This is a super unique day trip that we enjoyed immensely. There are a number of ways to venture to the islands, and you should do what is right for you. But, I’m going to detail why we think the way we did it was best!
The Lavezzi Islands are very special and worth visiting, but you need to be prepared for what the day will bring. You reach the islands by boat, and once there you are free to walk around and explore at your own pace depending on the type of tour you do. You can spend the day walking from beach to beach, hang out in one spot, or enjoy a boat taking you from place to place. Walks between beaches can take 15-20 minutes and are through wide open and hot areas. Be prepared and bring sunscreen as there are no facilities here. The water is some of the most electric blue you’ll ever see. People have called this the “Seychelles of Europe” because of the beautiful rock formations all around the island. The water is so clear and calm and is some of my favorite water we’ve swam in!
How to get there for different budget types
Low Budget: If you have a low budget and you still want to see the islands, your best bet is going to be to take the ferries. I still wouldn’t call this an extremely low budget activity but this is the most affordable way to do it. It costs approx 40 USD and will ferry you to the islands. You leave and return right from the port of Bonifacio. You don’t get anything but a ride with this service, and when we were there people were PACKED into these ferries. You would also need to bring with you on the ferry anything you needed for the day, snacks, beach set up, towels, etc. There are no facilities on the islands.
To access these boats you need to go to the port in Bonifacio. They have more information on their website you can —-> click here
Mid Budget: With a more mid range type of budget you could get on a group tour. They have tons of different options ranging from 80-120 USD and are generally on speed boats. Many of these tours will take you around to different swim spots and let you enjoy, but they don’t provide much else. You’d still again need to bring your own snacks, beach needs, etc. The benefit of this over the ferry though, is a faster boat and a smaller group.
You can check on getyourguide for some options for a mid range tour by —-> clicking here
Higher Budget: This is the option we went with, and I will explain why… The exact tour we did isn’t currently on getyourguide, but this one looks quite similar. —-> click here
I encourage you to check them out, read the details, and pick the one that is right for you.
Why we chose the Full Day Catamaran Trip
Comfort: Honestly, the older I get the more comfortable I want to be. I knew that there was a maximum number of participants for this tour and that everyone would have space on the large boat. We ended up having a social experience with others on the boat, but we could have spent the whole day to ourselves if we wanted to. There was also always a space to lay out with a towel, enjoy the views, and relax, we were never cramped for space or comfort. The boat had so many spaces to use, you could sit in the shade at the table, up in the crows nest on the daybeds, on the front and catch some waves, on the benches around the sides. There was a place for everyone.
Lunch/Drinks/Snacks: Many of the other tours to the islands do not provide anything by way of food. We were staying in hotel and not an apartment so we hadn’t really shopped for much. It was so much easier to be served lunch, snacks, drinks, and water whenever we needed it throughout the day. They served a nice salad and pasta for lunch and little snacks throughout the day.
A relaxing base: The islands are amazing to walk around and explore, but again, if you don’t pack EVERYTHING, you really are just out there with a towel and some sunscreen. It was nice to have the boat as a base of comfort to come back to after exploring. They gave you plenty of time to explore, but you could always come back and just chill on the boat. Some people didn’t get off the boat at all. We spent the morning exploring the islands and then came back and had lunch and spent some time at the boat.
Activities: The boat also had some nice activities, you could snorkel or paddle board off the boat and explore the area a bit more.
Sight seeing: The day also began by riding around the cliffs of Bonifacio. It was really neat to see this area from the water. We got to see the Stairs of Aragon and some of the bunkers and learn a bit more about the history. Our captain spoke French, but they had someone on board who made a great effort to explain things to us in English as well.
Overall ease: This trip just made everything easier, the boat staff took care of us all day, they helped with anything we needed, gave us information about the area, and helped us get around.
Summing it all up
No matter how you choose to see these islands I do believe you’ll LOVE the experience. Do what works best for you and your timing and budget. The beaches are some of the most stunning and the boat ride is beautiful and peaceful. This is definitely worth doing if you’re spending a few days in Bonifacio.
Check out my post for some video of our day!
If you’re looking for more information on Bonifacio and what you should know before you go, check out my post here —–> What to Know Before you Go to Bonifacio, Corsica
If you’re looking for more things to do in Bonifacio, check out my post here —-> Things to Do in Bonifacio, Corsica
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