You can reach Lavezzi in a hired boat from Bonifacio harbour, Piantarella or the Gulf of Santa Manza. Above 6 hp (4.5 kW), a French boating licence is compulsory; without one, you can take a private boat with a skipper (from €699 per group for half a day on GetYourGuide in 2026). In the reserve, anchoring in seagrass meadows is banned, sailing and anchoring are banned in four seabird areas, and landing is only permitted on the marked beaches.
Key facts
- Boating licence compulsory above 6 hp (4.5 kW).
- Departures: Bonifacio harbour, Piantarella, Gulf of Santa Manza.
- No anchoring in seagrass; four areas closed to boats.
- Without a licence: private boat with a skipper, or a day on a sailing boat.
The options
| Option | Licence | Price checked | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hired motorboat | yes above 6 hp | depends on the hirer | total freedom | you handle anchoring and the weather |
| Licence-free boat (6 hp max) | no | depends on the hirer | simple | slow, exposed to the strait’s wind |
| Day sailing with a skipper | no | from €175 per person | calm, lunch often included | fixed times |
| Private boat with a skipper | no | from €699 per group (4 h) | route of your choice | price |
GetYourGuide prices checked on 9 November 2026.
The licence
A French boating licence is required to drive a motorboat of more than 4.5 kW, i.e. 6 hp. It is the engine power that counts, not the size of the boat. Hire companies ask for the licence when you collect the boat. The Strait of Bonifacio is windy and used by ferries to Sardinia: even with a licence, go out in calm seas and check the day’s forecast.
Anchoring rules in the reserve
- No anchors in seagrass meadows: Visit Corsica stresses that this is strictly forbidden. Look for patches of pale sand.
- Four closed areas where sailing, anchoring and stopping are banned: the sea north of Lavezzu and the waters around the Ratinu, Sperduti and Purragia islets, to protect seabirds.
- Landing only on the marked beaches and paths of Lavezzu, the Pyramid islet and Piana.
- No fishing: the Lavezzi plateau is a no-take zone.
More on the reserve rules.
Where to leave from
Bonifacio: the harbour has most of the hire companies and skippered boats; leaving the inlet, you sail along the cliffs. Piantarella: 8 km from Bonifacio (15 min by road), it is the small harbour facing Cavallo, 2.3 km away, where kayaks and sailing boats also leave. Santa Manza: a gulf east of Bonifacio. See also beaches near Bonifacio.
Book a trip
Private boats and sailing with a skipper
Private cruise tour : Lavezzi Islands, caves and exclusive swimming4 hours★ 4.5 (14 reviews)from €699 per groupCheck availability
Private Boat Trip to Bonifacio, Lavezzi, Cavallo and Isola Piana4 hours★ 5.0 (2 reviews)from €849 per groupCheck availability
Bonifacio by sailboat 7 hours: Luxury, Relaxation and Stunning Scenery3.5 - 7 hours★ 5.0 (11 reviews)from €200Check availability
"From" prices checked on 9 November 2026 and may have changed.
Affiliate links: IlesLavezzi.com earns a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. "Show live prices" loads the GetYourGuide module, which sets its own cookies (learn more (in French)).
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire a boat without a licence to go to Lavezzi?
A boat of 6 hp or less can be driven without a licence, but it is slow and the crossing is exposed to the wind and currents of the strait. The safest option without a licence is a boat with a skipper.
Where can I anchor at Lavezzi?
On sand, never in seagrass meadows, and outside the four closed areas (north of Lavezzu, around Ratinu, Sperduti and Purragia). Ask the hire company about the buoys and areas currently in force.
How much is a private boat with a skipper to Lavezzi?
On GetYourGuide, 4-hour private cruises from Bonifacio were listed from €699 and €849 per group, checked on 9 November 2026.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Timetables, prices and rules change: confirm before you go.
- Somme prefecture, 2023 boating guide: licence above 4.5 kW, i.e. 6 hp (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Visit Corsica, the Lavezzi archipelago: hire in Bonifacio, Piantarella, Sant'Amanza (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Visit Corsica, Lavezzu beaches: anchors and seagrass (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Figaro Nautisme, 4 areas closed to sailing and anchoring at Lavezzi (19 April 2026, in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Decree of 23 September 1999, articles 25 and 26: boats and landing (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia (French), Île de Cavallo: distance from the coast, accessed 9 November 2026
- OSRM on OpenStreetMap, Bonifacio to Piantarella by road, accessed 9 November 2026
