huge nests of the fish-eagle, a protected specie. Go trough the Arch of Capo Rosso and continue to the Reserve of Scandola, by the Gulf of Porto. Enter the Reserve of Scandola and go into the faults in the very heart of the rock. Admire the landscape made of volcanic rock. Listen to the comments of the captain about the geological formations and the history of the site and let your imagination run wild in front of the strange shape of the stone. Navigate into the waters of the Reserve and discover the island of Gargalo, the extreme west point of Corsica. Reach the Gulf of Elbo and try to see the grouper that is often encountered in the faults, as the oblades and many others species. Enjoy the shimmering glint of the sun on the sea at the feet of the cliffs. Make a 40-minute break on land in the surprising village Girolata. Take benefits of a walk towards the old fort or just rest on the sand of the beach. Girolata is really small and authentic because it is only accessible by boat or by a footpath. Take the way back and enjoy the magnificent colors of the end afternoon, the best time of day for pictures. Have a look to Capo Senino on the return and experience the discovery of the red rock of the Calanques de Piana with the colors of the sunset. Enjoy the arrival at Cargese, illuminated at nightfall.

From Sagone or Cargèse: Scandola Reserve Boat Tour

5. From Sagone or Cargèse: Scandola Reserve Boat Tour

Discover the wonders of the Corsican Coast accessible only by sea. Visit the Scandola Nature Reserve and have free time in Girolata. Board a 73-seater ship and take a half-day trip to the famous Scandola Nature Reserve, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hear insightful commentary about the reserve from a local guide. Stop for 2 hours or 30 minutes, depending on the option you book, in the small village of Girolata and enjoy free time to explore. Eat lunch at a local restaurant or bring your own food for a picnic with stunning views. Soak up the sunshine on the warm sand, swim, and browse the unique shops in the village. After your stop, the boat tour will continue to Calanques de Piana before going back to Sagone and Cargèse.

Cargèse: Guided Boat Trip to Scandola with Stop at Girolata

6. Cargèse: Guided Boat Trip to Scandola with Stop at Girolata

Discover the Scandola Reserve and unwind far from the bustle of the city surrounded by nature! Embark on a comfortable 49-seater passenger boat (shade and toilets on board) able to navigate through the narrowest passages of the Gulf of Porto! Start the tour in the direction of the Pointe d'Omigna to see the beautiful Genoese Tower, made of granite with feldspar crystals and its rocky surroundings, before heading to the remarkable Arone Beach. Go through the Arch of Capo Rosso and visit the caves of the site. Take pictures of the characteristic red rock of the Island of Beauty. Admire the odd shapes of the rocks and listen the comments of the crew to learn the history of the place. Enjoy the beautiful and clear water in the coves, especially the bay of the monk seals. Continue and cross the Gulf of Porto towards the Reserve of Scandola, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Admire the volcanic rocks, remains of the volcano that collapsed centuries ago. Enjoy the way the pilot takes you in narrow passages and faults. Watch the fish-eagles which nest on the rocky outcrop. Encounter the wild goats, the grouper which live around the faults and many other species. Around noon, make a 2-hours break in Girolata where you can enjoy the shaded terraces of the restaurants and cafes or the beach of the village. Back on the boat, you will pass Capo Senino and head towards the famous Calanques de Piana before returning to the port of Cargèse.

Ajaccio: Guided Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour

7. Ajaccio: Guided Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour

Board a semi-rigid speed boat piloted by a qualified captain to explore the west coast of Corsica. Discover the Scandola Nature Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage Site, with a wide variety of sea and land animals and plant life. Start your tour from Gargalo Island and head to the reserve for your first swimming stop. Swim through the turquoise waters while your captain prepares an aperitif with a tasting of charcuterie and rosé wine. At noon, enjoy lunch in Girolata, an 18th-century fishing village built around a fort only accessible by sea. Have your skippers make a reservation at a restaurant for you or bring your own picnic to enjoy on the beach with wild cows roaming about. At 2 PM, enjoy another swim at Anse Ficaghjola. Dive into the Capo Rosso natural pool in the Calanques de Piana surrounded by fish. Take a last swim in the Anse de Cala di Pala and jump from natural diving boards at different heights before returning.

