Yacht catamaran trip to the Lavezzi Islands

The best part of this outing is the long, easy day on the water. You sail from southern Corsica toward Lavezzi or Cavallo Island, then settle into a clear-water cove where fish gather around the boat. I like the stable Bali 4.6 catamaran and the deliberately small group of 22 people. I also like that fuel, soft drinks, equipment, lunch, and crew service are built into the price.

The main thing to consider is the weather. The departure point and island can change, and a calm day is not guaranteed. You also need a car or taxi, since the meeting bays have no public transport, and the tour is conducted in French.

Key points to know before booking

• Lavezzi or Cavallo, depending on weather: The final route and meeting point are set to give you the calmest practical sailing conditions.
• A spacious Bali 4.6 catamaran: Find shade at the stern, sun loungers forward, and more sun space on the flybridge.
• A limited group of 22 people: The boat can carry 38, but the operator keeps numbers lower for more room.
• Swimming with fish in protected waters: The main stop is made for swimming, snorkeling, and a walk ashore.
• Lunch and drinks are included: Pasta with pesto, Gruyère, and Parmesan is provided, with a Corsican menu available for an extra $30.
• Nicolas and Bénédicte lead the day: Recent trips describe a well-run outing with clear information and friendly onboard service.

Setting out from southern Corsica at 8:30 a.m.

This is a full-day boat outing, not a quick coastal cruise. You leave at about 8:30 a.m. from either Paragan Bay or Sant’Amanza Bay, then spend roughly two hours sailing toward the island stop.

The exact bay is supplied the day before your arrival. That may feel less convenient than having one fixed meeting point, but it serves a useful purpose: the crew can choose the departure with the calmest conditions. You should keep the previous afternoon and evening free for the final message, then plan to arrive by car or taxi.

Free parking is available a few metres from the meeting point. There is no public transportation to either departure area, so this is not an easy outing to reach without your own vehicle or a booked taxi. Also allow time for the transfer from shore to the catamaran, which takes place in the boat’s small tender.

The first two hours are part of the experience. On a light-wind day, this gives you time to settle into the boat and watch the Corsican coast recede. On a windier day, the sailing itself becomes more memorable. One September trip had wind between 20 and 32 knots, yet the catamaran was described as remarkably stable. That does not mean every day will feel the same, but a wide catamaran generally offers a steadier ride than a narrow boat.

The crew is French-speaking, and the activity information lists French as the tour language. Nicolas and Bénédicte are the names associated with the onboard service. If you do not speak French, basic arrangements may still be manageable, but you should not expect an English-language guided tour.

What the Bali 4.6 catamaran feels like onboard

The boat is a recent Bali 4.6 catamaran, with room arranged for comfort rather than maximum capacity. The official maximum is 38 people, but only 22 are accepted on each trip. That decision matters during an eight-hour outing. You have a better chance of finding a seat in the shade, using the front loungers, and moving around without feeling packed in.

At the stern, you will find several shaded places. The front has wide sun loungers, and the flybridge provides another place to sit in the sun. I like this arrangement because it lets you choose your level of exposure. You can read or eat in shade, then move forward when you want a warmer, more open spot.

Shoes are not allowed onboard, so wear something easy to remove and expect a barefoot boat. Smoking is allowed outdoors. Bring your own towel, hat, swimsuit, and sun cream. Sun cream is particularly important here, since a day split between white deck surfaces, open water, and sunny island coves can feel much brighter than a normal beach day.

The catamaran is presented as an ecological boat, but the supplied information does not give technical details about its propulsion or environmental systems. What you can say with confidence is that the experience is built around sailing, rather than simply running a motor for the entire route. Diesel is included in the price.

Reaching the Lavezzi and Cavallo area

After about two hours, the boat anchors in a cove near Lavezzi Island or, if conditions call for it, Cavallo Island. The water is the star of this stop: clear enough for swimming and for seeing fish below the surface.

