Tuscan Islands cruise
An archipelago between Corsica and Italy (8 days)

Meet at 6pm at the Macinaggio marina to board your catamaran. You'll fall under the spell of this small seaside village on Cap Corse. After settling into your cabins, your crew will brief you on safety rules and life on board over a welcome cocktail, followed by dinner. The first night will be spent in a sheltered anchorage on Cap Corse, in Meria.

At around 8 a.m., after a hearty breakfast, you'll weigh anchor for a four-hour trip east to Capraia. You'll sail into the open sea of the Pelagos sanctuary, Europe's largest marine reserve, where large cetaceans and dolphins are frequently spotted. The wild and unspoilt Capraia reveals its untouched hills, covered in maquis: the arrival on its coast is spectacular.
After anchoring at Porto Vecchio, the small port with its colorful houses, you'll be eager to disembark and explore the area. The best way to get to the island's only village, perched on its promontory, is to take the €1 shuttle bus, which passes through the port every quarter of an hour. In terms of culture, the late-Baroque church of Saint-Nicolas and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and the Genoese fortress are particularly impressive. Follow the village's charming narrow streets to the Torre del Porto for a splendid panoramic view. On your way back to the port, stop off at La Gelateria to refresh yourself with a famous ice cream. If the heat isn't too great, hikers can choose one of the many paths through the island's fragrant scrubland. The remains of the old prison are only an hour's walk away. For the less sporty, there's swimming and walking in and around the village.
Dinner and overnight at anchor in the marina.

In the morning, you'll leave Porto Vecchio for a leisurely sail along Capraia's east coast, admiring its cliffs and succession of rocky, crystal-clear coves. At the southern tip of the island, admire Cala Rossa, one of the most spectacular coves in the Mediterranean.
The contrast between the sanguine volcanic rocks of the wall that falls sheer into the sea and the whiteness of the Zenobito promontory is striking. Leaving Capraia behind, we'll make our way to the island of Elba, which we'll approach via Marciana Marina, a charming port village nestling at the foot of Mount Capanne.
After lunch, you can take the 116 bus (€3 round trip) up to the cabinovia cable car (€20 round trip), which takes you up to the summit of Mount Capanne (1019m) in around 20 minutes, aboard small yellow gondolas. The 360° view over Elba, the Tuscan islands, Cap Corse and the Italian coast is breathtaking.  On the way back, enjoy a swim on Marciana beach before returning to your catamaran.  Dinner and overnight at anchor.

Depart Marciana in the morning to skim the coast towards Portoferraio. Elba offers more than seventy beaches, so it's always difficult to choose, but in this area we particularly like those of the Gulf of Viticcio, surrounded by a cliff covered with pine trees and scrubland, or Enfola, where you can see the sea on both sides of the island. Your captain will find you the best anchorages for swimming and lunch.  In the afternoon, we'll head for the island's capital, Portoferraio. Its splendid harbour, a haven for ships since antiquity and judged by Admiral Nelson to be the safest in the world, and the island's iron deposits are the source of its incredibly rich history. Founded by the Medici on the remains of the Roman city of Fabricia, Portoferraio has retained all the charm of the Renaissance. The narrow streets of the historic center are welcoming and lively, and a stroll at the end of the day is a real pleasure.a real pleasure, including the warm Italian atmosphere.
Dinner and overnight at quay or anchorage.

Depart Portoferraio in the morning to round Elba to the northeast. Our first stop of the day is Ortano, with its beach and islet of the same name. A former iron mining center, the quay where ore was loaded onto ships still exists. The sea is particularly transparent at Ortano, making it a great place for snorkeling around the islet.  After lunch, a short sail takes you to Porto Azzurro. This charming fishing village nestles at the head of the Gulf of Mola. It's renowned for its seaside atmosphere and its many nearby beaches, including Barba rossa.
If you like hiking, push on to the Sanctuary of Montserrat, nestled in the wilderness 3km from the village.  After dinner on board, don't hesitate to return ashore to enjoy the lively summer evenings.

You'll continue your tour of Elba, rounding Cape Calamita on your way to Innamorata beach. This romantic cove takes its name from the legend of Lorenzo and Maria. The story goes that Maria, the lover, in an attempt to save her lover kidnapped by Barbarossa's pirates, threw herself into the sea and drowned. All that was found was her shawl on a rock, now known as the Scarf.
Opposite Innamorata, the two small Gemini islands are a wonderful playground for gentle water sports. Sor tons paddle, kayak, flippers, masks and snorkels to explore them.
After a siesta, head for Marina di Campo. Set in one of Elba's deepest gulfs, the wide beach of Marina di Campo faces the island of Montecristo (closed to pleasure boating). Its one-and-a-half kilometers of fine golden sand are bordered by the seaside village and the charming little port. Like all Elba's little ports. Dinner and overnight at anchor.

Leaving the gulf of Marina di Campo, we sail quietly towards the beach of Fetovaia. Protected by an 800-metre promontory jutting out into the sea and covered in wild scrub, the Fetovaia cove is a paradise. The color of the sea ranges from deep blue to light green as you approach the white sand. A favorite with summer visitors, discovering it aboard your catamaran is a privilege. After this last Elboise stopover, set sail for a five-hour sail to the Cap Corse coast, some 30 miles to the west, to reach the Meria marina or the port of Mac cinagio.
Maybe the dolphins will show up!
Farewell party and overnight at anchor or quayside.

By 9am at the latest this morning, after breakfast, it'll be time to say goodbye to your fellow cruisers - if you didn't know them before this Tyrrhenian Sea odyssey - and your crew.

Please note: Depending on sailing conditions, this program may be reversed to start in Fetovaia and end in Capraia, at your captain's discretion.