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Things to do in Porto, France

Our most recommended things to do in Porto, France

From Porto: Scandola and Calanche de Piana Boat Tour

1. From Porto: Scandola and Calanche de Piana Boat Tour

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Scandola Nature Reserve on a scenic boat tour from Porto. Experience one of the last Mediterranean territories to provide shelter for endemic flora and birdlife and discover the striking rocky landscape of Calanche de Piana. Depart from Porto and cruise through the reserve, rich with marine life and seabirds, on board a semi-rigid boat. Stop in the coastal village of Girolata and marvel at its stunning setting, surrounded by the sea. During the winter, watch as it becomes nearly abandoned, with only about 15 residents. Venture into the Calanche de Piana and explore an outstanding landscape of pink granite rocks, shaped over the centuries by changes in temperature, strong winds, and sea spray. Observe the geological diversity of the rocks and jump into crystal blue waters for a cooling swim in a natural pool.

Porto: Scandola Nature Reserve Eco-Friendly Boat Tour

2. Porto: Scandola Nature Reserve Eco-Friendly Boat Tour

Discover the Scandola Nature Reserve and visit the charming village of Girolata as you embark on a boat tour off Porto on the coast of Corsica. Sail in silence on the waters of the reserve on an eco-friendly hybrid boat and enjoy access to prime seating thanks to priority boarding. Meet the ship’s friendly crew who will assist you with the boarding process and then set off to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Nature Reserve, which is only accessible by sea and subject to strict protection. See coastal caves and observe diverse marine life and seabirds, such as ospreys and peregrine falcons, from a respectable distance so as not to disturb the natural environment. Learn about the reserve’s ecology through live French commentary throughout the tour. Stop for 30 minutes in the remote and quaint coastal village of Girolata, surrounded by the sea and only accessible by boat. Walk around the village or cool off with a swim and be on the lookout for the resident wild cows that roam the streets, cafés, and beach of Girolata. Upgrade and extend your experience with an optional trip to the stunning Calanche de Piana rock formation. Admire a beautiful pink granite geological landscape, which has been uniquely created from centuries of strong winds and sea spray.

Porto: Scandola and Calanches of Piana Boat Trip

3. Porto: Scandola and Calanches of Piana Boat Trip

Discover the Gulf of Porto by boat and see why this extraordinary natural area is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the Scandola Nature Reserve and admire striking cliffs, surrounded by the deep blue ocean. See the famous rock formations of Calanche de Piana. Board your boat in Porto and begin your trip by sailing to the Scandola Reserve, home to beautiful cliffs and a marvelous sea bed. Take in an impressive location that has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1975. Become surrounded by more than 30 plant species. Navigate toward the Calanche de Piana to come up close to its unique natural formations. Snap amazing photos of this mesmerizing wonder, then sail back to your starting point in Porto.

Porto: Half-Day Cruise Scandola Reserve & Calanche de Piana

4. Porto: Half-Day Cruise Scandola Reserve & Calanche de Piana

With its serene natural beauty, the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Scandola Peninsula is a must-see on this half-day cruise from Porto. Discover the Gulf of Porto in its entirety as you cruise to highlights and watch nature at its finest under the setting sun. Enjoy commentary from your captain. Set out from Porto in the afternoon on board a sleek cruiser and settle in with your captain, who will also serve as your guide. Head towards the Scandola Nature Reserve by way of the Gulf of Girolata. As you approach the nature reserve, marvel at the clear waters and rock formations. Continue cruising in this remote place while you take in the many types of birds, including cormorants and eagles, and hear about the local, protected plants from your captain. You may also see marine life. Further on, visit the Calanche de Piana, with its strikingly unique vistas. Finally, travel to the Capo Rosso and its "swimming pool." Named for the remarkable pink granite rocks, admire the cape's spectacular shades of red rock and blue waters. Depending on the weather, pause for a swim in this wonderful setting before returning to shore in Porto. 

