Rondinara, Santa Giulia, the Lavezzi Islands and the Bonifacio coast: depths, shelter and what the rules allow for your yacht's length.
The south of Corsica has some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean: sandy bays between Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio, the granite islets of the Lavezzi archipelago and the limestone cliffs of the Strait of Bonifacio.
It is also one of the most regulated coastlines in France. Most of it lies inside the Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve, where yachts of 24 m and over must stay seaward of a limit line unless they use a licensed buoy field, and where several bays have buoyed swimming and no-anchoring zones every summer.
This guide covers the anchorages captains ask us about most, with the rules that apply in each. Our Bonifacio and Porto-Vecchio teams check conditions on the ground every season and can confirm what is possible for your yacht before you arrive.
Last reviewed November 2026
A planning guide drawn from pilot sources. Swell, gusts off high ground and local effects can change the picture, so check the forecast and ask us before you commit.
| Anchorage | MistralNW | LibeccioW / SW | Levant & SiroccoE / SE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rondinara Bay | Good shelter | Good shelter | Exposed |
| Santa Giulia | Good shelter | Good shelter | Check locally |
| Sant'Amanza Bay | Good shelter | Good shelter | Check locally |
| Lavezzi Islands | Good shelter | Good shelter | Exposed |
| Pinarellu | Good shelter | Good shelter | Exposed |
| Roccapina | Check locally | Exposed | Check locally |
Between Porto-Vecchio and Bonifacio
An almost circular bay with shallow, clear water over sand, often called the most beautiful anchorage in Corsica. It is well protected from westerlies and the Mistral.
Rondinara is covered by Bonifacio's beach zone order (AP 144/2021): swimming areas and no-anchoring zones are buoyed and anchoring is only allowed in the marked area.
The bay lies inside the nature reserve limit line (AP 156/2024). Yachts of 24 m and over anchor seaward of the line and send guests in by tender.
South of Porto-Vecchio
A lagoon-like bay with shallow turquoise water and a long white beach. Sheltered from the north and west, it is a favourite lunch and swim stop.
Free anchoring has been replaced by a mooring buoy field (ZMEL) with buoys for boats up to about 20 m. Porto-Vecchio's 300 m order (AP 135/2026) sets the swimming zones and the 5 knot access channels.
Yachts of 24 m and over may not anchor within the 300 m coastal strip (AP 135/2026) and stay seaward of the reserve limit line.
North-east of Bonifacio
A large bay with good holding and good shelter in westerlies, including a strong Mistral. It is also where the reserve provides moorings for large yachts.
The large yacht buoy field is run by the Commune de Bonifacio. In 2025 it had two zones of seven berths each, mooring assistance was compulsory and stays were 24 hours, renewable.
This is the main option for yachts of 24 m and over in the south of the reserve. In 2025 the field was sized for yachts up to 60 m: from 45 m you needed the operator's agreement and a declaration to the Pertusato signal station, and yachts over 60 m were not admitted. A new multi-year field for up to 14 yachts of 70 m or less went to public inquiry in spring 2026. Ask us for the current set-up.
Cala di u Grecu and Cala Lazarina, in the Strait of Bonifacio
Granite islets, white sand and some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, at the heart of the nature reserve. Cala di u Grecu stays calm in a Mistral.
Only vessels under 24 m may use the marked mooring zones (AP 144/2021). Four bird protection zones, around the north of Lavezzu island and the Ratino, Porraggia and Perduto islets, are closed to navigation, anchoring and stopping (AP 235/2023).
Yachts of 24 m and over stay seaward of the reserve limit line around the islands and shoals (AP 156/2024). Guests can visit by tender.
Off the entrance to Bonifacio harbour
Anchoring off the entrance gives direct tender access to Bonifacio, its citadel and the cliffs, one of the most striking arrivals in the Mediterranean.
The approaches to Bonifacio, including the Madonetta and Escalier du Roi d'Aragon sectors, are named zones in the reserve order (AP 156/2024). Check which zone applies to your length.
Yachts of 45 m and over use the mandatory anchoring zones designated around Bonifacio: 45 to 80 m declare to the signal station at least one hour before arrival, 80 m and over need prior authorisation (AP 157/2024).
North of Porto-Vecchio
A long sandy bay with a Genoese tower on its islet, quieter than the bays south of Porto-Vecchio and sheltered from the north-west round to the south.
