Isola Piana is a flat granite island in the Lavezzi Archipelago — part of the Réserve Naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio — located just 300 metres from Piantarella beach on the Corsican mainland and 3 nautical miles southeast of Bonifacio. The two anchorages here, at Isola Piana itself and at Plage du Petit Sperone, offer some of the finest day-stop sailing in the entire Bocche di Bonifacio: silky white sand, turquoise water with extraordinary clarity, and relative calm — at least early in the morning. We anchored here in calm weather, breakfasted on board, walked the two fine sandy beaches Cala di U Lioni and Spiaggia di Cala Giunco, and marvelled at the pink granite rock formations sculpted by centuries of wind and sea.
⚠ Day anchorage only — not for strong westerlies: Both anchorages are calm water spots for settled conditions. In W or NW wind these are exposed — leave well before the afternoon Maestrale builds. By mid-morning in July–August, tourist excursion boats arrive in large numbers. Plan to arrive before 09:00 and leave by midday if you want peace.
⚓ Anchorage 1 — Isola Piana
| Coordinates | 41°22.50’N / 9°13.50’E |
| Depth | 2–5m, white sand, excellent holding |
| Shelter | Sheltered from most directions in calm conditions. Open to W and NW. |
| Mooring buoys | Some buoys available — popular in season |
| Bottom | Fine white sand — do NOT anchor on Posidonia |
| Distance from Bonifacio | 3 nm SE |
The anchorage off Isola Piana is framed by pink granite walls and sits on extraordinary white sand in 2–5m. The water clarity is exceptional — you can see the anchor from the cockpit and watch fish moving between the rocks. Several small coves around the island offer different aspects depending on wind direction. The two main beaches — Cala di U Lioni and Spiaggia di Cala Giunco — are reachable by dinghy or kayak directly from the anchorage. Walk around the remarkable rock formations shaped by erosion into arches, towers and hollows.
⚠ Anchoring north of Piana — submarine pipeline: Anchoring further north of Isola Piana (toward the Piantarella lagoon) is prohibited due to a submarine pipeline. Stay within the anchorage area clearly defined on the chart. Also note: a shoal exists at the south side of the Piantarella passage — check chart before approaching from the north.
⚓ Anchorage 2 — Plage du Petit Sperone
| Coordinates | 41°22.20’N / 9°13.37’E |
| Depth | 3–5m, sand |
| Shelter | Between S tip of Piana and Petit Sperone beach. Open to W/NW. |
| Warning | Shoal to the north — check chart. Anchoring further E/SE prohibited. |
| Beach ashore | Plage du Petit Sperone — white sand, pine trees, very scenic. 10-min walk to Grand Sperone. |
Plage du Petit Sperone is tucked between the southern tip of Isola Piana and the Sperone promontory on the Corsican mainland. Anchoring between the two sides of this passage puts you directly opposite one of the finest beaches near Bonifacio — white sand, very shallow turquoise water, pine trees behind the beach, almost no facilities. The walk from here along the coast toward the Sperone golf course and Grand Sperone beach takes about 40 minutes. Note: anchoring further east and southeast from this position is prohibited.
️ Going Ashore — Isola Piana
On the Island
Isola Piana is flat and uninhabited. The rock formations are the main attraction — wind and sea erosion has sculpted the pink granite into extraordinary shapes. Walk the perimeter for approximately 30 minutes. The island is connected to the Corsican mainland at Piantarella beach by a sandbank that is walkable at low water (about 300m, knee deep in places — current can be strong, take care).
⚠ Bird nesting — landing restricted: Many seabirds nest on Isola Piana. Disembarking is strongly discouraged at all times and totally forbidden from 15 December to 15 April to protect nesting colonies. In summer, land with care and stay on the rock edges away from vegetation.
The Sandbank Walk to Piantarella
The sandbank connecting Isola Piana to the mainland beach of Piantarella makes a memorable crossing — 300 metres of walking in knee-deep crystal-clear water across white sand, with the Lavezzi Islands visible to the south and Bonifacio’s cliffs to the west. The crossing is easy in calm conditions but the current between the beach and island can be surprisingly strong — check conditions before wading and supervise children carefully.
Piantarella — Ashore
Piantarella beach on the mainland is a popular windsurf and wing foil spot — one of Corsica’s best. From here you can walk 10 minutes to Plage du Petit Sperone (intimate, very beautiful, sheltered by pines) and another 30 minutes to the larger Plage du Grand Sperone along the path that runs alongside the prestigious Sperone golf course. Limited facilities at Piantarella — no restaurants directly on the beach. Bonifacio is 15 minutes by road.
Roman remains are present near Piantarella (the site was on an ancient trade route between Italy and Spain) — on private land but historically significant.
Snorkelling
The waters around Isola Piana are part of the Réserve Naturelle des Bouches de Bonifacio. The seabed here is rich — sea bream, sars, gilthead, wrasse, octopus in the rock crevices. The area between Piana and the Lavezzi islands has Posidonia meadows that support dense fish populations. Visibility is typically 10–15m. Snorkelling directly from the boat or from the dinghy around the granite rock formations is excellent.
️ Wind & Weather
The Bocche di Bonifacio accelerates all winds. A forecast of 15 knots in the open Mediterranean can translate to 25+ knots in the strait. Both Piana anchorages are open to W and NW — the dominant summer wind direction. In June, conditions are generally more stable than July–August. The best pattern: arrive early (08:00–09:00), anchor, swim and explore, and leave before 13:00 before the afternoon wind builds.
Reserve Rules
- No anchoring on Posidonia seagrass — sand/rock only, fines enforced
- No landing on Isola Piana 15 December–15 April (bird nesting)
- No anchoring north of Piana — submarine pipeline area
- No anchoring east/SE of Petit Sperone — prohibited zone
- Reserve is patrolled by zodiac — violations are fined
Sailor’s tip: This is a breakfast anchorage — anchor the night at Bonifacio, leave at first light (06:30–07:00), and be off Isola Piana by 08:00. You’ll have the place to yourself, the light is incredible on the granite, the water is glassy, and you can swim before the excursion boats arrive. By 10:00 in high season the anchorage is crowded and noisy. Leave for Lavezzi or back to Bonifacio before the wind comes up.
✅ Safety Checklist
- W/NW forecast building: leave before midday — no shelter in strong westerlies
- Sandbank crossing to Piantarella: current can be strong — assess before crossing
- No anchoring on Posidonia — check bottom before dropping anchor
- Submarine pipeline north of Piana — stay south of marked exclusion area
- Shoal at S of Piantarella passage — check chart when approaching from N
- Bird nesting: no landing Dec 15–Apr 15
Nearby Destinations
| Destination | Distance | Notes |
| Marina Bonifacio | 3 nm NW | Full facilities. Book ahead. Base for this anchorage. |
| Îles Lavezzi | 5 nm SE | Nature reserve. Cala di U Grecu. Daylight approach only. |
| Santa Teresa Gallura | 8 nm S | Sardinia. Full marina. Ferry to Bonifacio. |
| Bonifacio — Town Guide | 3 nm NW | Citadel, restaurants, Escalier du Roy d’Aragon. |