From Porto: Piana Creeks and Scandola Semi-Rigid Boat Tour

5. From Porto: Piana Creeks and Scandola Semi-Rigid Boat Tour

Visit one of the best sites of Corsica on boat routes designed to optimize your experience. Get to know Porto's magical gulf, Piana's beautiful creeks and the Scandola's breath-taking reserve. Visit this exceptional destination, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  On the way back, enjoy a 30-minute stop in the small hamlet of Girolata, only accessible by sea or on foot. Embark comfortably aboard a standard semi-rigid pneumatic boat. Thanks to their small size, they can enter caves, navigate to the sea bank, and allow you to appreciate the beauty of the landscapes. Enjoy a swim and some snorkeling depending on weather conditions. During this outing at sea, you might be able to observe dolphins or other aquatic mammals that might cross your path.

From Porto: Calanche de Piana Boat Tour

6. From Porto: Calanche de Piana Boat Tour

Depart Porto and explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Calanche de Piana in the Gulf of Porto by silent hybrid boat to respect the environment. Located halfway between Ajaccio and Calvi, close to the village of Piana, the Calanche de Piana is part of a volcanic complex that towers up to 300 meters above sea level at its highest altitude. Marvel at the pink granite rocks shaped over centuries by changes in the temperature, strong winds, and sea spray. Discover a series of fantastic rock formations sculpted into spectacular shapes and surrounded by crystal blue waters. Rich with marine life and seabirds, the area also demonstrates a tremendous diversity of rocks in locations that give a particular aspect to the surroundings.

From Porto, Corsica: Piana Creeks Cruise

7. From Porto, Corsica: Piana Creeks Cruise

Visit one of the best sites of Corsica on boat routes designed to provide a unique and beautiful experience. Get to know Porto's magical gulf, and see Piana's beautiful creeks. Depending on your option, embark comfortably aboard a standard semi-rigid pneumatic boats or on a family-friendly speedboat with 12-person capacity. Thanks to their small size they can enter caves, navigate to the sea bank and allow you to appreciate the beauty of the landscapes. Enjoy this outing at sea, with an expert guide, and observe dolphins or other aquatic mammals that might cross the path of the boat.

From Ota: Scandola Nature Reserve and Gulf of Girolta Tour

8. From Ota: Scandola Nature Reserve and Gulf of Girolta Tour

Discover the Gulf of Porto, the Scandola nature reserve, the Gulf of Girolta on board our custom-built 12-seater RIBsAdmire the magnificent landscapes, the fauna, the volcanic rocks with surprising fomesLet yourself be rocked by the waterAll this with the commentary of an experienced captainPossibility of a swimming stop depending on weather conditions

From Ota: Calanche de Piana and Capo Rosso Boat Tour

9. From Ota: Calanche de Piana and Capo Rosso Boat Tour

Our captain will take charge of you at the boarding, installation, and explanations of the safety instructions. Experience a friendly sea trip on a 12-seater boat from Porto to discover the Calanche de Piana and Capo Rosso, its caves, and its "natural swimming pool".Enjoy commentary from your captain and the possibility of a swim stop according to weather conditions. After the visit, return to the port of Porto.

Découverte de la faune et la flore marine/baie de Porto

10. Découverte de la faune et la flore marine/baie de Porto

Visionnez et explorez la faune et la flore des fonds marins de la Baie de Porto ainsi que leur Calanche. Découvrez également l'histoire particulière de sa région et de sa fameuse tour. Circuit Réserve naturelle de Castagna ou Calanque de PORTO Bateau climatisé

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What people are saying about Porto, France

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 1,512 reviews

We enjoyed it together with my partner. Sadly we didn't get to visit the village due to recent events in Corsica :( but R.I.P fisherman's soul. On the trip itself - beautiful views, cave with music - one love! But maybe 2 hours would have been enough. Take the sunscreen! Better take 50, 30 probably won't help :) (Don't expect the captain of the boat to speak English)

I'm so glad we booked this tour. Even though our French is very limited, we still enjoyed the outing and the calanques are so impressive from the sea. The hour and a half felt like a perfect amount of time-- neither too long nor too short.

It was really nice! We couldn't understand the French guide very well, but it was easy, great view, well organized and not too long. Perfect for the price!

Wonderful activity! Wonderful landscapes ! An activity that I recommend ++ Very nice guide (Thomas) and complete explanations! We loved it!

Great scenery, opportunity to swim in a beautiful bay. The tour was really fun.