Boat rental Cala Gonone

These are the first natural wonders you will encounter during your day and after only a few minutes of sailing from Cala Gonone. The Bue Marino caves owe their name to the monk seal, in Sardinian "Boe Marinu", which used these caves as a refuge during rough seas and as a place to breed.

These splendid animals inhabited the Gulf of Orosei until the 1980s, and then they slowly disappeared mainly because of the decrease of their main and fundamental food, that is fish, in continuous decline due to the intensive fishing carried out in our seas.

The caves are divided into two branches: the North and the South branches, both of which can be visited and reached by sea and by land through a path immersed in the largest juniper forest in Europe.

The guided tour of the southern branch is available all day long. It lasts about 50 minutes and you will take you about 1km inside the cave. The price of the ticket is €9 for adults. Children’s tickets have a reduced price.

Once passed the Bue Marino caves, you will encounter the first beach named Cala Ziu Santoru. It is not very large, and measures about 50 metres. This beach resembles most those of the Caribbean; Fine sand, crystal clear sea, a low sea bottom extending up to fifteen meters ahead, and an imposing mountain behind it. Moreover, it is perhaps the most particular of the Gulf beaches; It is possible that during the winter season the sea eliminates it, changes its length and width, but be sure that if it resists changes, its beauty will amaze you.

Leaving Cala Ziu Santoru you will come to Cala Luna, the largest beach in the Gulf. It is characterized by a mix of fine sand and small pebbles and it is surrounded by the water of the little river with steep mountains rising behind it, marking the boundary between the territory of Dorgali and Baunei.

At the far end of the beach, there are some magnificent caves offering protection from the sun in the hottest hours or where you can do some free climbing.

Cala Luna owes its name to the shape of the beach that resembles the crescent shape of the moon which when in its full moon stage illuminates the beach .

For the most demanding customers, there is also a bar/restaurant located among the Mediterranean scrub easily reachable by a footpath.

The stretch between Cala Luna and Cala Sisine is full of spectacular reflecting pools and caves that penetrate into the cliffs. This part of coast is quite steep and overlooks the sea. You can admire unique concretions and erosion of the rock. A deep knowledge of the area is needed in order to explore these areas and many of these wonders. This area of coastline can be explored with Bonny during one of the guided hikes.

Continuing south, we come across Cala Sisine beach. Its conformity makes it one of a kind. It is nestled between two cliffs overlooking the sea measuring over 500MT, which are also home to the mouth of a river born inside the canyon

The beach is made up of large light pebbles of different sizes that highlight the crystalline and transparent colour of the sea which slopes down very quickly up to 15 meters. This beautiful beach is also equipped with a bar among the Mediterranean scrub that is easily reachable on foot along a 5 minute-path.

About 20 minutes from Cala Sisine, you will encounter Cala Biriala, a beautiful beach of white and pink pebbles which enhances the beach’s turquoise and limpid waters.

Overlooking the beach is a forest of Holm oaks and junipers, after which you can admire a cliff with a natural arch used by the bravest of the beachgoers as a diving point. The wall on the left side hand of the mountain is also used by many to practice free-climbing and offers a breathtaking view to those who arrive at the top.

Just ahead of Cala Biriola, we find the Piscine di Venere (The Pools of Venus) a corner of the coastline characterized by its emerald green waters created by the rays of the sun reflecting on the sandy seabed.

This natural wonder is only accessible by dinghy allowing you to swim in this beautiful corner of paradise surrounded by the many fish that “crowd” the area.

A mask and mouthpiece are highly recommended.

Next to the Piscine di Venere, we find the Grotta del Fico.

It gets its name from the fig plant that is located in front of its entrance and it was the last refuge of the monk seal in the 1980s. The seal accessed the cave through an underwater siphon located at about 15m in depth. The monk seal used this cave to reproduce or to seek shelter during storms.

It has been open to the public for about 10 years and the guided visit is approximately 50 minutes long. The visit takes you about 800 Mt inside the cave.

Just drop your anchor in the appropriate space as indicated by the staff and you will be accompanied to the cave for your visit. Ticket price: 8€.

Cala Mariolu is a beach of rounded white pebbles and is divided in two by a limestone cliff which is loved by the beachgoers as a diving point. The varieties of colour of the sea, from an intense blue to a light blue and the clarity of its water, make this beach the most beloved of the Gulf. Recently voted by TripAdvisor as the most beautiful beach in Italy, it continues to remain in the top 10 position as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. It owes its name "Cala Mariolu" to the fishermen from Ponza who called the Monk Seal "Mariolu"(thief in Ponza's dialect) because it stole the fish from their nets.

Cala Gabbiani gets its name from the seagulls which are present at dawn and at sunset and is known as the "sister"of Cala Mariolu beach. The two “sister” beaches are divided only by a thin strip of land. Once again, you will find clear and crystalline waters with light coloured pebbles that make up the beach. Its peculiarity is a cliff overlooking the beach, with a cave that creates much needed shade and convenient during the hottest hours.

The beaches Le Sorgenti are two very tiny beaches of fine sand mixed pebbles. Behind them we find a 400 meter-wall. They are named after the two freshwater springs that pass under the beaches and flow directly into the sea making the water very cold.

Cala Goloritzè is the last beach of the Gulf of Orosei. Born from a landslide in 1962, it is closed by demarcation buoys that forbid access to any type of boat, making it accessible only by swimming.

The major characteristic of the beach is the presence of the natural arch on the right, overlooked by the 143 m high-pinnacle that drops sheer to the sea called the spire (Punta Caroddi).

Sand and small pebbles help in making this beach, nestled in the mountain, something unique. As well, the colours of its water of a turquoise blue explain why it was declared an Italian national monument.

Another feature of this beach is the presence of underground freshwater springs that in some places make the water really cold.

Cala Goloritzé is also accessible on foot, starting from the Golgo of Baunei and along an easy 2-hour path.

It is the beach that marks the southern boundary and the end of the Gulf of Orosei.