5-Day Cagliari to Carloforte Itinerary: Explore Southern Sardinia

You can complete a practical, 5‑day Cagliari to Carloforte itinerary that avoids the crowds of the Costa Smeralda by running west from Cagliari to Calasetta, using Carloforte as your base for San Pietro, then visiting the Sulcis anchorages before returning to Cagliari. The route’s daily legs are short enough to give you weather flexibility — except Day 1, a long passage round Capo Teulada — but plan fuel and berth depth checks (many harbours around Sant’Antioco/San Pietro are shallow) before you cast off.

Quick route table (at-a-glance)

The table below gives the legs, typical distance and an estimated underway time using a cruising speed range commonly seen in charter fleets (sailing monohull 6–8 kn; catamaran 7–9 kn). Use your boat’s actual cruise speed for planning.

Notes: charted distances vary by the route you steer (coastal hugging versus direct line) and by traffic separation schemes; sailing distance is typically 10–30% longer than straight‑line NM.

Day 1: Cagliari to Calasetta

This is your longest single day at sea on the 5‑day plan — plan to leave early, check the weather and possible firing schedules for the Teulada military range, and aim to arrive in daylight.

Sailing Distance and Route

Distance: approximately 60–65 NM from the Cagliari harbour area to Calasetta (Sant’Antioco) — the boat has to round the south-west corner of Sardinia, so the sailing route is almost twice the straight-line distance. The track runs south-west past Capo Pula and Capo Spartivento, west round Capo Teulada, then north up the west coast of Sant’Antioco to Calasetta. If the day is too long for your crew, split it with a night at Porto Pino or Malfatano and shorten Day 3.

Timing and wind: the prevailing summer wind in southern Sardinia is the north‑west Maestrale and the south‑west Libeccio; that matters because a persistent NW wind increases seas on the western side of the island. If Maestrale is forecast, consider delaying departure or keeping to the lee of the coast.

Mooring at Calasetta

Options: the Porto Turistico di Calasetta has visitor berths and a working fishing ferry berth; small craft may also stern tie locally. Municipal marina facilities provide water and electricity at the quay. Approach in daylight — there are shallow patches and navigational marks to watch.

Depths & caution: harbour depths vary — documents and local pilot notes list shallow sections with minimums often around 1.8–2.5 m in places and safer depths to 4–5 m alongside the main piers; shallow draught boats and catamarans should check the berth allocation at booking. Steer the published approach channel and keep a good lookout for fishing traffic and submerged hazards near the entrance.

Practical tips:

• Call the marina or harbour office on VHF well before arrival to request a berth and ask for depth at that specific finger pontoon.
• If you need fuel for the week, note that small fuel pumps in local harbours are sometimes limited to commercial fishing vessels — top up in Cagliari if you will run long legs.

Day 2: Calasetta to Carloforte

A short hop across the canal that separates Sant’Antioco and San Pietro — an easy day for sightseeing and moving the base into Carloforte.

Sailing Distance and Navigation

Distance: roughly 3–4 NM between Calasetta and Carloforte (straight‑line). The crossing is short but keep a lookout for the Delcomar ferries that run this link and the frequent fishing traffic. Use up‑to‑date local charts for the channel; tidal streams are negligible but the area contains small shoals and cardinals that you should respect.

Navigation notes: the ferry lanes and the entrance to Carloforte’s harbour are busy in summer — maintain a listening watch on VHF and give ferries wide clearance. Charted shallow patches exist near some headlands; keep to the buoyed approach.

Mooring at Carloforte

Options: several organized marinas/pontos managed locally (Marina Marinatour / Marine Sifredi) plus transient visitor berths near the town quay; in settled weather anchoring in the outer bay is common. The marinas provide water and electricity and the port has berthing assistance.

Depths & practical: harbour depths in the port area vary; the main marina wet berths and inner finger pontoons are shallower compared with large commercial harbours — confirm the berth depth for your draft with the marina before arrival. The main town quay can be busy with fishing and ferry operations: accept mooring help and arrive daylight where possible.

Local services: Carloforte is the best single stop on the route for fresh fish, small supermarkets and basic chandlery supplies. If you need a larger shopping run or fuel, do it here before heading back into more secluded anchorages.

Day 3: Exploring Isola di San Pietro

Spend a day cruising the coves around San Pietro — short hops, swims from the boat and visits ashore in Carloforte.

