- 4.7–4.9 ★800+ reviews
- Boat-onlyno roads or ferry
- From $55per person
- Natural poolsPorto della Madonna
- Freecancellation up to 24h
Why Razzoli Is the Wildest Stop in the La Maddalena Archipelago
Razzoli is the northwesternmost of the seven main islands in the Parco Nazionale dell'Arcipelago di La Maddalena — a 1.5 km², uninhabited granite island facing the Strait of Bonifacio, the channel between Sardinia and Corsica. It has no town, road, ferry or facilities; the draw is pure landscape: wind-carved pink-granite cliffs, a historic 1840s lighthouse, and the shallow turquoise Porto della Madonna pools it shares with Budelli and Santa Maria.
For most visitors, Razzoli is not a place you walk around for hours — it's experienced from the sea, swimming and snorkelling in clear water, photographing the cliffs and admiring the lighthouse from the boat. That remoteness is the point. One honest caveat to plan around: landing is heavily restricted, the exposed northern coast is wind-dependent, and big tours often only cruise the shared natural-pool area. If Razzoli is your priority, book a small, flexible boat and confirm the route before you reserve.
Inside Razzoli: 1.5 km² of Granite, a 65 m Peak and an 1845 Lighthouse
The fifth-largest island in Sardinia's first national park, and the closest of all to Corsica.
- 1.5 km²the park's 5th-largest island
- 65 mMonte Cappello, its high point
- 1845lighthouse first lit on Punta Maestro
- 7.4 kmto Corsica's Lavezzi islands
What You'll See on a Razzoli Boat Tour: Pools, Cliffs and a Lighthouse
From the Porto della Madonna pools to Cala Lunga and the Faro di Razzoli — what a typical stop includes.
The Porto della Madonna natural pools
The headline stop: the shallow, sheltered turquoise lagoon enclosed by Razzoli, Budelli and Santa Maria — widely called the most beautiful stretch of water in the archipelago. Boats stop in the permitted outer zone and you swim in; the precise centre is a swim-only area where boats can't navigate or anchor.
Budelli's Pink Beach from the water
Most Razzoli-area routes also pass Spiaggia Rosa, Budelli's protected Pink Beach, viewed from the boat at the legal distance — no landing on any tour.
Cala Lunga and the granite cliffs
Razzoli's one real landing point is Cala Lunga, a deep, fjord-like cove on the west side with white-and-amber sand and rock-and-sand seabed 3–4 m deep — excellent for snorkelling. Around it rise the wind-sculpted, quartz-veined cliffs that give the island its wild look.
The Faro di Razzoli and the Passo degli Asinelli
From the water you'll see the lighthouse on Punta Maestro — first lit in 1845, automated in 1974 — and the narrow Passo degli Asinelli ("Little Donkeys' Pass") separating Razzoli from Santa Maria, once crossed by lighthouse keepers with their donkeys.
A swim and snorkel stop
The day is built around getting in the water — Cala Lunga or the natural pools, depending on the wind. There are no facilities ashore, so this is rock, sea and clear water, not beach bars.
The Best Boat Tours That Stop at Razzoli & the Natural Pools
These tours name a scheduled Razzoli or Porto della Madonna stop in their itinerary — not just a drive-by. A flexible small boat gives you the best chance of reaching it.
The Razzoli Tour We Recommend Starting With
If Razzoli is your priority, a small, fast RIB is the surest way there: it reaches the quieter coves when conditions allow, with the most swim time. This is the highest-rated and most-reviewed Razzoli-stop option, from $55.
Palau or La Maddalena: 4-Hour RIB Tour of the Archipelago
Why we recommend it: a fast, flexible RIB with a certified skipper, snorkel gear and inflatable toys included — 4.8 stars across 500+ reviews, and small enough to slip into Razzoli's coves when the wind cooperates.
A half-day dinghy run from Palau or La Maddalena to the archipelago's clearest water, with three swim-and-snorkel stops chosen for the day's conditions — Budelli, Spargi and, when the sea allows, the Razzoli side and the natural pools. Fast, comfortable and built around time in the water.
- Small-group RIB with a certified skipper
- 3 swim & snorkel stops, conditions permitting
- Snorkel gear and inflatable toys included
- Departs Palau or La Maddalena town
- Confirmed with at least 4 guests; from age 2
Ask the crew to prioritise the Razzoli / Porto della Madonna side. Check live dates and book on the right.
La Maddalena: 7 Islands, 7 Stops, All-Day Guided Tour
A 12-guest skippered boat with an explicit "Razzoli — visit and swim" stop, plenty of swim time at each island and a relaxed full-day pace in four languages — a comfortable middle ground between the RIB and a big boat.
From Palau: Maddalena Archipelago Sailing Tour with Lunch
The slow, scenic option — a 4.9-star sailing day that stops at Razzoli in the Asinelli Channel, with lunch on board and a small group. Best if you want calm and comfort over covering maximum ground.
Which Tour Should You Book if Razzoli Is the Priority?
