A Boat Trip To Cala Gonone
Taking a boat tour is a good way of sightseeing around Sardinia. Between March and September, the boat tours of choice are the ones from Cala Gonone. The tours take you to the secluded beaches of Cala Luna and Cala Sisine, some six and 11 kilometers south of the port, respectively. Towering cliffs shelter these beaches but the boat tours give visitors a chance to explore the hidden beach coves and deep grottoes that would otherwise be inaccessible to landlocked tourists.
Among these hidden caves is the famous Grotta del Bue Marino. The grotto is believed to be the last habitat of the Mediterranean monk seal or the sea ox. For those not enthralled by the sighting of rare animals, the cave itself offers a spectacular experience; Grotta del Bue Marino is one of Sardinia’s most breathtaking caves; it offers a glowing gallery of natural sculptures, one even resembling the poet Dante.
Some the destinations on the boat tours are excellent swimming and diving spots so much so that select tours offer beachside picnics (grigliata). The Porto Turistico offers a list of agencies that offer these excursions. Remember that prices may be different from season to season. The Grotta di Bue Marino tours cost about L18,000 per person (as of this writing). Typical cruises - costing about L60,000, including the cost of lunch - take visitors for a two-hour trip to as far as Arco di Goloritze or the Spiaggia Aguglia for some diving, swimming and beachside barbecue. The return trip has stops st Cala Mariolu, Cala Sisine, Cala Biriola, Cala Luna, and Grotta di Bue Marino.
Book a full day ahead for your intended tour and make sure to bring sunglasses and a hat. Be ready to board at around 9:30 a.m., to return at around 7 p.m. For more information, get in touch with the Nuovo Consorzio Transporti Maritimi in Via Millelire (telephone 0784.93.305).
