For crew entering the prestigious marina of Porto Cervo this summer, once work is taken care of, those with a sense of adventure will be drawn to the peak which dominates the backdrop of the port. Situated on the Northeastern coast of Sardinia, Porto Cervo has become one of the must visit ports for many super yachts, and right on the doorstep for the crew is a panoramic view of both the spectacular natural harbour and the Costa Smeralda.
Having spent the last 4 seasons in Porto Cervo I have made various trips to the summit, either solo or guiding other crew, all of whom comment on how fabulous both the walk and the views are.
A fascinating walk through gnarled trees and gothic rock formations, at times steep and requiring some basic scrambling, the sense of remoteness and adventure will soon help to release the stress of a busy summer. Taking approximately an hour from the port to the summit is a safe assumption for most to be able to achieve, making this the perfect local hike when free time is limited.
The locals however don’t seem all to interested in walking the local hills and trails. In fact, you will be hard pushed to find anyone working within Porto Cervo who can point you in the right direction to pick up the start of the trail. This can make it necessary to adopt a “follow
your nose” approach.
I promise you, the trails are there. For the main trail, head up to the smaller development of Liscia di Vacca and find the spinnaker restaurant. Cross over the road and follow this street, you will come to the end of the tarmac (see pin in photo) and see a trail heading into the trees. The path is then marked intermittently with red route markers.
The markers can be easy to miss, but the trail is fairly well trodden, as long as you stick to this, and keep going uphill, you cant go far wrong.
From entering the forrest the path winds through ancient boulders. Some of these rocks have moved over the centuries and now stand in some peculiar ways. There are numerous caves on the way up to explore and rocks leaning against one another requiring some acrobatics to navigate between them.
As you near the top and clear the forrest you will see metal pegs in the rock forming a basic ladder to assist in the scramble for the summit. Once there, on a clear day you will be rewarded with 360 degree panoramic views of the stunning Costa Smeralda. To the North you will be able to gaze down upon the national park of Maddalena, and past that views of Corsica. To the South you can see down to the towering formations of Isola Tavolara.
Your efforts in making the ascent will soon be forgotten as you can sit and watch as the sun starts to cast long, golden shadows in the evening. When you have had your fill of the aerial view, its back down the way you came and into the Lord Nelson pub for a well deserved cold drink of your
choosing.
The Costa Smeralda truly is one of the jewels of the Med, at times however for crew in Porto Cervo, options for activities to do in any free time are limited. Hopefully this guide gives you the information required and the desire to escape the yacht for a while and go and explore what Sardinia has to offer, some of the most bizarre geological formations set against a backdrop of emerald green water.
Happy hiking crew.