La Maddalena archipelago by boat: national park, wind and best months

Between the north-east coast of Sardinia and Corsica lies the La Maddalena archipelago: seven larger islands, dozens of rocks, pink and grey granite and water in every shade of blue. Distances are short, often half an hour from one bay to the next. That is why the archipelago is one of the most sought-after areas in the Mediterranean – and why stricter rules apply here than on most other coasts.

The archipelago has been a national park since 1994 (Parco Nazionale Arcipelago di La Maddalena). For you as a guest this means:

• Park permit: boats in the park need a permit from the park, and anchoring within the park is charged. For many boats the provider takes care of it or tells you how to get it online. Ask about it before you leave.
• Strictly protected zones: in some areas landing, swimming or anchoring is forbidden. The best-known example is the Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli, which for years may only be admired from the water.
• Buoys instead of anchors: the park has laid buoys in several places. Not all of them are in deep enough water for larger boats; a look at the park's map and a word with the provider at check-in save trouble.
• Commercial rental: providers who rent out boats or run trips in the park need their own permits and quotas, which the park rewrote in 2026. Ask your provider whether their boat may operate in the park.

The rules change from season to season. What the park publishes on its website is what counts – the link is below under «Sources».

The wind that shapes the day here is the mistral (maestrale in Sardinia) from the north-west. Between Sardinia and Corsica, in the Strait of Bonifacio, it is funnelled and gets stronger. On a mistral day the western sides of the islands are rough, while the bays on the eastern sides are sheltered. With an easterly (levante) it is the other way round. Read the forecast in the morning, choose the bay accordingly, and you will find a calm spot almost every day.

For your planning: a week in the archipelago is not a fixed timetable but a list of options. Good providers go through which bays work in which wind at check-in.

Most boats for the archipelago are based on the opposite coast: Cannigione in the Gulf of Arzachena, Palau right across from La Maddalena, plus Porto Cervo and Portisco on the Costa Smeralda. From Cannigione or Palau you are among the islands in no time; from ports further south you add a longer passage, which fits easily into a full week.

Our route idea from Cannigione shows a week day by day, with legs in nautical miles and the bays that are sheltered in a mistral.

• Catamaran: lots of space, little heel and a shallow draught – ideal for the shallow, bright bays. Popular with families and groups.
• Sailboat: the classic choice for experienced sailors or with a skipper; in a mistral the sailing here is sporty.
• Motorboat: quickly at the next bay, ideal for day trips from Palau or Cannigione.

June and September combine warm water with more room in the bays. July and August are the warmest and busiest months; the favourite anchorages fill up from late morning. May and October are quiet, but the water is cooler.