Lavezzi is known for its rocky island scenery and protected coastal waters. The schedule gives you time to do more than jump overboard. You can swim, use the snorkeling equipment, paddle, and walk around the island until no later than 4 p.m. The combination is useful. Some people in your party may want to stay in the water, while others may prefer to explore on foot or relax aboard.

The fish are a major reason to bring a mask. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you do not need to pack your own set. The provided paddle equipment gives you another way to enjoy the cove, although the information does not specify the type or number of paddles available. If you care about having a long snorkeling session, ask the crew about the equipment and the exact anchorage when you board.

The boat does not promise a fixed beach or a guaranteed Lavezzi landing. Weather controls the plan. If conditions are not suitable, Cavallo Island may replace Lavezzi, and the outing can be changed. That flexibility is sensible at sea, but it means you should book this for the overall sailing and swimming day, not for one rigid postcard view.

Lunch at anchor, with a Corsican upgrade

Lunch is served at the table, which is a pleasant touch on a day when many boat trips settle for snacks. The standard meal is pasta with pesto, Gruyère, and Parmesan. Food and unlimited soft drinks are included.

For an additional $30, you can choose a more distinctly Corsican menu:

• Tomato and mozzarella salad with a tasting of Corsican charcuterie
• Bonifacio-style eggplants as the main course
• Fresh fruit salad for dessert

The upgrade is worth considering if local food is part of your reason for visiting Corsica. Bonifacio-style eggplants give the meal a regional connection, while the charcuterie adds another taste of the island. If you simply want a filling meal between swims, the included pasta should cover that need.

The menu arrangement is one detail to check before departure. The activity is described as all-inclusive, but the special Corsican menu costs extra. Food itself is included, while the local-menu choice is an upgrade. If you have allergies or dietary needs, the supplied information does not list alternatives, so contact the provider before booking rather than relying on a last-minute change onboard.

A table-served meal also affects the rhythm of the day. You are not expected to balance a plate while standing on a moving deck. After lunch, you still have time for the water and island walk before the return trip.

Swimming, snorkeling, and time ashore until 4 p.m.

The main stop lasts several hours, with swimming and walking available until about 4 p.m. That is a generous break for an eight-hour outing. You are not rushed into a quick photo stop and back onto the boat.

The water is the reason to bring a towel and swimsuit, though neither is provided. The fish can be seen while snorkeling, and the clear conditions make the underwater part especially appealing. I would pack a dry change of clothes as well, even though it is not listed as required. It is a practical choice after a long swim, but the only specifically requested item in the instructions is a towel.

A walk on Lavezzi gives the day some variety. You can leave the deck, stretch your legs, and see the island from land rather than only from the water. The information does not promise a formal island tour or a narrated walk, so think of this as independent time ashore, shaped by the crew’s schedule and safety instructions.

You should keep an eye on the return time. The boat leaves the island by 4 p.m. at the latest, then reaches the starting point around 5:30 p.m. This makes the excursion a substantial day, with an early start and a late afternoon finish. It is a good fit if you want one major water-based outing in southern Corsica. It may feel too long if you prefer short activities or dislike spending several hours in open sun.

Why the smaller group matters

The decision to take 22 people instead of the boat’s full capacity is one of the strongest features here. A catamaran with 38 people could still be workable, but shared shade, loungers, swim access, and table service would feel less relaxed. With a smaller group, you have more room to choose where you sit and how you spend the day.

The size also helps the crew keep the mood personal. Nicolas and Bénédicte are named as the people leading the outings, and the available trip details describe clear information and attentive onboard service. One recent account also singled out the meal and the captain’s handling of a windy return. Those details suggest that the crew plays a real part in the experience, rather than simply transporting you to a cove.

Still, this is not a private charter. You share the boat, the lunch service, and the swimming stop with the other 21 people. If you want total control over the route, departure time, or menu, a private boat would suit you better, though it would likely cost more than $188 per person.

Is $188 a fair price?