Pinarellu is covered by the east coast order (AP 319/2022): yachts of 24 m and over anchor seaward of the limit line.
West of Bonifacio, below the Lion of Roccapina
A wild, quieter bay dominated by the Lion rock formation, with a beach and few buildings in sight.
Roccapina marks the southern end of the west coast order (AP 168/2023): yachts of 24 m and over anchor seaward of the limit line.
Anchorage Intelligence, our map of the French anchoring decrees, shows whether a rule applies to your length overall and links straight to the official text. Access is by waitlist.
Bouches de Bonifacio nature reserve. Most of the coast from Roccapina to the Golfe de Porto-Vecchio, plus the Lavezzi and Cavallo islands, sits inside the reserve. The current order for yachts of 24 m and over (AP 156/2024) draws a limit line off the coast and around the islands and shoals. Inshore of the line, large yachts may only stop on licensed buoys.
Beach zones. Each summer the 300 m strip is organised by municipal and prefectoral orders, with buoyed swimming zones, no-anchoring zones and 5 knot channels. Yachts of 24 m and over may not anchor in the 300 m strip. The main orders are AP 144/2021 for Bonifacio (Rondinara, Santa Manza, Piantarella, Cavallo, Lavezzi) and AP 135/2026 for Porto-Vecchio (Santa Giulia, Palombaggia and the gulf).
Yachts of 45 m and over. AP 157/2024 (amended in 2025 and 2026) applies along the whole French coast: 45 to 80 m declare to the signal station at least one hour before arriving, 80 m and over need prior authorisation, and both must use the mandatory anchoring zones where they exist. Dynamic positioning is banned within 500 m of the shore and limited to two hours elsewhere.
How long you can stay. AP 77/2025 limits a stay at anchor to 72 hours in one spot, renewable for yachts of 24 m and over with AIS unless the authorities ask you to leave.
Protected wildlife. Four bird protection zones around Lavezzi are closed to navigation and anchoring (AP 235/2023), and no anchoring is ever allowed on Posidonia seagrass.
Santa Giulia: buoy field for boats up to about 20 m, call on VHF before entering.
Sant’Amanza: the large yacht field of the reserve, for 24 m and over, booked with the Commune de Bonifacio.
Lavezzi: marked mooring zones for vessels under 24 m.
Bonifacio: buoys in Cala di Catena are managed by the port.
None of these fields has a simple online booking system. We book buoys and berths for our clients and can tell you which field has space for your dates.
The Strait of Bonifacio is one of the windiest stretches of the Mediterranean. Westerlies and the Mistral accelerate between Corsica and Sardinia and can reach gale force while it is calm a few miles away.
Conditions change quickly in the strait, so check the forecast morning and evening and keep a plan B.
Not inside the bay. Rondinara lies inshore of the Bouches de Bonifacio reserve limit line, so yachts of 24 m and over anchor seaward of the line and bring guests in by tender. Smaller boats may anchor only in the buoyed area.
The Sant'Amanza buoy field is the reserve's licensed mooring area for yachts of 24 m and over. Yachts of 45 m and over can also use the mandatory anchoring zones designated around Bonifacio after declaring to, or getting authorisation from, the signal station. We can check availability and handle the formalities.
Boats under 24 m can anchor or moor only in the marked zones, for example at Cala di u Grecu and Cala Lazarina. Larger yachts stay outside the reserve limit line. Four bird protection zones are closed to all navigation.
The east-facing bays give the best shelter from the Mistral and westerlies: Sant'Amanza, Rondinara, Santa Giulia and Cala di u Grecu in the Lavezzi. Expect strong gusts in the strait itself.
Anchoring itself is free where it is allowed, but more and more bays are organised as buoy fields, which may be paid. Santa Giulia and the Sant'Amanza large yacht field are two examples.
This guide is for planning only and does not replace official charts or notices. Anchoring rules in French waters change from season to season: check the arrêtés in force on premar-mediterranee.gouv.fr and the SHOM charts before anchoring, or ask our team.
Tell us your yacht, dates and where you would like to anchor. Our local team will confirm what the current rules allow for your length, suggest the best spot for the forecast and arrange buoys, tenders, provisioning or a berth if the anchorage is closed.
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