Résidence L'araguina
Bonifacio - Avenue Sylver Bohn
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The Lavezzi archipelago is a small paradise still little known to mass tourism. Its incredible beauty stems from the colour contrast between the turquoise and blue of its crystal-clear waters and the pastel shades of the granite rocks, shaped by the wind and the sea.
You will feel as if you have arrived in a bizarre aquatic garden with curious shapes, some scaled like those of enormous sea monsters, others soft and smooth like ice-cream balls.
This handful of Caribbean-coloured islands and islets, which today enchants visitors from all over Europe, was once an area of pirate and barbarian raids: corsairs used to leave from here to raid Bonifacio.
The archipelago consists of many islands, but the most important ones to admire are:
Lavezzu is the only island in the archipelago that can be visited independently. Remember that it is completely uninhabited and there are no tourist services. Therefore, we advise you to embark equipped with everything you need to face the day: plenty of water, food and drink, sunscreen and a hat to protect you from the scorching sun, and a rubbish bag to take ashore the rubbish you have accumulated during your visit.
Our advice is to take advantage of the cooler hours of the day to walk around the island: a comfortable path will allow you to visit it in 1 hour, although the photo stops to capture the island’s amazing colours will certainly lengthen the time.
Along the way, you will see two cemeteries, Acciarino and Furcone, which house the remains of the 800 sailors and soldiers who died during the 1855 sinking of the Sémillante, a French army frigate that was shipwrecked during a storm.
But the real attraction of the island are its enchanting beaches with Caribbean colours, Polynesian transparencies and shallow waters that are also suitable for children. From Cala Lazarina to the beach of Cala Achiarina, from the beach of Cala Giunco to the beach of Cala di u Lioni.
The most beautiful of all, however, is Cala du chiesa: it is sheltered from the wind, you can swim and boats cannot get near it thanks to the presence of large rocks.
Cavallo Island is private: mooring is strictly forbidden. It can only be reached if you choose to stay in one of the island’s hotels, such as Hotel & SPA des Pecheurs or rent a summer residence.
This wonderful corner has retained its wild charm thanks to the fact that the island has remained uninhabited for centuries. Even today, for eight months of the year, there is not a soul here and this little piece of land is only repopulated during the summer months. Furthermore, only electric vehicles are on the road.
Of course, for those fortunate enough to stay here, the island’s greatest asset is its fabulous beaches, dotted with bizarre rocks and easily accessible on foot or by electric car. Awaiting you are dives into a beautiful crystal-clear sea in shades of blue, green and azure.
Plage la Double is a beautiful expanse of fine sand, embellished with originally shaped rocks from which a beautiful lighthouse can be seen in the distance. On its shore you can pick up the famous Santa Lucia shells, with their peculiar spiral shape.
Palma beach is the largest on the island, characterised by its fabulous fine white sand that gently slopes into the multi-hued waters .
Plage de Zeri, on the other hand, is one of the wildest, surrounded by lush green vegetation that surrounds a crystal-clear, transparent sea .
Finally, we mention Plage Greco, located in the most solitary part of the island. Here, the colour contrasts are even more pronounced and the turquoise colour of the sea almost blinding. On a clear day without mist, you can clearly see the outlines of Corsica.
The archipelago of the Lavezzi Islands lies just 10 km off the town of Bonifacio. The islands can only be reached by sea from Bonifacio.
You can choose between 4 types of boat trips: by sea shuttle, choosing a day cruise, opting for a private cruise with a skipper or, if you have a boat licence, hiring a boat.
In high season, shuttles to the Lavezzi Islands depart daily from the port of Bonifacio every hour from 09.30. Unfortunately, it is not possible to book the trip in advance, but you will have to purchase tickets directly at the company’s counter at the port. Timetables may vary depending on the weather conditions at sea: high waves may prevent the boats, which are quite small, from making the trip.
The transfer takes about 30 minutes from Bonifacio to Lavezzu Island, the point of arrival. Once you have disembarked, you can also spend the whole day on the island and take any of the shuttles that connect with Bonifacio throughout the day.
During the return journey, we recommend that you sit on the right side of the boat to have the best view and take photographs of the Isola del Cavallo, the Gulf of Sperone and the Capo di Pertusato. Returning to the harbour you will also admire the white cliffs of Bonifacio and have a spectacular view of the houses perched more than 70 metres high. Also on the way back you can see the Sdragonato cave with its natural geological curiosity, a hole in the top of the cave that perfectly represents the map of Corsica.
Unlike shuttle transport, boat trips to the Lavezzi Islands, after departing from the port of Bonifacio, include two intermediate stops to swim in the archipelago’s clearest waters: in a cove on the island of Lavezzu and in the enchanting Sperone lagoon.
The mini cruise also includes breakfast served after embarkation and lunch with an aperitif on board.
On the way back, the route chosen by the company will allow you to admire the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve, the island of Cavallo, Cap Pertusato and the cliffs of Bonifacio, as well as Napoleon’s cave and the Sdragonata cave.
To see all the facilities and book accommodation in Lavezzi Islands use the form below, entering the dates of your stay.
The Lavezzi Islands lie in front of the town of Bonifacio and are the southernmost point of France.
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