The Lavezzi are the southernmost point of mainland France : twenty-three granite islets set in water so clear you can see the bottom at six metres. From our villas in Figari, allow thirty minutes' drive to Bonifacio harbour, then half an hour by boat. It is the outing our guests mention most often at the end of their stay.
The essentials in five lines
- Reachable only by boat, mainly from Bonifacio harbour
- A 30-minute crossing — a little over an hour on the way back, as the boat follows the cliffs
- Départs every half hour between 9.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. in high season
- Comptez de 21 à 39 € per adult depending on the option, half price for children
- No facilities on the island : no bar, no bins, no shade. You carry everything.
From our villas: the exact route
From Buttaciolo to Bonifacio harbour is 28 km on the N196, a comfortable half hour with no difficulty. The catch is not the road, it is the parking : the harbour car parks are paid and full by 10 a.m. in July and August.
Our advice, the one we give every guest: leave the hamlet at 7.45 a.m.. You reach the harbour around 8.15, park without stress, buy your ticket at the kiosk and board the 9.30 shuttle. You will have the island almost to yourself until 11.
The crossing: which option to choose
Several operators serve the archipelago from Bonifacio harbour. The main one, SPMB, has run the route for over forty years. Tickets are bought at the kiosk, on the quay — the simple shuttle cannot be booked in advance.
The choice comes down to two approaches:
- The simple shuttle — it drops you on the island of Lavezzu and you return on whichever sailing you like. It is the cheapest option and by far the best if you want to enjoy the coves. It is the one we recommend.
- The guided circuit — caves, cliffs, Cavallo, underwater viewing, with or without a stop. More expensive, less time on the island. Worth it if you do not plan to swim, or if you have small children who would not last a whole day in the sun.
There is a third route for those in the know: the water taxi from Piantarella beach, ten minutes from Bonifacio. The crossing is much shorter and the departure far less busy. Book the day before.
On the island: what nobody tells you
You land on Lavezzu, the only island in the archipelago open to the public. And there, a fact that surprises many visitors: there is nothing. No bar, no parasol hire, no tap, no bin. It is a nature reserve, not a serviced beach.
What to take, without exception:
- Water — two litres per person. The most important point, and the most often overlooked.
- A parasol or some shelter — natural shade in the coves is almost non-existent
- A picnic, and a bag to take your rubbish away
- Mask and snorkel — the seabed is the main attraction, it would be a shame to miss it
- High-factor sun cream and a hat
We are happy to put together a picnic basket for guests heading to the Lavezzi. Just tell us the evening before.
Where to settle
Most visitors stop at the first cove they come to, the one beside the landing stage. It is beautiful, and packed by midday. Walk on. A marked path circles the island in about an hour and serves several far quieter coves.
- Cala di u Grecu — ten minutes from the landing stage, the most accessible of the “second” coves
- Cala Lazarina — white sand, shallow water, the best for children
- Cala di u Ghiuncu — further on, better sheltered from the westerly wind
The rules of the reserve
The archipelago has been a nature reserve for over forty years, and the rules are not decorative. In practice:
- On stay on the marked paths — the vegetation is fragile and takes years to recover
- Do not climb on the rocks, pick nothing, fish for nothing
- Il est forbidden to smoke anywhere in the archipelago
- Take every piece of rubbish away with you
A graver note, which gives the place its meaning: there are two cemeteries on the island. They hold the victims of the wreck of La Sémillante, a frigate that broke up on the reefs in 1855 — seven hundred and seventy-three dead, no survivors. The place deserves a lowered voice.
When to go
June and September are the two best months, without hesitation: the water is warm, the sailings are running, and you are not sharing your cove with two hundred people.
July and August work provided you take the first shuttle. After 11 the island is very busy.
One thing to watch whatever the month: the wind. The Strait of Bonifacio is a wind corridor, and crossings can be cancelled in heavy swell. Check the marine forecast the day before and keep a spare day in your plans. If it is cancelled, the fallback is right there : the citadel of Bonifacio is a step away.
Our typical day
- 7h45 — leave the hamlet, basket in the boot
- 8h15 — arrive at Bonifacio harbour, park, buy tickets at the kiosk
- 9h30 — board, and cross facing the cliffs
- 10h — land on Lavezzu and walk to a distant cove
- 10h-16h — swimming, snorkelling, picnic in the shade of the parasol
- 16h30 — return on the boat that passes Cavallo, Piantarella and the caves
- 18h — back at the hamlet, into the pool to rinse off the salt
The fares and times given here are those recorded for the 2026 season and may change: check with the operator before you go. We update this page every spring.