Cruising on a sailing maxi-catamaran

The best part of this nine-hour sailing day is its easy rhythm: coffee at Santa Giulia, wind-filled sailing, a long stop in clear water, and a relaxed return along the coast. I like the generous 2.5-hour break near Lavezzi, Sperone, or Santa Manza, and I like that paddles, snorkels, drinks, and lunch are already covered. The main drawback is the wind. If conditions turn poor, the boat may not reach the planned spots.

You’ll be looked after by a small couple, Gwen and Claire, aboard Ciao, a spacious maxi-catamaran with room to spread out. I also like the local touches, from Corsican cold cuts and cheese with fig jam to Pietra beer at the final swim stop. Just remember that this is an outdoor day, so the route and swimming time depend on weather.

Key points to know before booking

• Sail from Santa Giulia Beach: Meet near the Moby Dick Hotel, then walk about five minutes to the pontoon.
• Spend 2.5 hours near a major coastal highlight: The stop may be at Lavezzi, Sperone, or Santa Manza, depending on the wind.
• Eat a full Corsican-style lunch onboard: Expect an aperitif, cold cuts, cheese, fig jam, pasta salad, rosé wine, fruit, coffee, and a local digestif.
• Use the water gear at no extra charge: Paddles, snorkels, and swimming fries are available during the swim stops.
• Enjoy a flexible sailing route: The crew adjusts the day to the weather instead of forcing a fixed course.
• Budget $200 per person for the full day: That includes food, drinks, equipment, and nine hours on the water.

Starting at Santa Giulia Beach

Your day begins at Exclusive Sailing Santa Giulia, in front of the Moby Dick Hotel. Free parking is available just before the hotel’s private parking area. From there, you walk to the beach under a wooden footbridge and turn right once you reach the sand. The departure pontoon is about five minutes away on foot.

That short walk matters. You are not meeting at a large marina with a long line of boats and confusing signs. Still, I would allow extra time to find parking, cross the beach, and reach the pontoon without rushing. Wear sandals or flip-flops for this part, and keep your towel and sun protection handy.

Gwen and Claire welcome you aboard Ciao with coffee and snacks. This is a useful start for an early departure, especially if you arrive without a proper breakfast. The opening half hour gives you time to settle in, learn the basic rhythm of the boat, and get comfortable before the sailing begins.

The experience is offered in French and English. That makes it workable for international visitors, though some booking information may still appear in its original language.

Ciao and the first hour under sail

Ciao is a sailing maxi-catamaran, not a fast sightseeing boat. That distinction shapes the entire day. The point is not to race from one photo stop to another. You get time to feel the wind, watch the coast, and enjoy the boat itself.

The catamaran format also gives you more room than a smaller single-hull vessel. One of the strongest practical details from the day is that the boat is large enough for people to find their own space. If you want to sit quietly and watch the coast, you can. If you want to chat with the crew or join the water activities later, you can do that too.

After the welcome, the crew casts off and raises the sails toward the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve. The first sailing section lasts about an hour. The exact pace depends on the wind, so you should not expect a tightly timed cruise with a constant engine-powered schedule.

That flexibility is part of the appeal, but it can also test your patience if you are focused on reaching one exact cove. The crew adjusts the route to the conditions, and one September booking had to skip the planned locations because of the weather. If reaching Lavezzi is your single reason for booking, keep that possibility in mind.

A long lunch stop near Lavezzi, Sperone, or Santa Manza

The main stop lasts about 2.5 hours, giving you much more than a quick swim and a rushed sandwich. Depending on the wind, the boat may stop near the Lavezzi Archipelago, Sperone, or Santa Manza. These are some of the most striking coastal areas around southern Corsica, with clear water and dramatic rocky surroundings.

A stop near Lavezzi gives you a chance to take photos, swim, snorkel, use a paddle, and spend time at your own speed. The program also allows for a self-guided visit, so you are not tied to a formal walking explanation for every minute. The exact amount of time on land or in the water depends on where the boat can safely stop.

The weather-based route is worth viewing as a benefit, not only a limitation. Wind can change the best place to swim, and a smart skipper will favor a pleasant, sheltered stop over sticking stubbornly to a prewritten plan. You may not see the exact postcard location advertised for your date, but you are more likely to get a comfortable day on the water.

Still, do not expect a private beach day at every stop. You are on a shared catamaran, and the main focus is the sea, the boat, and the scenery. Bring a camera, but protect it from spray and keep your belongings organized around the wet areas.

What lunch is like onboard

Lunch is one of the strongest parts of the $200 price. After a house aperitif, you are served cold cuts and Corsican cheese with fig jam. That is followed by pasta salad, rosé wine, fresh fruit salad, coffee, and a local digestif.

This is more substantial than the basic snack service found on many boat trips. The menu also gives you a small taste of Corsican food without turning lunch into a formal restaurant meal. The combination of savory meats, local cheese, sweet fig jam, and chilled pasta fits the warm, informal setting.

Drinks and snacks are included, so you do not need to build a separate onboard food budget. That matters during a nine-hour outing. You will want to bring water only if you prefer having your own bottle, since drinks are part of the package.

The meal is served on the boat, which keeps the day moving and lets you stay close to the water. The tradeoff is that an onboard lunch will feel casual rather than polished. This is a sailing picnic with regional ingredients, not a long table-service meal.

Swimming, snorkeling, and paddle time

After lunch, the schedule opens up. Paddles, snorkels, and swimming fries are available for you to use, with no separate rental charge. You can swim, look underwater, paddle around the boat, or simply remain on deck and enjoy the afternoon.

