Independent guide · Not the reserve's official website
The Lavezzi Islands, a granite archipelago off Bonifacio
An archipelago of granite and turquoise water, 30 minutes by boat from Bonifacio, at the southernmost point of mainland France.
- Every fact is sourced
- Updated 9 November 2026
- Booking on GetYourGuide
Photo: Gzzz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 30 minby boat from Bonifacio
- 39 mhighest point of Lavezzu
- 1855wreck of the Sémillante
- 79,460 hanature reserve
Why Lavezzi
The end of the world, half an hour from Bonifacio
The Lavezzi Islands are a granite archipelago about ten kilometres south-east of Bonifacio, at the southern tip of Corsica. You can only get there by boat: the shuttle from Bonifacio harbour takes about 30 minutes, and trips also leave from Porto-Vecchio. The archipelago is part of the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve: visitors land only on Lavezzu island (and two other islets), must stay on the beaches and marked paths, and the island has no shade, no water and no toilets.
Our pick of Lavezzi trips
Travellers' favourites
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From Bonifacio: Lavezzi Islands Half-Day Boat Tour 3 hours ★ 4.8 (229) from €60 -
Half-day: relaxing afternoon to the Lavezzi and Cavallo Islands 4 hours ★ 4.7 (103) from €90 -
Catamaran cruise to the Lavezzi Islands 9 hours ★ 4.9 (93) from €190
See all Lavezzi trips GetYourGuide affiliate links
Getting there, swimming, walking
The Lavezzi Islands
When to go
Temperatures, rainy days, the strait's wind and crowds, month by month.
Boat hire
With or without a licence, with or without a skipper: what you need to know before going to Lavezzi on your own.
Cavallo
Cavallo, the billionaires' private island, Piana, Ratinu, Sperduti: who is who in the archipelago.
Getting there
Shuttle from Bonifacio, trips from Porto-Vecchio, private boat: the options, how long they take and what they cost.
What to bring
No shade, no water, no toilets: what to bring and what to leave behind.
From Bonifacio
The shortest route: a 30-minute crossing from Bonifacio harbour.
Beaches and coves
Cala di u Grecu, Achiarina, Cala della Chiesa: where to swim and how far each is from the landing point.
From Porto-Vecchio
Half-day or full-day trips combining Lavezzi, Cavallo, the Cerbicale islands and the Bonifacio cliffs.
Boat trips
Shuttle, half-day trip, sailing boat, catamaran or private boat: what each one offers and what it costs.
Reserve rules
Landing, dogs, fishing, anchoring, closed areas: the rules on the Lavezzi plateau, with the legal text to back them up.
Snorkeling and diving
Mask and snorkel in the coves, a guided snorkel trail, diving with groupers: what is possible and allowed.
Lavezzu walk
An easy loop of about 1 hour 30 through granite, coves and the Sémillante cemeteries.
The Sémillante
773 men and no survivors: the story of the frigate, its cemeteries and its pyramid on Lavezzu island.
The departure port
Bonifacio and the coast
Beaches near Bonifacio
Petit Sperone, Piantarella, Santa Manza, Rondinara: the beaches within 30 minutes of the harbour.
Bonifacio by boat
An hour by boat beneath the cliffs: the upper town, the King of Aragon's staircase, the Grain de Sable, Pertusato.
Getting to southern Corsica
Figari airport 25 minutes from Bonifacio, ferries to Porto-Vecchio, a coach from Ajaccio: every way in.
Things to do in Bonifacio
The upper town, the King of Aragon's staircase, Pertusato lighthouse, Sardinia by ferry: the highlights.
Where to stay
Upper town, marina, Santa Manza, Piantarella or Porto-Vecchio: which area suits your plans.
Porto-Vecchio, Bavella, activities
Around Lavezzi
Bavella Needles
Granite peaks at 1,857 m, a pass at 1,218 m, the GR 20: the mountain trip to pair with Lavezzi.
Activities
Shuttle, half-day trip, sailing, snorkeling, diving, cliffs, kayak, 4x4: every trip in one table.
Porto-Vecchio
A Genoese citadel, Palombaggia and Santa Giulia beaches, the Cerbicale islands: the east-coast base.
The guide in detail
An archipelago at the southern tip of France
The Lavezzi archipelago lies in the Strait of Bonifacio, which separates Corsica from Sardinia. It has some twenty islands, islets and reefs; the two main ones are Lavezzu, where visitors land, and Cavallo, the only inhabited island, which is private. It is the southernmost point of mainland France.
The landscape comes down to three things: granite, sand and clear water. Wind-rounded granite boulders frame coves of fine sand, and the island rises to just 39 metres: you can walk around it in about an hour and a half.
| Key fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance from Bonifacio | about 10 km south-east |
| Crossing from Bonifacio | about 30 min |
| Highest point of Lavezzu | 39 m |
| Status | nature reserve since 1982, part of the Bouches de Bonifacio reserve since 1999 |
| Facilities on the island | none (no water, shade, toilets or bins) |
What people come for
- Swimming in the coves of Lavezzu, between the rocks: see beaches and coves.
- Walking around the island on the marked path, past the two Sémillante cemeteries: see the Lavezzu walk.
- Looking at the seabed with mask and snorkel, or diving with a club: see snorkeling and diving.
- History: the wreck of the frigate Sémillante in 1855, see the Sémillante.
A nature reserve, with rules
The archipelago has been protected since 1982 and since 1999 has been part of the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve, the largest in mainland France (79,460 hectares, mostly at sea). The Lavezzi plateau is a “strict protection zone”: you may land only on the beaches and marked paths of Lavezzu, the Pyramid islet and Piana, and dogs, camping and fishing are banned.
Visitor numbers are the big issue. The reserve’s scientific council has recommended cutting them, and a cap of 2,000 people a day is being discussed with the town of Bonifacio, which owns the islands. In June 2025 the quota was not yet in force. Go early in the morning: the island is quieter and the heat less fierce.
Planning your trip
The most convenient departure point is Bonifacio harbour, where the shuttles leave. From the north-east of southern Corsica, trips from Porto-Vecchio often combine Lavezzi, Cavallo and the Bonifacio cliffs. To choose between shuttle, half-day trip, sailing boat or private boat, see the boat trip comparison, then what to bring.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Lavezzi Islands?
Only by boat. The easiest option is the shuttle from Bonifacio harbour (about 30 minutes' crossing). Half-day and full-day trips also leave from Porto-Vecchio. Details on the getting there page.
How much is the boat to Lavezzi?
The SPMB shuttle from Bonifacio (circuit no. 4) was listed at €37 for an adult and €26 for a child aged 4 to 12, checked on 9 November 2026. Trips from Porto-Vecchio cost more because the route is longer.
Can you swim on the Lavezzi Islands?
Yes, from the beaches of Lavezzu island. Stay on the beaches and marked paths: the reserve forbids climbing the rocks, fishing and picking plants or shells.
Are dogs allowed on the Lavezzi Islands?
No. The nature reserve decree bans dogs from the strict protection zones, which include the Lavezzi plateau.
When is the best time to visit Lavezzi?
June to September for swimming, avoiding mid-August and the middle of the day if you can, when the island is busiest. Out of season, boats do not always land. See when to go.
Sources
- Decree of 23 September 1999 creating the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve (AIDA, Ineris, in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- SPMB, Bonifacio boat trips: circuits and prices (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Visit Corsica, the Lavezzi archipelago (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia (French), Îles Lavezzi, accessed 9 November 2026
- Météo-France, Cape Pertusato climate sheet (1991-2020), accessed 9 November 2026