Group size, price, comfort and the real chance of reaching Razzoli — the three ways to visit, side by side.
| Criterion | Large shared boat | Small-group RIB | Private charter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group size | ~50–150+ | ~10–14 | Your group only |
| Price (per person) | ~$40–70 | ~$55–130 | Several hundred € / boat |
| Chance of reaching Razzoli | Lower — fixed route, often the pools only | Higher — flexible, reaches coves | Highest — you set the route |
| Comfort | Most — toilets, shade, café | Less — fast, open, little shade | Whatever you book |
| Best for | Budget & comfort | Swimming & flexibility | Photography & full control |
Short version: a big boat is cheapest and comfiest but may only cruise the shared pools; a RIB is the best value if you specifically want Razzoli; a private charter is the surest way there if budget allows. No operator can guarantee Razzoli on a windy day.
Can You Land on Razzoli? Access Rules, Pools and the Lighthouse
Razzoli is heavily protected and the rules change seasonally — here's what's actually allowed.
Landing
Only at Cala Lunga, the island's single real landing point. Much of Razzoli is a Zona Ta integral reserve closed to non-residents, so most visitors never set foot ashore — they swim, snorkel and photograph from the boat.
The natural pools
The centre of Porto della Madonna is a swim-only zone: no navigating, anchoring or mooring. Boats stop in the permitted outer water and swimmers enter from there. Anchoring on the protected Posidonia seagrass is forbidden.
The lighthouse
You can walk the old ~1 km mule track from Cala Lunga toward the lighthouse promontory, but the historic Faro di Razzoli building itself is closed — it's under a private concession and restoration. Treat any lighthouse walk as conditional and confirm locally.
Permits, fees & facilities
Private boats need a paid park permit (priced by length); tour passengers pay a landing fee of about €2.50–€5 in cash. There are no toilets, water, food or shade ashore — bring everything, and carry your waste back to La Maddalena.
Razzoli vs Budelli, Santa Maria & Spargi: What's the Difference?
The four islands most boat tours cover — what each is known for and whether you can land.
| Island | Signature feature | Can you land? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Razzoli | Wild granite cliffs, the lighthouse, Cala Lunga | Only at Cala Lunga, mostly viewed from the boat | Scenery, snorkelling, a wilder feel |
| Budelli | The Pink Beach (Spiaggia Rosa) | No — island closed to landing since 2020 | Photos of the pink sand from the water |
| Santa Maria | Shallow white-sand beaches, a few houses | Yes — a common swim/beach stop | Easy swimming and sunbathing |
| Spargi | Cala Corsara, the Witch Rock | Yes — a popular beach stop | A long, sandy swim stop |
Short version: all three of Razzoli, Budelli and Santa Maria cradle the Porto della Madonna pools. Go to Santa Maria and Spargi to land on a beach; go to Razzoli for the wildest scenery and the clearest snorkelling water.
Razzoli & Porto della Madonna: Frequently Asked Questions
Access, the natural pools, the lighthouse and the best way to visit — answered.
Where is Razzoli?
Razzoli is at the far north of Sardinia in the La Maddalena Archipelago, in the Strait of Bonifacio. It is the northwesternmost of the seven main islands and the closest to Corsica — the Razzoli lighthouse sits about 7.4 km from the French Lavezzi islands.
Can you land on Razzoli?
Only by boat, and only in limited ways. Cala Lunga is the island's one real landing point; much of Razzoli is a protected integral reserve closed to non-residents, so most visitors experience it as a swim, snorkel or photo stop from the boat rather than a beach landing.
What are the Porto della Madonna natural pools?
They are the shallow, sheltered turquoise pools enclosed by Razzoli, Budelli and Santa Maria — the archipelago's most famous swimming spot. The very centre is a swim-only zone where boats cannot navigate or anchor, so tours stop and swimmers enter the water in the permitted outer parts.
Is Razzoli worth visiting?
Yes, for the scenery and wildness — dramatic wind-carved pink granite cliffs, clear water and the natural pools — especially on a small-group or private boat in calm weather. Manage expectations: it is a swim-and-photo stop, not a developed beach with facilities, and big tours may only cruise the shared natural-pool area.
What is the best way to visit Razzoli?
A small-group RIB, catamaran or private charter is best if Razzoli is your priority, because they are more flexible and reach the quieter coves when conditions allow. A large shared boat is cheaper and more comfortable but makes fewer, fixed stops. Always confirm the route includes the Porto della Madonna / Razzoli side before booking.
Can you go to the Razzoli lighthouse?
You can walk the old mule track from Cala Lunga toward the lighthouse promontory — a recommended excursion in official sources — but the historic Faro di Razzoli building itself is not open, as it is under a private concession and restoration. Access rules change seasonally, so confirm locally before relying on a lighthouse walk.
Do tours guarantee a Razzoli stop?
Usually not. The Strait of Bonifacio is one of the windiest stretches of the Mediterranean, and the exposed northern islands are weather-dependent, so itineraries change daily. Book a flexible small boat and treat Razzoli as a likely — not guaranteed — stop.
When is the best time to go?
June and September offer the best balance of warm sea (around 24–25°C), good weather and fewer crowds. July and August are hottest and busiest — book ahead. Watch the wind, as the mistral can reroute or cancel Razzoli stops at short notice.