The snorkel stop has been a particular strength for this experience. The clear water around southern Corsica gives you a good setting for looking below the surface, though the exact conditions will vary with wind and visibility. Bring biodegradable sunscreen, and apply it before entering the water.

Swimming fries are a useful inclusion for anyone who is not a confident swimmer. They also make it easier to relax during a long stop. The activity is not presented as a technical snorkeling excursion, so you should think of the equipment as a way to enjoy the water independently rather than as part of a guided marine-life lesson.

The catamaran’s size helps here. You are not forced to take turns with one small set of equipment or squeeze into a narrow stern area. The crew’s warm, accessible approach is another benefit. Several bookings singled out Gwen and Claire for being attentive, professional, and passionate about the day.

If you do not want to swim, the stop still works. You can take photos, sit with a drink, chat with the crew, or enjoy the view from the boat. That makes the trip more flexible for couples and mixed groups, where not everyone wants the same level of activity.

Sailing back along the Corsican coast

After the main stop, the boat sails for about an hour before making another swimming break. Again, the route follows the wind rather than a rigid timetable. The final stop is at Porto Novo, where you can swim, snorkel, or use the paddle equipment.

A local Pietra beer accompanies this last pause. It is a fitting finish to a long day on the water, especially after the heat and activity of the afternoon. Local snacks are also part of the stop.

The final catamaran section lasts about 30 minutes and brings you back to Exclusive Sailing Santa Giulia. By then, the day has included roughly one hour of outward sailing, a long central stop, another hour of sailing, a final swim, and the return to the beach.

Because the schedule runs for nine hours, this is not a quick add-on to a busy sightseeing day. I would give it a full day and avoid booking another major activity afterward. The reward is a slower experience with enough time to settle into the sea rather than constantly checking the clock.

What the $200 price includes

At $200 per person, this is not a budget boat ride. The value depends on how much of the package you would otherwise pay for separately.

You are getting:

• Nine hours on a sailing maxi-catamaran
• Coffee and welcome snacks
• A house aperitif
• Cold cuts and Corsican cheese with fig jam
• Pasta salad
• Rosé wine
• Fresh fruit salad
• Coffee and a local digestif
• Pietra beer and local snacks
• Paddles
• Snorkels
• Swimming fries
• A French and English-speaking crew

A boat trip that included only transport would make this price harder to justify. Here, the long duration, full meal, open bar elements, and water equipment improve the value. You also avoid the hassle of bringing or renting snorkel and paddle gear.

I would book it if you want a full day on the water and plan to use the included food and activities. I would think twice if you mainly want a short scenic cruise or if you dislike flexible routes. The price pays for the whole day, not just the distance covered.

Who will enjoy this day most

I see this trip working especially well for couples, friends, and families who want a relaxed mix of sailing and swimming. It suits people who like having options. You can be active in the water, sit in the sun, take photos, or enjoy a long meal without changing boats.

It is also a good pick for anyone who wants local food built into the excursion. The Corsican cheese, fig jam, cold cuts, Pietra beer, and regional digestif give the day more character than a generic picnic menu.

You should be comfortable with a full day outdoors. Bring sunglasses, a towel, sandals, comfortable clothes, beachwear, a jacket, and weather-appropriate clothing. A jacket is sensible even on a warm day because wind on the return sail can feel cool.

I would not choose this as your first option if your plans depend on seeing one exact site at one exact time. The crew may alter the route when the wind changes. The experience works best when you treat the destination as part of a sailing day, not as a guaranteed transfer to a single beach.

Booking details that matter

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Corsica schedule is still shifting.

Check the available starting time before booking, since departure times can vary. Parking is free near the Moby Dick Hotel, but you still need to walk across the beach to the pontoon. Plan for that five-minute walk and arrive ready to board.

The tour has an overall rating of 4.8 from 18 verified bookings. The strongest pattern is clear: the crew, food, spacious boat, and swimming stops receive the most praise. The one important caution is also clear: weather can change the planned route.

Should you book the Santa Giulia catamaran?

I would book this experience if you want a generous, all-inclusive day built around sailing, good food, and swimming in southern Corsica. The biggest strengths are the relaxed 2.5-hour central stop, the well-stocked lunch, and the chance to use paddles and snorkels without extra charges.

Book it with an open mind about the route. The wind may send you to Santa Manza or Porto Novo instead of Lavezzi or Sperone, and that is part of the nature of sailing. If you can accept that tradeoff, Ciao offers a pleasant way to see the coast at a slower pace, with Gwen and Claire handling the practical details while you enjoy the water.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran depart from?

It departs from Santa Giulia Beach, in front of the Moby Dick Hotel. The boarding pontoon is on the right after you reach the beach and is about a five-minute walk from the parking area.

Is parking available?

Yes. Free parking is available just before the Moby Dick Hotel’s private parking lot.

How long does the activity last?

The experience lasts nine hours. Check the available starting times when booking.

Which places will the boat visit?

The main stop may be at the Lavezzi Archipelago, Sperone, or Santa Manza, depending on the wind. The return journey includes a final swimming stop at Porto Novo.

Are lunch and drinks included?

Yes. The package includes coffee, snacks, an aperitif, cold cuts, Corsican cheese, fig jam, pasta salad, rosé wine, fruit salad, coffee, a local digestif, Pietra beer, and local snacks.

What water equipment is provided?

Paddles, snorkels, and swimming fries are included. You should bring your own towel, sunglasses, biodegradable sunscreen, beachwear, sandals, and a jacket.