Réserve Naturelle de Scandola

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The jewel of the Golfe de Porto World Heritage Site, the Réserve Naturelle de Scandola extends both above and below the water, from the russet-hued cliffs down to their submarine counterparts. With no road or trail access, you can only explore this majestic wilderness by boat.

Several Porto-based boat operators, including Via Mare, L'Eivissa and Corse Émotion, run half-day excursions into the reserve, in some cases combining it with Les Calanques de Piana.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Waterfront

0.22 MILES

Porto’s main sights are clustered around the harbour. Once you’ve climbed the higgledy-piggledy headland up to the Genoese tower, stroll round to the…

2. Genoese Tower

0.28 MILES

Follow the stairway up the tiny headland in the centre of the port – a jumble of red-tinged boulders – to reach the sturdy little Genoese watchtower,…

3. Plage de Pero

9.95 MILES

The closest beach to Cargèse is the small strip of Plage de Pero, 1km north of the village and overlooked by a couple of Genoese watchtowers.

4. Église de l’Assomption

10.65 MILES

Facing across the valley towards its Greek counterpart, barely 100m west, Cargèse’s Catholic church dates from earlier in the 19th century. Its matching…

5. Église St-Spyridon

10.69 MILES

Cargèse’s Greek community had been established in the village for 150 years by the time they erected this Greek Orthodox church, between 1868 and 1874…

6. Plage de Calvi

20.17 MILES

Sun worshippers don't have far to stroll. Backed by a grove of pine trees, Calvi’s stellar white-sand beach curves eastwards for 4.5km around the Golfe de…

7. Citadel

20.81 MILES

Crowning a rocky headland, Calvi’s massive citadel was fortified by Corsica’s Genoese rulers from the 12th century onwards, and has fended off everyone…

8. Belvédère

23.6 MILES

Perched on a south-facing promontory immediately below the citadel, and reached via a signposted staircase just outside the ramparts, this free-access…