Hotels near La Maddalena Archipelago

The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park is a cluster of seven main islands and dozens of smaller islets between Sardinia and Corsica, protected as a national park since 1994. The water here is a catalogue of blues - cobalt in the deep channels, electric turquoise over the sandy shallows, almost transparent in the coves. Spiaggia Rosa (Pink Beach) on Budelli island is the most famous, though access is restricted to protect its unique pink-tinted sand. The beaches on Spargi (Cala Corsara) and Santa Maria are equally stunning and swimmable.

The main island of La Maddalena is reached by a 20-minute Delcomar or Maddalena Lines ferry from Palau on the Sardinian mainland. The town itself has a laid-back waterfront, good restaurants, and a small naval museum. From La Maddalena, you can drive across a causeway to Caprera island, where Garibaldi - Italy's unification hero - spent his final years. His house is now a museum. Boat excursions from La Maddalena or Palau tour the outer islands with swimming stops.

Pro Tip: Take your rental car on the ferry (book ahead in August) and drive Caprera's coastal road to Cala Coticcio, often called Sardinia's Tahiti. The hike down is short but steep. Bring snorkelling gear - the underwater visibility is extraordinary.