My favorite beach spots in Sardinia
Summer is just around the corner and even though we are passing through some rough times right now it doesn’t mean we can’t dream about beautiful places or we can’t be optimistic. Life is still beautiful and we should enjoy it despite everything. These past few months showed us that health, family and having a home are the most important things in life. It was also a time to think about the past, our memories, our moments of joy and cherish them all. For me, pure joy means feeling the sand under my feet and sun upon skin. I am such a summer person and I can not lie!
So, I want to spread some good vibes and show you my favorite beach spots in Sardinia, the Italian island where I spent my summer vacation in 2019. I have to confess that seeing again all my photos from that holiday, made me realize that great moments pass by so quickly, time flies and in a glimpse of an eye you look back at memories from years ago. With luck, we will be able to plan our summer 2020 so let’s hope for the best, do good and maybe the Universe will repay us.
Sardinia – clear waters, white sand, majestic cliffs, narrow roads, fancy boats, incredible countryside and…lots of sheep. This Italian island – actually the second-largest island in the Mediterranean sea – was definitely blessed by God with all the wonders. Every beach is just so picture perfect and no Photoshop skills are needed in order to obtain a printable postcard. Sardinia is wild, traditional, almost a Caribbean paradise, different than any part of Italy. Sardinia is one of a kind.
Surrounded by water, it will not be difficult to find out-of-this-world beaches anywhere you’ll go. However, you will need a car for that! And a bit of patience: roads are a bit bumpy and narrow (not your typical Italian highway, but offering picturesque scenery) and some beach spots are a bit hard to find.
When you start planning a trip for Sardinia and search online for best beach spots, 3 famous places will appear for sure: Spiaggia del Principe, Cala Brandinchi and Cala Luna.
And even though they are so pretty (but hey, name one beach in Sardinia that’s ugly), they can also be very crowded and somehow that magical image in your head gets destroyed. So, why not make a bigger list with remote beaches and maybe ask the locals for some tricks (they can be so useful!!!) so you will end up visiting one of a kind places.
That being said, here is my top 6 beach spots in Sardinia (places I’ve been and liked due to some unique statements).
- Spiaggia di Li Cossi – Costa Paradiso
Enclosed in a natural amphitheater of granite rocks, the beach has a length of just 80 meters but can be up to 70 meters wide, reaching all the way back to the riverbed. It’s a great spot for making pictures of the sunset as Li Cossi faces due west. Basically, the beach is located between a river and the sea, backed by tall rocks and sheltered from the winds. This wonderful beach was recommended by our host in Castelsardo and he was right because we loved it.
How to get there? Li Cossi beach can be reached on foot from the village of Costa Paradiso (from the car park located near the Hotel Li Rosi Marini) via a very scenic and panoramic walk of about 15 minutes that takes you along a stunning landscape. Entrance to the beach is made through a staircase carved into the rock, but not before you rest for a couple of minutes, enjoy the view on top and take some photos, of course.
- Spiaggia La Cinta – Golfo di Aranci
At a walking distance from the center of San Teodoro, is this white sand beach with turquoise colored water. But this is not the most spectacular detail about La Cinta. My favorite memories about this beach are the fresh smell of juniper and sea lily, the breathtaking view of the Tavolara Island and the small sand dunes behind it. Although a bit crowded (we went there during the weekend), the beach is quite big so there is space for everyone.
How to get there? For those staying in the center of San Teodoro, La Cinta is within walking distance, ideal for a stroll along the waterfront (about 5 km long). If you go by car, from Olbia you need to take the SS 125 direction San Teodoro – Olbia, follow it for about 24km and turn left at the junction of the main entrance to the town of San Teodoro. After 850 meters there is a bridge and you have to turn left and continue for 1 km to the parking lot of the beach.
- Spiaggia del Grande Pevero – Costa Smeralda
The Grande Pevero beach is a large white sand crescent covered by a color changing sea on which small rocks emerge. The beach is surrounded by Mediterranean scrub and its inebriating fragrances. Backed by a pond and small dunes, Grande Pevero beach spans about 300 meters and faces north, often offering views of many a yacht resting in the Pevero Gulf in summer. Probably the best beach on Costa Smeralda, along with its little sister Piccolo Pevere, this best is worth a visit. We relaxed at the shadow of a pine tree for half a day, listening to the waves.
