Anchorage

Cala Santa Maria

4.0Italy

Shelter: NW, N, NE, W, SW
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Cove in the La Maddalena archipelago national park, Sardinia. Sand bottom, sheltered from N, NE, NW, W and SW winds, open from the east to the south.

Mooring buoys
Visitor buoys
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Rocks lie in the middle of the entrance. The isolated danger buoy over them was gone in April 2026, and a yacht grounded there in May 2026. Underwater rocks lie on the western edge, with rock slabs on the bottom mid-bay. Sand in 4 to 7 m holds well, but mooring blocks lie on the bottom. Sheltered in strong westerlies, though a short chop can wrap round the headland.

Practical

From mid-morning to about 5 pm, tour boats land day visitors at the concrete pier and raise a lot of swell. They use the large yellow buoys by day, so leave those free. Keep the channel between the buoys and the pier clear. The buoys are free to take overnight and had to be cleared by 8 am in 2025. A night on a buoy was free with a park entry permit in June 2026. Mobile signal was limited in July 2025.

Ashore

In May 2026 the path to the ruined monastery and church was closed off. The dirt road to the lighthouse stayed open, as did a path to the northern headland by La Presa. A small path leads from the beach towards the passage to Budelli, facing the sunset. Fish gather around the rocks in the posidonia.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 41.29329, 9.37196 (41°17.60'N 9°22.32'E)
Country: Italy
Shelter: Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, south-west winds
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed
Maximum length: 45 ft
Fees: Free
Phone: +33123456789
Services: Mooring buoys, Visitor buoys, Beach
Boaters' rating: 4.0/5
Updated: October 15, 2026