The Scandola Nature Reserve covers 1,900 hectares (900 of land and 1,000 of sea) and offers beautiful landscapes shaped by erosion. The red volcanic rocks create a splendid contrast with the intense blue of the water, creating a breathtaking scenery. A suggestive oasis on the island of Corsica renowned for its exceptional wildlife where the falcon Pescatore and the Peregrine Falcon reign supreme.
what we will see in this article:
Scandola is a marine and terrestrial nature reserve, whose access is strictly regulated. The Reserve is in fact part of the regional nature park of Corsica and is also listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The Scandola Reserve was established in 1975 and is considered the first European nature reserve to have a protected part on the sea and a part on land, located on the west coast of Corsica. The nature reserve consists of two sectors: the islet of Elpa Nera and the peninsula of Scandola. The sea slopes, even 900 meters high, contain numerous caves and are flanked by many islands and coves inaccessible, such as that of Tuara.
Red cliffs, steep cliffs and coves to discover, all this is also the Natural Reserve of Scandola. A wild place where nature is untouched, which you can reach only by sea or for the most intrepid, facing winding and challenging paths on foot.
The Scandola Natural Reserve is not reachable on foot, but only by sea. This is because at the distance of just 3 km from the coast there are already mountains that exceed a thousand meters in height. The only possibility is to walk along long trails in the most indomitable nature or take advantage of the shuttle service that starts from the resorts of Ajaccio, Calvi, Galéria and Porto. An excursion that not only allows you to visit the Natural Reserve of Scandola, but also the inlets of Piana, the Gulf of Porto and the fishing village of Girolata.
We suggest you two ways to visit this wonderful reserve:
Among the main places to visit around the Natural Reserve of Scandola we recommend:
The port of Porto is the departure point of the cruises for the Natural Reserve of Scandola and Girolata. Located between Calvi and Ajaccio, hidden in the deep gulf that bears its name, the village of Porto is part of the coastal strip of the city of Ota. With its prestigious sites, the entire Gulf of Porto became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. The economy of the place is essentially based on tourism, so in Porto you can find many activities and services such as bars, restaurants, shops and hotels.
This ancient fishing village has only 20 inhabitants throughout the year and can only be reached by boat or on foot. In the village you can find some bars and restaurants, frequented mainly by tourists who make boat trips to Scandola and Piana. You can also walk to Girolata on the postman’s path. This route owes its name to an ancient postman named Guy Ceccaldi who, for many years, has traveled daily this path to deliver mail to the inhabitants of the place. The 7 km hike to Girolata lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes and offers beautiful views of the sea, where you can dive into the beautiful waters of the wild beach of Tuara.
The Calanchi of Piana represent a particular geological formation that is found in Corsica, south of the town of Porto, in the municipality of Piana. The red granite rocks rise for about 400 meters above sea level directly on the coast of the island.
The narrow road that connects the villages of Porto and Piana runs through these rock formations and from it depart numerous paths that allow you to reach beautiful viewpoints. In 1983 also the Calanchi di Piana were included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The best way to reach this wonderful location is by boat trip, which also departs from Porto or by excursion. One of the most famous routes is the “Chemin du Château Fort” (Castle Walk). To reach it, just stop in the parking lot “Tête de Chien” (Testa di Cane) and continue on foot for 20 minutes until you reach beautiful places that offer a splendid view of the coves and the Gulf of Porto.
Visiting the gorge of Spelunca is one of the best things to do around Scandola. This wonderful resort connects the villages of Ota and Evisa, near Porto. From Ota, you have to walk down the gorge for 2 hours to reach Evisa. The return journey is a bit longer with the duration of about 3 hours due to the steepness of the trail. You can also opt for a shorter and easier hike. From Ota, just walk along the river for about 30 minutes to reach the stone bridge of Zaglia, listed as a historical monument. Here you can discover a pleasant and peaceful place in contact with nature.
The only way to reach the peninsula of Scandola in the north west of Corsica is by sea from the town of Porto, as the latest provisions provided by the Natural Park Vientano to approach on foot along the trails. Porto is easily reached along the road from Calvi which is 73 km to the north, from Bastia which is about 130 km or from Ajaccio, 85 km south of Porto.
The ports in Corsica closest to the Scandola Nature Reserve are Ajaccio, Calvi, Ile Rousse and Bastia.
To reach Corsica from Italy, you can choose to embark from Savona, Genoa, Livorno and Piombino and Porto Torres (in Sardinia). If you start from abroad the connections with the island are those with the cities of Toulon and Nice.
Now all you have to do is book your seat on one of the many ferries to Corsica, where all the anti-Covid measures provided by the health protocol are respected.
In addition, the insurance coverage will guarantee you the right refund in case of cancellation of the trip also for Covid. How to reach the Natural Reserve of Scandola in Corsica.
Photo Credits:
Photo by jackmack34 from Pixabay
– Photo by Tama66 from Pixabay
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