- Shelter
- NW, N, NE, W, E, SE
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
Anchorage in the bay of Girolata on the west coast of Corsica, within the Scandola nature reserve, classified as UNESCO World Heritage since 1983.
- Mooring buoys
- Visitor buoys
- Pontoon
- Beach
Guide
Approach and anchoring
Approach from the SW rounding the Punta Rossa. Most of the bay is taken by buoys picked up bow and stern, the harbour dinghies work VHF 9 and help crews make fast, so prepare two lines at the bow and one at the stern. The anchoring area lies on the SE side just before the buoys, sand and posidonia in 8 to 10 metres with good holding. The bay is open to the SW and rolls when swell works in, so the buoys sit more comfortably than the anchorage in a westerly.
Practical
About 30 places on sand and algae in addition to the buoy field. Book ahead through resaportcorse.com or the Magelan e-resa platform, a reply comes a few days out. Reckon around 40 to 49 euros for a boat of about 12 metres, more for larger yachts, and no departure time is imposed. Crews without a dinghy are run ashore and back by the harbour crew. The hamlet of Girolata has no road access. Nearest shelters: Port de Girolata 0.1 NM NW and Galéria 4.2 NM N.
Ashore
Sentier du Facteur footpath links Girolata to the Col de la Croix in about 2 hours, the only land access used by the postman until recently. Several restaurants sit above the bay, U Stracciu on the hillside looks over the anchorage. The Scandola reserve, accessible by boat only, hosts ospreys and Mediterranean red coral colonies.
History
The Genoese watchtower overlooking the bay was built in 1551 to guard against Barbary raids and is still standing on its rocky promontory.
Story
Girolata is one of the very few inhabited villages in France that cannot be reached by car, only by boat or by footpath.
Key facts
- Type
- Anchorage
- Coordinates
- 42.34819, 8.61511 (42°20.89'N 8°36.91'E)
- Country
- France
- Shelter
- Sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, east, south-east winds
- Seabed
- sand, algae
- Anchoring
- Allowed
- Maximum length
- 65 ft
- Fees
- Paid
- VHF channel
- 9
- Phone
- +33495500252
- Services
- Mooring buoys, Visitor buoys, Pontoon, Beach
- Boaters' rating
- 4.5/5
- Updated
- October 15, 2026
Getting there
Girolata lies at 42°20.89'N 8°36.91'E, that is 42.34819, 8.61511 in decimal degrees. Call the harbour on VHF channel 9 before entering.
Boaters' reviews
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Write a reviewFrequently asked questions
Which winds is Girolata sheltered from?
Girolata is sheltered from north-west, north, north-east, west, east, south-east winds.
Can you anchor at Girolata?
Yes, anchoring is allowed at Girolata.
What boat length does Girolata accept?
Girolata accepts boats up to 65 ft.
Which VHF channel for Girolata?
Girolata answers on VHF channel 9.
How do boaters rate Girolata?
Girolata is rated 4.5/5 by boaters on BoatMap.
Explore the region
- France
- Corsica
- Opal Coast and Bay of Somme
- North Brittany
- South Brittany
- Normandy
- Atlantic coast
- Languedoc-Roussillon
- Provence and Côte d'Azur
- French West Indies
- Seine and Paris
- Burgundy and the Saône
- Canal du Midi
- Alsace and Lorraine
- Lake Geneva, French shore
- Lakes Annecy and Bourget
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