Activities in Corsica
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Grotte du Sdragonato
Don't leave Bonifacio without taking a boat trip around its extraordinary coastline, where you'll get the best perspective of the town's precarious position on top of the magnificent chalky cliffs. Two itineraries are offered. The first includes the goulet, the calanques (deep rocky inlets; calanche in Corsican), with their clear aquamarine waters, and the magical Grotte du Sdragonato with its gloriously multicoloured sea bed.
A 50-minute tour focuses on the Îles Lavezzi and boats are operated shuttle fashion, so you can linger on the islands. But, if you do, take your own food and drink since you won't find any there. On the way back, the boats pass close to Île Cavallo,…
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A Scimia Calvese
Beside the coast among the pines, A Scimia Calvese is an exhilarating, elevated, 700m-long climbing structure of bridges, ladders, beams, logs, pulleys and cables. It's run by the adventure sports company Altore. To the east of Calvi along the D151 between Montemaggiore and Cateri, Altore (it's the Corsican word for 'bearded vulture') also offers introductory flights and paragliding courses.
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A Cavallu Riding Centre
A Cavallu Riding Centre offers trail rides and lessons. Confirmed cowboys and cowgirls should consider its carnet, which entitles you to 10 hours (you can mix and pick) of guided rides, lessons or (for experienced riders) bareback riding through the surf. The centre is 500m down a dusty track, left of the N197 about 2km from the centre of town in the direction of the airport.
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Domaine de Croccano
Feel like seeing the area around Sartène from horseback instead of a car seat? Domaine de Croccano offers various horse-riding programs starting from €23 per hour. The Promenade-Découverte du Sartenais (three hours) is a lovely ramble amid the maquis, with special views over Sartène and the sea. It’s 3.5km out of town on the road to Granace.
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Nave Va
Also offers a cultural tour (adult/child €28/20) and a voyage down to Bonifacio (€58/40), including a four-hour stop on shore.
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Club Nautique Bastia
Also in the Vieux Port, Club Nautique Bastia runs sailing and windsurfing courses from its headquarters. Between mid-June and mid-September, it also mounts courses and rents catamarans, windsurfs and kayaks from its base at the northern end of the Étang de Biguglia.
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Le Petit Train d'Ajaccio
Le Petit Train d'Ajaccio is a tourist 'train' that makes two circuits along Ajaccio's streets: one through the old town and a longer one through the old town and on to Pointe de la Parata. Each leaves on the hour from the kiosk opposite the town hall on place Foch.
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Via Corsica
From April to October, Via Corsica runs two-hour guided walking tours in French around the themes of Baroque Bastia, Genoese Bastia and Bastia and Its Confréries (lay religious brotherhoods). Consult the tourist office for dates and a detailed programme.
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Hél'île de Beauté
Hél'île de Beauté runs helicopter tours of the Sanguinaire islands, Ajaccio bay and the beaches to the south, departing from its base in Tavaco, about 15km from Ajaccio on the Bastia road. Discounts for groups of five or more apply.
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Découvertes Naturelles
Découvertes Naturelles offers the same trips to the Scandola reserve (Wednesday and Thursday) in a glass-bottomed boat and to the Îles Sanguinaires (daily, plus a sunset run on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday) at the same rates.
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Ajaccio Vision
Ajaccio Vision runs tours of the city's main sights in double decker open-top buses with multilingual commentary, stopping for a break at Pointe de la Parata. Tours depart from opposite the town hall on place Foch.
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Municipal Swimming Pool
There are a several beaches to go for a picnic or swim but on cooler days young ones may prefer to splash about in the Municipal Swimming Pool . It's closed in July and August, when everyone heads for the beaches.
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Le Manguier
Between June and September, Le Manguier, a former French navy tug boat moored in the Vieux Port, does day trips, visits to the Italian islands of Capraia and Elba and a six-day sortie around Cap Corse.
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Altipiani
The Corte area is a mecca for the skittish. Canyoning, walking, rock climbing and mountain biking are all available in the nearby valleys. Contact outfitters Altipiani for details.
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Nave Va
Biggest of the operators with the largest boat. Also offers a five-hour cruise embracing both Scandola and Les Calanques . Info from Hôtel Le Cyrnée.
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Porto Linea Boat Trips
Mare Nostrum, a bright yellow 12-seater offers (we quote) 'an appropriately poetical commentary by the captain'. Info from Hôtel Monte Rosso.
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Les Beaux Voyages
Les Beaux Voyages organises a similar set of excursions with almost identical prices. Both companies offer reduced fares for children.
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Corsica Diving
Sign up with Corsica Diving, which is a well-established dive operator. A single dive starts at around €40.
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E Ragnole
Just west of the Champion supermarket on rte des Sanguinaires. One of the few centres to remain open year-round.
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Centre de Plongée du Golfe de Porto
Diving is forbidden within the Scandola reserve, but these guys can take you just outside the protected area.
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L’Albadu
The valley can also be explored on horseback; contact L’Albadu for more information.
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Club de Plongée Castille
Club de Plongée Castille gives you the opportuinity to explore the wreck of a WWII B17 bomber.
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Le Goéland
On the river's left bank, rents motor boats - smaller models don't require a special licence.
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Génération Bleue
The Golfe de Porto drops to 800m at its deepest, so there's some beautiful diving to be had.
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Via Mare
With Porto Linea, the most experienced of the operators. Info from Hôtel le Golfe.
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