Recommended Anchorages

• Cala Fico — a striking cove on the north-west coast with sand and mud patches; use it only in settled weather, as it is open to the Maestrale.
• Cala Vinagra — a dramatic rocky inlet with deeper anchoring on sand/pebble west of the small islet; depths reported around 10–13 m for deeper yachts, with nearer‑shore options for shallow draft boats. Approach carefully into the fjord‑like inlet.
• Cala del Sale / small sheltered coves on the south side — good for short daytime swims if conditions are calm; depths are shallower so favour dinghy access for beaches.

Anchor considerations: holding is generally good on sand or mixed sand/weed but avoid Posidonia meadows when present (anchoring on Posidonia is forbidden in many places). If the Maestrale is forecast, choose the anchorages on the island’s east side or a marina berth in Carloforte; if Libeccio (SW) is forecast, consider the more sheltered eastern anchorages or the marina.

Local attractions ashore: Carloforte town has Ligurian‑influenced architecture and several excellent tuna and seafood restaurants; small shops and a Conad grocery are available for re‑stocking. Plan shore time in the late afternoon to avoid busiest hours at the marinas.

Day 4: Carloforte to the Sulcis coast (Porto Pino / Golfo di Palmas)

Leave San Pietro to work the Sulcis shoreline south round Capo Sperone and into the Golfo di Palmas — the area contains excellent sheltered bays and a long sandy beach at Porto Pino.

Sailing Distance and Conditions

Distance: approximately 20–30 NM depending on your chosen anchorage (Carloforte→Porto Pino quoted variations 20–30 NM in local guides; if you head for Teulada or round Capo Spartivento the leg is longer). Expect varying sea states if the Maestrale or Libeccio is active.

Military ranges: the Teulada area has an active military firing range; on firing days adjacent sea areas can be closed or require detours — check notices to mariners and the local Harbour Office before committing to that coast. Avoid routing straight through marked practice areas when exercises are scheduled.

Sheltered Anchorages on the Sulcis coast

• Porto Pino (Golfo di Palmas) — widely used anchor spot: sand bottom with good holding, roomy swing but parts of the bay are open to southerly swell; depths vary by location and should be confirmed using local charts or pilot guides before anchoring. Choose the inner sandy sector for an overnight in settled conditions.
• Malfatano and Teulada bays — east of Capo Teulada, useful as a stop on the way back to Cagliari when the firing range is not active.
• Small coves (Cala S’ena, Cala Lunga near Sant’Antioco) — useful as day stops; depths are typically shallow — suit shallow draft boats and dinghy access.

Approach & holding: most good anchor spots have sand or mixed sand/pebble bottoms; avoid anchoring on Posidonia meadows and obey local bathing/anchor exclusion zones. If in doubt, short visits by dinghy to inspect the seabed before committing are sensible.

Day 5: Return to Cagliari

Finish the loop back to Cagliari. Choose an early start if the forecast shows afternoon sea build from thermal or synoptic winds.

Sailing Distance and Timing

Distance: expect 35–45 NM depending on your start point along the Sulcis; Porto Pino→Cagliari routing is commonly shown in guides as around 40–44 NM and can be the longest single day if you start from the western Sulcis headlands. Allow for 5–8 hours underway at typical cruising speeds; factor in reduced speeds if sailing in light winds or motoring against a sea.

Final mooring in Cagliari: Cagliari’s main marinas have full service and are a logical place to return the boat. Berth depths and fees vary by marina; the large harbour basins and established marinas accommodate visiting yachts but book in high season. The city has the best final provisioning and transport links to the airport.

Provisioning, fuel and practical logistics

Stocking strategy:

• Cagliari: final major supermarkets, chandlery and spare parts before departure — make this your main provisioning run.
• Carloforte: the best mid‑route provisioning stop for fresh fish, supermarket runs and small boat services — useful to top up perishables and ice.

Fuel and bunkering:

• Light refuelling for a week’s cruising can usually be handled in Carloforte (fuel pumps and small marina stations reported). For large bunker requirements, Portovesme/Portoscuso have industrial bunkering capability but operations normally require prior authorisation and coordination with port authorities and service providers. Plan any large bunkers at Portovesme with at least 24‑48 hours’ notice.

Water & waste:

• Fresh water and pump‑out are generally available in Calasetta, Carloforte and the larger marinas around Cagliari; check service hours — small marinas sometimes restrict pump‑out or charge a fee.

Money & cards:

• Most towns accept cards but small bars/market stalls prefer cash; keep some euro cash for small marina or bar payments in remote anchorages.

Crew considerations:

• Make a plan for at least one person rested and able to handle night navigation if you expect to do night legs; rotate watches and avoid solo night legs on the longer return to Cagliari.

