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.

From Ajaccio or Porticcio: Sanguinaires Islands Sunset Tour

2. From Ajaccio or Porticcio: Sanguinaires Islands Sunset Tour

Visit the bay of Ajaccio with a stopover on the main island of Iles Sanguinaires Mezzu Mare. Enjoy a tasting of Corsican wine and charcuterie at sunset with commentary from the captain on the legends of the Iles Sanguinaires archipelago. Meet your captain and board a unique vessel favored not only by the army and the police, but also narco-traffickers. Known for its speed and overall robustness, discover an adventure aboard a boat designed to take on all kinds of weather and conditions. Hear the tales of woe and extraordinaire from your captain as you ride the 4X4 of the seas toward the Iles Sanguinaires archipelago. Take in the gorgeous natural scenery and get into the adventure.

Sagone/Cargèse: Scandola Reserve & Girolata Boating Day Trip

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

Ajaccio/Porticcio: Scandola and Calanches de Piana Day Trip

6. Ajaccio/Porticcio: Scandola and Calanches de Piana Day Trip

Embark on a day trip from Ajaccio or Porticcio and take a boat to explore the Scandola Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stopping in Girolata for a break. Then visit the Calanche di Piana and stop for a quick swim in the sea at Capo Rosso. Choose to start your tour of Corsica's UNESCO-listed Scandola Reserve from either Ajaccio or Porticcio. Hop on a boat, and set out to explore the Corsican coastline, with the village of Girolata as your first port of call. This small medieval village is surrounded by the wild landscapes of Corsica and can only be reached by boat or on foot. Explore the village at your leisure and enjoy lunch at one of the local eateries (cost not included). Then, hop back aboard your boat and set out to sea, crossing the Gulf of Porto to visit the Calanche di Piana. From here, make your way to Capo Rosso and go for a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea. As your tour comes to an end, sit back, relax, and enjoy the panoramic views as your boat cruises back to Ajaccio or Porticcio.

From Sagone or Cargèse: Scandola Reserve Boat Tour

7. 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

8. 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.

From Sagone/Cargèse: Capo Rosso, Piana & Scandola Boat Tour

9. From Sagone/Cargèse: Capo Rosso, Piana & Scandola Boat Tour

Departing from Sagone or Cargèse, you will discover the Scandola Nature Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its caves in their entirety. Then enjoy a thirty-minute stopover in the small village of Girolata, accessible only by sea. After crossing the Gulf of Porto, swimming stops in the heart of Calanche Di Piana then at Capo Rosso to cool off in these sublime natural settings. Enjoy 12-passenger Narwhal-type semi-rigid vessel Used by the army and the police but also by narco-traffickers for its speed and above all its robustness, this vessel with a V-hull specially designed for all kinds of weather is a real 4X4 of the seas!!! It will delight thrill seekers and reassure the more cautious thanks to its extraordinary passage at sea and its incredible comfort. Its 12 m size will also allow you to slip where larger boats will not be able to pass.

Ajaccio: Guided Scandola Nature Reserve Boat Tour

10. 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.

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What people are saying about Piana

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 2,236 reviews

Fantastic experience. The guy who guided us explained a lot of interesting things about the history of Corsica and the wonderful landscapes that we had the opportunity to see. The guide was in both French and English and partly in Italian. Unfortunately, due to a storm in the previous days, Girolata was inaccessible but was perfectly compensated by two very long snorkeling breaks in the surroundings of the Piana creeks. Very funny and super recommended !!

I'm so glad we booked this tour. Even though our French is very limited, we still enjoyed the outing and the calanques are so impressive from the sea. The hour and a half felt like a perfect amount of time-- neither too long nor too short.

A magnificent cruise, absolutely fabulous sites. Our very friendly guide Olivier. He gave us time to take pictures of these magnificent landscapes. Experience that I highly recommend.

It was really nice! We couldn't understand the French guide very well, but it was easy, great view, well organized and not too long. Perfect for the price!

Interesting experience! A different point of view than usual. Excellent the captain and his collaborators.