
easy
8 hours
Suitable for most fitness levels; able to board a small boat and swim short distances
Spend a day sailing around Asinara National Park from Stintino: snorkel in crystalline bays, step ashore for a short island walk, and enjoy a seafood lunch on board. This authorized park excursion pairs easy access with strong conservation practices.
The hull cuts the Mediterranean as the lighthouse on Punta Scorno slides past, and for a moment the sea seems to dare you to keep up. Salt air and lemon-scented aperitif mingle as the captain draws a course along the white calcareous cliffs of Asinara, an island that spent a century as a penal colony and now moves with the slow patience of a protected park. By mid-morning the boat is anchored in a shallow crescent of aquamarine; the water invites, and a string of snorkelers slips away like silver fish.

Morning departures sell out quickly in July and August; reserve at least a week ahead to secure your spot.
Sunscreen banned in some protected coves; use a reef-safe formula to protect seagrass and marine life.
Boat decks can be wet and slick during boarding; lightweight water shoes improve grip and comfort.
Salt spray and snorkeling demand a waterproof case or dry bag for phones and cameras.
Asinara served as a quarantine station and later a high-security penal colony; its abandonment left a network of structures that now lie within a national park.
As a national park, Asinara enforces strict landing and anchoring rules to protect seagrass meadows and marine wildlife; operators are authorized to minimize impact.
You'll spend time in and out of the water; quick-dry fabrics speed comfort between swims.
summer specific
Protects skin and the park's marine ecosystems during prolonged sun exposure.
summer specific
Cool winds and spray are common on the open water, even in summer mornings.
spring specific
Useful for boarding, shallow rocky shorelines, and for comfort during the island stop.