The National Park

The La Maddalena Archipelago Geo-marine Park is one of the largest and best-preserved marine protected areas in the Mediterranean. It covers around 18,000 hectares of sea and land and includes seven main islands — La Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Budelli, Santa Maria, Razzoli, and Spargi — plus numerous rocks, shoals, and shallows unique in the world.

With 180 km of coastline to explore, our apartments in La Maddalena are the ideal base for every Park day: by boat, on foot, by bike, or simply by following the day’s wind.

The Park is part of the Pelagos International Marine Mammal Sanctuary, an 87,500 km2 area covering the Ligurian Sea, northern Tyrrhenian Sea, and Corsican waters. Sperm whales, fin whales, striped dolphins, and bottlenose dolphins regularly move through these waters. Sightings on boat trips to the outer islands are not unusual.

The archipelago is also part of the International Marine Park of the Strait of Bonifacio, managed jointly with the French Corsican reserve: a cross-border governance model that reflects how unique this ecosystem is.

The Park is divided into zones with different rules, designed to protect fragile areas while keeping sustainable access to others.

Zone A is the most protected: restricted access, no unauthorised human activity. It includes nesting areas and the most delicate seabeds. Zone B is semi-protected: navigation is allowed, diving is regulated, anchoring has specific restrictions. Zone C is the most accessible: leisure boating and sports activities are allowed with standard permits.

Knowing which zone you are in — and respecting it — is not bureaucracy. It is how we still find these same clear waters twenty years from now.

The Park Authority manages permits for access to protected marine areas. Permits can be requested online or directly at the office.

For leisure boating (private vessels): one day costs between EUR2 and EUR5 depending on zone; seven days between EUR34 and EUR760; fifteen days between EUR58 and EUR1,440. Fees vary by vessel size and navigation zones.

For scuba diving: annual permit EUR75, daily permit EUR5.

For shore sport fishing: free for non-residents, issued by the permits office with a monthly cap of 100 permits. Under-16s are exempt.

La Maddalena Archipelago National Park Authority — Via Giulio Cesare, 7 — Tel. +39 0789 790224 — autorizzazioni@lamaddalenapark.org — lamaddalenapark.it

Having a stable base in La Maddalena, in the heart of the village, lets you experience the Park at the right pace. You are not tied to harbour timetables or hotel routines. You leave when wind is favourable, return when you want, and head out again next morning with your gear already ready.

Our apartments — Isola, Madda, and Lena — are a few minutes from Cala Gavetta harbour and the main tour boarding points. The whole Park starts here.