Charter a yacht in Corsica, the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and the second most popular sailing destination in France. Due to its position that is closer to Italy than France, Corsica had a remarkably interesting history. It was ruled throughout history by the Greeks, Etruscans, Syracusans, Romans, Vandals, Saracens, Pisans, and Genoese. Therefore, Corsica feels different from mainland of France in lots of ways: from customs to cuisine and language.
Corsica is truly a mixture of French and Italian but is still so unique in its dramatic and wild landscape, culture, and cuisine. The island is famous for its independent spirit, rugged beauty, olive oil, wine, and citrus fruit.
Find Your Ideal Yacht in Corsica Sailing Region
Why is Corsica Popular Among Sailors?
Corsica is one of the world’s premiere yacht charter destinations thanks to its staggering geographical diversity which is also the reason Corsica is often called a miniature continent. It is the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean, so the views of the stunning coastline from the deck of your charter yacht will be even more magical with a gorgeous mountainous backdrop. Furthermore, Corsica has about 1 000 km of coastline and an impressive third of all the coastline are beaches.
Sea breezes in Corsica are mostly light and friendly along the coast, except for the Strait of Bonifacio, where winds surpass breezing speeds and are considered great sailing winds.
Corsica is also fortunate enough to enjoy an exceptional climate all year round. It has a mild Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cool winters. The island has an average of 2 793 sunshine hours per year and the sailing season is open from April to October.
Yacht Charter in Corsica Sailing Region
A yacht charter in Corsica will give you a perfect opportunity to explore this breathtaking French island located in the Mediterranean Sea. Start your sailing holiday in a lively old port on the north of the island called Bastia, or in a charming town with a beautiful citadel - Calvi - in the northwest.
Charter a yacht in Corsica and cruise along the magnificent west coast, which offers you white sand beaches and famous hiking trails. In a bay surrounded by mountains, you will find the capital city of Corsica and the birthplace of Napoléon Bonaparte – Ajaccio.
The southern part of the island is a dream destination for sailors, with its picturesque port and town on the limestone cliffs - Bonifacio. From Bonifacio, you can sail to Sardinia and visit the beautiful La Maddalena National Park. This part of the island is also popular for its beautiful beaches near Porto-Vecchio.
Best Places to Visit in Corsica Region
Yacht charter in Corsica guarantees an exciting vacation with many stunning locations, picturesque bays and beautiful beaches. Bonifacio is the southernmost point of the island perched upon magnificent limestone cliffs. A walk worth taking is to the Citadel, also called the Upper Town, built on the 70 m high cliff overlooking the sea. Pass through the Genoa Gate and explore some of the underground rooms dedicated to the history of the city.
On your way down, take a walk down by the King of Aragon’s Staircase which, according to the legend, was entirely built in one night by the King of Aragon’s soldiers. One more popular yachting destination that can often be found on postcards from Corsica is Grain de Sable, a massive limestone cliff that had fallen into the sea.
The Propriano area is filled with natural beauty, many cliffs, bays, and various rock formations just beneath the mountainous range. The main city is Propriano, an ancient city whose main development started in the 1990s when sailing tourism blossomed. Today, the city thrives on sailing tourism and acts as a stop to dine in numerous good restaurants offering traditional Corsican cuisine or to relax in one of many sandy beaches such as Plage de lido or Porto - Pollo. Just before Propriano you will see Campomoro Bay, one of the most beautiful and relaxing bays on the whole island.
Corsica island’s capital, Ajaccio, is also the largest city of Corsica and most famous as the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte. Due to its long history, there are many interesting sights in the city with the National Museum of the Bonaparte Residence and Ajaccio Cathedral as the city’s most famous sites.
Calvi is a port town and a real eye candy that is keeping the spirit of the Genoese Republic alive even today. Arriving at the Calvi port is a sight to behold as you will be welcomed by 5 km of sandy beach and the impressive Genoese Citadel overlooking the sea. Sail a bit further north from Calvi and take a moment to stop just outside of L’Île-Rousse on the peninsula of Pietra with an impressive lighthouse where people from all over the world come to witness amazing sunsets.
Saint Florent is sitting in one of the most beautiful bays, Saint Florent, is a charming old town that will welcome you with a lovely citadel and cathedral, but most importantly superb wines that made this part of Corsica famous all over the world. For sailors, an interesting location to visit would be the Loto beach which is only accessible by boat.
Bastia is just a few kilometres away from Saint Florent, but to sail from one town to another, you will have to take a long way around Cap Corse, a 40 km long peninsula which will amaze you with its stunning cliffs and magnificent rock formations and plenty of opportunities to relax on one of the many beaches along the way. After arriving in Bastia’s lovely old port, you will be immediately welcomed by Bastia’s most famous sights such as the Citadel and the market square where you can restock your supplies.
Porto Vecchio offers the most modern marina on the whole island. It is referred to as “the Pearl of the South” and it is a popular destination for one-day trips with a great selection of sandy beaches and an impressive medieval old city centre.
Sailing the east coast of Corsica is not as popular as sailing the west coast, but it still has plenty to offer, especially if you are a nature lover and you want to avoid busy touristy places. From Porto Tavern through Port de Solenzara, there are many locations to step out of the boat and enjoy hiking in the beautiful scenery of Corsica. You will find beaches, caves and coves scattered all over the coast and you might be the only ones enjoying this untouched paradise.
Important Info for Sailing in Corsica Sailing Region
Best time to sail
April - October
Most popular marina
Port Tino Rosso, Ajaccio, Propriano
Nearest airports
Ajaccio Napoleon Bonaparte (AJA), Figari South Corsica (FSC), Bastia- Poretta (BIA), Calvi–Sainte-Catherine (CLY)
Number of charter yachts
30+
Popular regattas
The Napoleon Regatta, The Imperial Regatta (Regatés Imperialés)
Top attractions
Ajaccio, Bonifacio, Scandola Nature Reserve, Cap Corse Peninsula, Porto-Vecchio beaches, Calanques de Piana, Désert des Agriates
Gastronomy Highlights of Corsica Sailing Region
When you charter a yacht in Corsica, be sure to get a taste of local cuisine. Corsican cuisine is mostly based on local ingredients found on the island. Due to historical and geographical factors, Corsican gastronomy shares a lot of similarities with Italian cuisine.
Civet de sanglier is a wild boar casserole made with onions, carrots, garlic, chestnuts, fennel, and copious amounts of eau de vie whose key ingredient is red wine.
Veau aux olives are flavourful slow-cooked stew with tender veal, olives, tomatoes, onions, and maquis-grown herbs, as well as a splash of white or rosé wine.
Agneau Corse is slow-roasted Corsican lamb made with garlic cloves, fresh rosemary, and potatoes.
Minestra, or Zuppa Corsa is a soup made with beans, potatoes, garlic, onion, mangelwurzel, cabbage, and tomatoes that is similar to the Italian minestrone.
Azziminu di Capicorsu is a sea-fish soup, a Corsican version of famous French bouillabaisse. The river-fish version of this dish is called azziminu di Corte.
Fiadone is a typical Corsican dessert made with eggs, sugar, lemon juice, zest, and brocciu, a fresh whey cheese made from goat or ewe's milk. The base of Fiadone is usually enhanced with regional liqueurs.
Canistrelli are traditional shortbread cookies often made with flour, sugar, white wine, and flavourings like anise or lemon zest. Due to their repeated baking, canistrelli are very crispy and have a long shelf life.