From Cargèse: Scandola Full-Day Tour & Girolata Lunch Stop

8. From Cargèse: Scandola Full-Day Tour & Girolata Lunch Stop

Spend your day exploring the wonders of Southern Corsica on a boat tour by RIB boat and take in spectacular views of the surrounding nature. Start your excursion onboard a 12-seater RIB boat from the port of Cargèse to discover the impressive Corsican landscapes between the Scandola Nature Reserve and the Gulf of Girolata. Head north and pass the Pointe d'Omigna to admire the remarkable Genoese Tower, made of granite with feldspar crystals and its rocky surroundings. Continue towards the Pointe d'Urchinu and the Arone beach. Once arrived at Capo Rosso, visit the caves and the characteristic red rocky coves of the Island of Beauty. Cross the Gulf of Porto to reach the Scandola reserve, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Observe the rich variety of flora and fauna in the area, most of which are protected species, as the fish-eagle or the grouper. Next, the boat will drop anchor in Girolata for a 2-hour stop. You can take advantage of this time to go for a walk, enjoy some lunch or to take a short dip in the water. Here you can admire the renovated fort on the point of land, above the beach. Back on the boat, you will pass Capo Senino, one of the highest caps of Europa and head towards the famous Calanques de Piana before returning to the port of Cargèse.

From Porto: Piana Creeks and Scandola Semi-Rigid Boat Tour

9. From Porto: Piana Creeks and Scandola Semi-Rigid Boat Tour

Visit one of the best sites of Corsica on boat routes designed to optimize your experience. Get to know Porto's magical gulf, Piana's beautiful creeks and the Scandola's breath-taking reserve. Visit this exceptional destination, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  On the way back, enjoy a 30-minute stop in the small hamlet of Girolata, only accessible by sea or on foot. Embark comfortably aboard a standard semi-rigid pneumatic boat. Thanks to their small size, they can enter caves, navigate to the sea bank, and allow you to appreciate the beauty of the landscapes. Enjoy a swim and some snorkeling depending on weather conditions. During this outing at sea, you might be able to observe dolphins or other aquatic mammals that might cross your path.

From Porto: Piana Creeks, Scandola on Family Boat

10. From Porto: Piana Creeks, Scandola on Family Boat

Departing from Porto, you can admire the Calanches de Piana by sailing along the coast towards Capo Rosso with its caves and natural pools, a magical place listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. On a family-friendly speedboat, you will set sail for the Scandola nature reserve. During this excursion you will enjoy a swimming break, snorkeling (masks provided) depending on weather conditions. Perhaps you will have the chance to observe dolphins or other cetaceans that might cross your path. Duration of the tour about 3h15

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What people are saying about Piana

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 2,236 reviews

A day trip at sea during which we approached the protected and magnificent sites of Scandola and the creeks of Piana, with a 2-hour stopover in Girolata where we ate very well (the gourmet coffee kept its promise) at the restaurant "Le Good Hope" (reservation recommended). The boat staff is friendly and humorous when commenting. We wholeheartedly recommend this excursion taken in Sept 2022. However, the return trip may seem a bit long for those with motion sickness. Although the weather was very nice (27°), a "wind break" is appreciable at the start in the morning.

We enjoyed it together with my partner. Sadly we didn't get to visit the village due to recent events in Corsica :( but R.I.P fisherman's soul. On the trip itself - beautiful views, cave with music - one love! But maybe 2 hours would have been enough. Take the sunscreen! Better take 50, 30 probably won't help :) (Don't expect the captain of the boat to speak English)

We had a great day despite a slightly rainy departure from Calvi, very quickly on the boat we found the sun again, the landscapes are magnificent. the pilots very pleasant, attentive and attentive, they have a sense of humor which does not spoil anything and know how to take us to places of breathtaking beauty. We highly recommend this team

It was an amazing experience. Right from pick up to dune bashing belly dancing and almost everything else in the activity. Good job by the entire team. Keep it up.

Wonderful activity! Wonderful landscapes ! An activity that I recommend ++ Very nice guide (Thomas) and complete explanations! We loved it!