Anchorage

Porto Marina

Shelter: N, NE, E, SW, S, SE
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed

Open roadstead at the mouth of the Porto river on the west coast of Corsica, within the Scandola UNESCO reserve perimeter and facing the red porphyry cliffs of the Calanche de Piana.

Water
Beach

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Approach from the W is unhindered in settled weather. The anchorage lies in sand in 5 to 15 m depending on the distance offshore. Shelter is given from N through E to SE, but the bay is wide open to the W and any swell from that sector makes it untenable. Libeccio from the SW pushes a heavy sea straight into the bay.

Practical

A water tap is available at the landing stage in Porto-Ota, 0.2 nm to the E. No fuel on site. Girolata, 6 nm to the NW, offers moorings and a few restaurants but remains roadless.

Ashore

The Calanche de Piana cliffs, listed by UNESCO since 1983, rise immediately south of the bay. The D81 road climbs to the village of Piana in 12 km with marked coastal walks. Boat trips from the jetty run to Scandola and the Girolata creek.

History

The Genoese tower of Porto at the southern headland was built around 1549 as part of the defensive line against Barbary raids and was restored in 1993.

Key facts

Type: Anchorage
Coordinates: 42.26569, 8.68863 (42°15.94'N 8°41.32'E)
Country: France
Shelter: Sheltered from north, north-east, east, south-west, south, south-east winds
Seabed: sand
Anchoring: Allowed
Maximum length: 6 m
Services: Water, Beach
Boaters' rating: 3.3/5
Updated: July 7, 2026