At $188 per person, the price is not a budget beach excursion, but it covers much more than transportation. You receive an eight-hour outing, skipper and hostess service, diesel, food, unlimited soft drinks, snorkeling equipment, paddle equipment, and table service. Free parking also removes one small extra cost at the meeting point.

The value improves if you would otherwise rent snorkeling gear, pay for a boat transfer, buy lunch and drinks, and arrange separate parking. The catamaran’s comfort and limited group size also matter, especially compared with a packed sightseeing boat.

The price is less attractive if you mainly want a short swim and do not care about sailing, lunch, or a roomy boat. You also need to add the $30 Corsican menu supplement if you want the upgraded meal, plus the cost of getting to the bay by car or taxi.

The best way to judge the price is to count it as a full day on the water. You are paying for the boat, crew, food, fuel, equipment, and time at the island. For someone who wants a polished day with few separate arrangements, that is a reasonable package.

Who should book this day on the water?

I would recommend it to couples, families, and small groups who want a comfortable boat day without booking a private charter. The limited number of people, shaded seating, and stable catamaran make it more appealing than a basic transfer boat.

It also suits anyone who values both swimming and sailing. The island stop is important, but so is the journey there and back. A September outing with strong wind showed that the boat can feel stable in lively conditions, though no boat can remove the effect of weather entirely.

You should think twice if you need an English guide, cannot arrange transport to the meeting point, or want a guaranteed visit to Lavezzi. The tour language is French, and the route changes with conditions. People who dislike sun, open water, or a long day away from shore may prefer a shorter coastal trip.

Book with a flexible attitude. The right question is not only, Will I reach Lavezzi? It is also, Do I want a full day of sailing, clear water, fish, lunch, and island time in a small group? If the answer is yes, the weather-based flexibility is a fair trade.

Practical details to sort out before departure

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, and you can reserve now while paying later. Availability and the starting time should still be checked for your chosen date.

Keep these points in mind:

• The exact meeting bay arrives the day before because it depends on the weather.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat or cap, and sun cream.
• No shoes are permitted on the boat.
• Smoking is allowed only outdoors.
• The shore-to-boat transfer uses the tender.
• Bring a car or arrange a taxi, since public transport does not serve the meeting points.
• The crew speaks French.
• The standard meal is included, while the Corsican menu costs an extra $30.
• The island destination and route may change with the day’s conditions.

Should you book the Lavezzi catamaran trip?

Yes, if you want a well-equipped, full-day sailing outing rather than a simple island transfer. The strongest reasons are the roomy Bali 4.6 catamaran, the 22-person limit, the included equipment and meal, and the chance to swim among fish in clear protected water.

I would not book it for a fixed Lavezzi itinerary or an English-language tour. Weather can send the boat toward Cavallo, the meeting point is confirmed late, and the French-only format may not suit everyone.

For a relaxed day with Nicolas and Bénédicte, good deck space, a proper lunch, and plenty of time in the water, $188 is a fair price. Just arrive prepared for a long day, a barefoot boat, and a plan that sensibly follows the sea.

FAQ

How long does the catamaran trip last?

The excursion lasts about eight hours. Departure is around 8:30 a.m., and the return is expected around 5:30 p.m.

Where does the boat depart?

The boat leaves from either Paragan Bay or Sant’Amanza Bay. The precise meeting point is provided the day before because the choice depends on the weather.

Will the trip definitely visit Lavezzi Island?

No. The boat may visit Lavezzi Island or Cavallo Island, depending on the weather and sea conditions.

What food is included?

The standard included meal is pasta with pesto, Gruyère, and Parmesan. Unlimited soft drinks are also included.

Can I choose a Corsican meal?

Yes. A Corsican menu is available for an additional $30. It includes tomato and mozzarella salad with Corsican charcuterie, Bonifacio-style eggplants, and fresh fruit salad.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and paddle equipment are included.

What should I bring, and is transport provided?

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun cream, and a cap or hat. You need to arrange your own car or taxi because there is no public transport to the meeting points. Free parking is available a few metres from the departure area.