Luxury cruise to the archipelago of La Maddalena and Costa Smeralda

Sardinia’s best swimming spots come by boat. This private cruise links Spargi, Budelli, Caprera, Santa Maria, and La Maddalena in one long day, with clear water, white sand, snorkeling, and time to relax aboard a catamaran. I like the private format for up to eight people, and I like that you can choose lunch on board or at a local restaurant instead of being locked into one meal plan.

The main drawback is cost. At $1,996.24 per group, this makes sense for a family or group of friends sharing the boat, but it is a serious splurge for two people. You also pay a fuel surcharge, and the published departure information should be confirmed carefully because the schedule lists a 9:30 am departure while the operating hours begin at 10 am.

Key points to know before booking

• Spargi delivers the first big swim: Cala Corsara and Cala Soraya offer white sand, clear water, and easy time for snorkeling.
• Budelli’s Natural Pools are the scenic centerpiece: Expect emerald-colored water and a white-sand setting best enjoyed from the boat.
• The private boat changes the pace: Only your group participates, so the day can feel calmer and more personal than a large excursion.
• Lunch is flexible: You can request lunch on board or eat at a typical restaurant such as La Scogliera.
• The route includes Caprera’s famous coves: Testa di Polpo and Cala Coticcio add more swimming and snorkeling later in the day.
• The price works best when divided: Eight people sharing the group rate brings the cost to about $250 per person before the fuel surcharge.

Why this private Sardinian boat day works

The appeal here is simple: you spend nearly the whole day around water that looks made for swimming, with a captain moving you between several islands and coves. Instead of using roads, buses, and separate harbor transfers, you see the archipelago from the sea.

That matters in the Maddalena area. The best stops are scattered across islands and small inlets, so a boat gives you access to places that would be awkward or impossible to reach in one land-based day. You can also decide when to swim, when to snorkel, and when to stay dry with a drink and a snack.

This is a private activity, not a shared boat with strangers. The group limit is eight people. For a family, a wedding party, or several friends traveling together, that is the strongest part of the package. You are paying for space, flexibility, and a more personal day rather than simply buying transportation between beaches.

The boat is described as a catamaran, and the experience includes snorkeling equipment, snacks, and an aperitif with Prosecco or Vermentino wine plus local products. Alcohol is served only to people aged 18 and over.

Leaving Poltu Quatu at the start of the day

The meeting point is Game Sailing at Marina dell’Orso in Poltu Quatu, near the Costa Smeralda. The scheduled departure is 9:30 am, with arrival back at the port around 5:30 pm. That gives you roughly eight hours on the water, though the tour is also described as lasting about seven hours.

I would confirm the exact check-in time directly before setting out. The published operating hours show 10 am to 6 pm during the listed seasonal periods, which does not perfectly match a 9:30 am departure. This may simply reflect office hours rather than boat departure time, but it is worth clearing up.

From Poltu Quatu, the boat heads toward Spargi. The early sailing is useful because it gets you out among the islands before the day feels too far along. You will want sun protection, a swimsuit, and a towel, although the supplied information does not specify exactly what personal items are provided.

Spargi and the first swim at Cala Corsara

Spargi is the first major stop, with time around Cala Corsara and Cala Soraya. These coves are described by their white sand and clear water, making them natural places for your first swim or snorkeling session.

This part of the day is likely to feel active but easy. You can get into the water, use the included snorkeling gear, and then return to the boat without having to organize equipment at the beach. If you prefer not to snorkel, the main pleasure is simply swimming and floating in clear coastal water.

The schedule does not state how long the boat remains at each cove. That is important because the number of named stops is ambitious for one day. You should expect a selection of stops rather than a long, leisurely visit at every single place. The captain will also need to adjust the route for sea conditions, boat traffic, and weather.

Cala Corsara and Cala Soraya are a good opening pair because they show you what this trip is about right away: pale sand, bright water, and short transfers between swim locations. If you want a full beach day at one beach, this is not the right format. If you want to see several coves from the water, it makes much more sense.

Budelli and the Natural Pools

The next highlight is Budelli and its Natural Pools. This area is presented as a stretch of emerald water and white sand, and it is one of the most photogenic sections of the route.

The Natural Pools are especially suited to a pause rather than a rushed stop. The water and sand are the attraction, but the boat itself is part of the experience. You can enjoy the view from deck, take a swim, or use the snorkeling equipment if conditions allow.

An aperitif is served on board here, with Prosecco or Vermentino, local products, and fresh fruit. This is a useful touch because it turns a simple transport break into a proper midday moment. You are not just being taken from point to point. You have time to sit, eat a little, and enjoy the setting.

Keep expectations sensible. This is not described as a full meal, and the included food is snacks, local products, and fruit. If you need a substantial lunch, plan to request lunch on board or choose the restaurant option.

Choosing lunch on board or at La Scogliera

Lunch is one of the more practical flexible features. You can request a meal on board, or you can eat at a typical restaurant in the archipelago. La Scogliera in Porto Isola di La Maddalena is given as one possible choice, with Caprera also included in the lunch description.

A restaurant stop gives you a chance to eat a proper meal and experience the islands from land for a while. It also adds a fixed element to a day that is otherwise centered on swimming and sailing. If you have children, dietary needs, or simply want to maximize time in the water, lunch on board may suit you better.