How to get there? The beach is located just 3 kilometers south of Porto Cervo and has a private parking a few minutes away. You get to walk on an alley and then you will see the beach through the trees and you’ll know you have to get down in the sand.
- Cala Mariolu – Gulf of Orosei
Paradise found in Sardinia: pale-golden sand fringed by sparkling aquamarine waters and limestone rocks. The spectacular Cala Mariolu is a must for anyone visiting Sardinia, simply because it is one of the most characteristic beaches of the Island and also one of the most beautiful in the whole of the Mediterranean. The beach is decorated with little round pebbles (pink and white) mixed with sand. The landscape is out of this world literally, with endless shades of blue and emerald green. The cliff surrounding Cala Mariolu reaches a height of 500 metres and looks out onto the sea both to the north and to the south, making the view very dramatic. It is also a great place for snorkeling being the habitat of numerous species. You will see lots of fishes even if you take just a few steps into the water. The lucky ones can even see dolphins off shore.
How to get there? Cala Mariolu can be accessed on foot from Piredda in the Plateau of Golgo (Altopiano del Golgo), but the trek to the beach is not easy. It takes about 3 hours and you should be done well prepared. In my opinion, the best way to reach this tiny paradise is by boat. You just have to book a boat trip from Cala Gonone and you will enjoy a full day of wonderful landscape and sun. I highly recommend booking your trip at Gonone Rental (recommended by our host in Oliena and ask for Bonny (the best skipper ever, funny and with a lot of stories about the place. Also ladies…he does look a lot like mister George Clooney…just saying). You will have a day to remember with plenty of time for sunbathing (Cala Mariolu, Cala Luna, Cala Biriola), snorkeling and diving into Venus’s pool.
- Spiaggia di Su Barone – Orosei
This is a different kind of beach. Backed by a thick pine forest, with smooth gold sand and blue waters, Su Barone beach awaits its visitors with plenty of space (7 km long) to enjoy a summer day in total tranquility. Behind the beach is a pond called Su Pedrosu, surrounded by luxuriant vegetation and walking alleys shielded from the sun. This unique place is perfect for both sun lovers and nature lovers because you also have the option to enjoy the fresh air and the scent of Mediterranean plants if you decide to explore the forest, like we did. Driving to the beach, you won’t realize at first where you are and maybe you will think you got on the wrong road. First you’ll drive along the pound (in the middle of nowhere) and then you’ll arrive in a thick forest where you can park the car and search for the beach (guided by the sound of the waves). Finally, at the edge of the forest you will catch a glimpse of the sea. You have arrived at your destination! Swimsuit on and let’s relax!
How to get there? From Olbia, take the highway 131 DN (to Cagliari/Nouro), then take the exit for Posada/Budoni and turn to the SS 125.
- Spiaggia di Mari Ermi – Oristano
This is a beach we will remember for a very long time. The moment we stepped foot on that beach, we thought we were somewhere in the Caribbean or on an island in the Indian Ocean: crystal clear water, white – pink quartz sand and vibrant shades of blue. The beach stretches for 2.5 km along the coast of Cabras and sets between the charming Is Arutas and Porto Suedda. A bit wild, with no shadow places, the beach can be a bit challenging if you want to hide from the sun. We managed to feel comfortable (at 42 °C) wearing hats and having a cold beer, but hey…we do love the sun and hot weather! Mari Ermi beach is also a very popular windsurfing spot due to the NV mistral wind.
How to get there? Mari Ermi can be reached from Cabras in 20 minutes, by taking the SP6 for about 8 km in the direction of San Giovanni di Sinis. Continue for 5 km along the SP7 after turning at the junction of San Salvatore, then follow the signs and turn left. You will reach Mari Ermi after about 3 km.
Hope you enjoyed my blog post and feel a bit cheered up after watching these European wonders – because that was my whole idea. To cheer you up, send you some good vibes and some motivation.
I truly believe that being a pessimist does no good in any situation and also I could never in a hundred summers get tired of this…of the beach, the sea, the optimism, the day dreamin’ and the belief that better days are on their way. Especially during these days, my idea of paradise is to escape and sit quietly on the beach with my boo.
And remember…sky above, sand below, PEACE within.
Love,
Arina in Wonderland
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