Difficulty ratings for overnight crossings (practical assessment)

Use this quick rating (Easy / Moderate / Demanding) as a planning shorthand — the weather and your crew’s experience always dominate.

• Cagliari → Calasetta (Day 1): Demanding — the longest leg of the week (60–65 NM), exposed round Capo Teulada and possibly affected by the firing range; leave at first light or split it with a night at Porto Pino.
• Calasetta → Carloforte (Day 2): Easy — short crossing, but be mindful of ferry lanes and fishing traffic.
• Carloforte local hops (Day 3): Easy — short, sheltered hops; keep an eye on gusty Maestrale squalls.
• Carloforte → Porto Pino / Sulcis (Day 4): Moderate — open sea exposure across Golfo di Palmas; choose anchorages according to wind direction.
• Sulcis → Cagliari (Day 5): Moderate to Demanding — the longest leg; do not attempt at night in unsettled weather, and factor in reserve fuel.

Rule of thumb: add 25–50% buffer to fuel and time estimates for conservative planning; when crossing open water at night, prefer a higher margin.

Anchoring checklist and local risks

• Always check for Posidonia meadows — anchoring on seagrass is regulated and often prohibited.
• Watch ferry lanes (Carloforte↔Portovesme and Calasetta↔Carloforte) and fishing grounds. Keep a listening watch on VHF.
• Teulada military range: check Notices to Mariners / local Harbour Offices for firing days and exclusion zones before routing near Capo Teulada. Military exercises can close sea areas or force detours.
• Weather: the Maestrale (NW) and Libeccio (SW) are the two winds most likely to upset your anchorage choice; select the lee that matches the forecasted direction.

Emergency & support contacts (what to have ready)

• Harbour Office / Marina phone + VHF channel — call before arrival. (Marina numbers vary by facility; have the marina contact from your booking confirmation.)
• Port authority warnings and Notices to Mariners — check Cagliari / Portoscuso notices before departure.

Final planning checklist (practical)

• Book berths in Carloforte and Calasetta in high season; both marinas can be busy for festivals and weekends.
• Top up fuel and fresh food in Cagliari and Carloforte. For major bunker lifts contact Portovesme/Portoscuso in advance.
• Confirm berth depth for your boat (many berths are in the 2–6 m range around Sant’Antioco/San Pietro).
• Download the latest local charts and pilot notes and set up alerts for firing ranges; brief your crew on ferry lanes and busy approaches.

Start planning This west‑coast loop from Cagliari to Carloforte gives you compact, varied sailing with a mix of sheltered anchorages and characterful ports — it’s a practical 4–6 day alternative to the northern Maddalena circuit, provided you plan your fuel, berth depths and weather windows carefully.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the daily sailing distances for this itinerary?

Day 1 Cagliari→Calasetta ~60–65 nm (round Capo Teulada; split it at Porto Pino if needed); Day 2 Calasetta→Carloforte ~3–4 nm; Day 3 local cruising around San Pietro ~8–12 nm; Day 4 Carloforte→Sulcis/Porto Pino area 20–30 nm (depending on exact anchorage); Day 5 Porto Pino (or Sulcis)→Cagliari 35–45 nm (choose start point to shorten the leg).

How do I approach and moor at Calasetta and Carloforte?

Both ports have sheltered harbour basins with visitor berths; expect shallow bights (Calasetta commonly 2–5 m in parts, Carloforte 3–6 m). Approach in daylight, call the marina on VHF and accept mooring assistance where offered.

What sheltered anchorages are available along the Sulcis coast?

Key sheltered spots are Cala Vinagra and the east-side bays of San Pietro (Cala Fico only in settled weather), Porto Pino and Malfatano on the Sulcis coast; depths vary 4–13 m with sand or mixed bottoms — choose by wind direction and shelter needed.

How should I plan provisioning and fuel stops?

Stock up in Cagliari before departure for perishables; Carloforte is the best mid‑route provisioning and light fuel stop; heavy bunker operations are available at Portovesme/Portoscuso but often require prior authorisation.

What are the difficulty ratings for overnight crossings?

Rate the legs: Cagliari→Calasetta — Demanding (60–65 NM round Capo Teulada, possible military range to avoid); Calasetta→Carloforte — Easy (short); Carloforte→Sulcis/Porto Pino — Moderate to demanding depending on wind; Sulcis→Cagliari — Moderate to demanding (longer exposure). Only attempt night crossings with experienced crew and a stable weather window.