The details of the lunch price and menu are not provided, so ask about both before booking. The advertised tour price includes snorkeling gear, the aperitif, and snacks, but it does not state that lunch is included. Treat lunch as an extra arrangement rather than part of the base price.

Sailing between La Maddalena and Caprera

After lunch, the boat sails between La Maddalena and Caprera. This is the part of the route that gives you more choice between swimming, snorkeling, and staying aboard.

Two named coves are Testa di Polpo and Cala Coticcio. The plan is to stop at attractive coves for more water time and relaxation. You may find that the afternoon feels less structured than the morning, which is a good thing if your group wants to linger at one location.

Caprera is also a useful contrast to the smaller beach stops. Rather than seeing only open water and sand, you get a sense of the islands as a connected group of coves, rocky shorelines, and sheltered bays. The cruise does not promise a land tour of Caprera, so do not book it expecting museums, monuments, or a guided island walk. This is a sea-focused outing.

The schedule names Santa Maria and La Maddalena among the destinations, but it does not give separate stop times for both. The boat may pass between or near several islands without making a long landing at each. Ask the operator which stops are planned on your date if seeing a particular island is important to you.

What the private format is really worth

The price is $1,996.24 for the whole group, up to eight people, before the fuel surcharge. That works out to roughly $250 per person if eight people share the cost. For four people, the base cost is close to $499 per person, and for two it is nearly $998 per person.

That calculation changes how you should judge the experience. For eight people, the private boat can be reasonable compared with booking several smaller activities, paying for equipment, arranging meals, and trying to visit the same coves independently. For a couple, it is a luxury purchase based on privacy and comfort, not a budget-friendly way to see Sardinia.

I like the value best for a group that wants control over the day. You are not sharing the deck with a large crowd, and you can discuss the pace with the skipper. The published information describes the skipper as friendly and professional in a particularly positive account, with the boat praised as beautiful, fast, and comfortable. Those qualities matter on a full day at sea.

Still, do not assume that every preference can be accommodated. The route includes many islands and coves, and exact timing depends on conditions. Private does not mean unlimited time at every stop.

Comfort, equipment, and what is included

Snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from bringing or hiring your own mask and fins. The boat also provides an aperitif with alcoholic drinks, local products, and fresh fruit, along with snacks.

Fuel is not included. Since the fuel surcharge is separate, ask for the current amount before you finalize your budget. The base rate also does not clearly include lunch, so confirm that cost if you want the restaurant or on-board meal option.

The experience is offered in English. Children of all ages may participate when accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and small pets under 5 kilograms are permitted. Alcohol is restricted to adults aged 18 and over.

The activity requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, so keep an eye on the forecast and avoid leaving the decision until the last minute.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this cruise for a group that values swimming and scenery more than sightseeing on land. It suits people who are happy to spend most of the day outdoors, move between several coves, and let the sea set the pace.

It is especially appealing for:

• Families who want a private boat rather than a crowded excursion
• Friends splitting the cost among six to eight people
• Couples celebrating an anniversary or special occasion
• Confident swimmers who want repeated water stops
• Visitors staying near Poltu Quatu or the Costa Smeralda

I would be more cautious if you dislike boats, need a tightly timed schedule, or want extensive historical and cultural guiding. The experience is about coastal scenery, swimming, snorkeling, food, and relaxation. It is not a guided tour of Sardinian history.

A private boat also requires your group to agree on the day’s mood. One person may want to snorkel at every stop, while another may prefer to stay aboard with a glass of Vermentino. That flexibility is a strength, but it works best when everyone is comfortable with a water-based itinerary.

Is this La Maddalena cruise worth booking?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the price and you want a polished, private day on Sardinia’s northeastern coast. The combination of Spargi, Budelli, Caprera, La Maddalena, snorkeling gear, an on-board aperitif, and flexible lunch arrangements gives you a full picture of the archipelago from the water.

I would not book it solely because of the word luxury. The real value is the private boat, not a long list of included extras. Confirm the fuel surcharge, lunch cost, exact departure time, and planned stops before paying.

For eight people, this can be a memorable and fairly sensible splurge. For two people, compare it with other private charters first. If clear water, white sand, and a relaxed day aboard a catamaran are at the top of your Sardinia list, this is a strong choice. If your budget is tight, choose a shared boat or a land-based beach day instead.

FAQ

Where does the cruise begin and end?

The cruise begins and ends at Game Sailing, Boat catamaran tour Sardinia, Marina dell’Orso, 07021 Poltu Quatu SS, Italy.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately seven to eight hours. The planned departure is 9:30 am, with arrival back at the port around 5:30 pm.

Which islands and locations are included?

The route includes Spargi, Budelli, Caprera, Santa Maria, and La Maddalena. Named areas include Cala Corsara, Cala Soraya, the Natural Pools, Testa di Polpo, and Cala Coticcio.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included in the experience.

Are drinks and food included?

An aperitif with Prosecco or Vermentino, local products, and fresh fruit is included, along with snacks. Lunch is not clearly included in the base price and can be arranged on board or at a typical restaurant.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private tour is available for a group of up to eight people. Only your group participates.

Are children and pets allowed?

Children of all ages may join when accompanied by an adult. Service animals are allowed, and small pets under 5 kilograms are permitted.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time.