Independent guide · Not the Grand Site's official website
The Sanguinaires Islands, a red archipelago at the mouth of the Gulf of Ajaccio
Four islets of red porphyry at the mouth of the Gulf of Ajaccio, 11 km from the town centre, famous for their sunsets.
- Every fact is sourced
- Updated 9 November 2026
- Booking on GetYourGuide
Photo: Isiwal, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 4islets in the archipelago
- 11 kmfrom central Ajaccio
- 1870current Mezzu Mare lighthouse
- 1550Parata tower built
Why the Sanguinaires
The end of the gulf, twenty minutes from town
The Sanguinaires Islands are four islets of dark red porphyry at the northern mouth of the Gulf of Ajaccio, off Parata Point, 11 km from the town centre. You can admire them from La Parata, freely accessible on foot, or go by boat from Ajaccio harbour: the shuttle stops for about an hour on Mezzu Mare, the largest island, home to the 1870 lighthouse and a signal station. The site holds the Grand Site de France label and is a Natura 2000 area. Its sunsets are the subject of Ajaccio's best-selling boat trips.
Our pick of Sanguinaires trips
Travellers' favourites
-
Magic Sanguinaires Sunset from Ajaccio/Porticcio : Aperitif 2.5 - 3 hours ★ 4.8 (1646) from €50 -
From Ajaccio: Sanguinaires Islands Boat Trip With Aperitif 2.5 hours ★ 4.7 (885) from €50 -
Sunset cruise to the Sanguinaires from Ajaccio 2.5 hours ★ 4.8 (133) from €60
See all Sanguinaires trips GetYourGuide affiliate links
Boats, lighthouse, history
The Sanguinaires Islands
When to go
Temperatures, sunshine and rain in Ajaccio month by month, the boat season and sunset times.
Mezzu Mare
The only island where you can land: Daudet's lighthouse, the signal station, the lazaret ruins, the Castellucio tower.
Boat trips
Shuttle with a landing, sunset cruise, half day, brunch, hydrofoil: what each trip offers.
History
Where the name comes from, the two Genoese towers, the coral fishermen's quarantine, Daudet's lighthouse.
Diving and snorkeling
Seagrass meadows, coralline algae ledges, Ajaccio's dive clubs and a hydrofoil with an underwater bubble.
Sunset
Sunset times month by month, where to stand at La Parata, and evening cruises from Ajaccio.
Genoese tower, trails, beaches
La Parata and the road
Crêtes trail
The hike above the gulf: start in town, finish at Terre Sacrée or La Parata, no water on the way.
Getting there
Car, bus line 5, tourist train, boat shuttle: how to reach La Parata and the archipelago, and where to park.
Parata Point
The viewpoint over the archipelago: car park, visitor centre, path to the tower, scent trail.
Kayak and paddle
Hiring a kayak or paddleboard near La Parata, climbing the granite at A Reta, and what to know before you paddle.
Road and beaches
11 km of coast road: the Greek chapel, the seaside cemetery, beaches from Marinella to Terre Sacrée, then La Parata.
The town, Porticcio, activities
Ajaccio and the gulf
Boat trips
From a gulf tour to a full day at Scandola or Bonifacio: every trip that leaves Tino Rossi harbour.
Porticcio
The south-shore resort: boat departures to the Sanguinaires, beaches, and views of the town.
Activities
Boats, sunset, a stop on Mezzu Mare, La Parata's trails, kayak, diving, climbing: the full table.
Things to do in Ajaccio
Maison Bonaparte, Palais Fesch, the cathedral, the citadel, the market: the highlights of Napoleon's town.
Where to stay
Old town, the Sanguinaires road or Porticcio: which area suits your plans.
The guide in detail
An archipelago at the end of the gulf
The Sanguinaires archipelago extends the Parata peninsula out to sea, at the northern end of the Gulf of Ajaccio. Its four islets of dark red porphyry are, from the shore: Porri (31 m), the bare rock U Sbiru (13 m), Cormorants islet, Cala d’Alga (30 m) and finally Mezzu Mare, the Great Sanguinaire, which marks the entrance to the gulf.
| Key fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Distance from Ajaccio | 11 km along the Sanguinaires road (RD111) |
| Number of islands | 4 islets and a rock |
| Lighthouse | 1870, on Mezzu Mare, 82 m above sea level |
| Parata tower | Genoese, built in 1550-1551 |
| Protection | Grand Site de France, Natura 2000, ZNIEFF |
| Area of islands and point | 405 ha |
Two ways to discover them
From land, Parata Point is the natural viewpoint over the archipelago. You park (paid car park), follow the marked path to the Genoese tower and watch the islands line up out to sea. It is free, and it is where people come for the sunset.
From the sea, boats leave from Tino Rossi harbour in Ajaccio and from Porticcio. The classic trip runs along the north shore of the gulf, then stops for about an hour on Mezzu Mare for a swim or a walk up to the lighthouse. See the boat trip comparison.
A protected site
Parata Point joined the Grands Sites de France network in 2008 and received the Grand Site de France label in 2017. The islands are a Natura 2000 site: over 150 plant species grow on Mezzu Mare, and the archipelago shelters seabirds such as the yellow-legged gull and shearwaters. The site is managed by a joint body that runs the Maison du Grand Site visitor centre at the entrance to the peninsula.
Planning your visit
For the road, bus and parking, see getting to the Sanguinaires. For the best season and sunset times, see when to go. And for the rest of your stay, things to do in Ajaccio.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to the Sanguinaires Islands?
To see them, go to Parata Point, 11 km from Ajaccio along the Sanguinaires road (by car or bus line 5). To land, take a boat from Tino Rossi harbour in Ajaccio: the Nave Va shuttle stops for about an hour on Mezzu Mare. See getting to the Sanguinaires.
Can you land on the Sanguinaires Islands?
Yes, on Mezzu Mare, the largest island, with the seasonal shuttles from Ajaccio. Departures from the La Parata pontoon have been suspended since 2020, according to the Grand Site.
Why are they called the Sanguinaires?
There are several theories: the crimson light that 'bloodies' the rocks at sunset, the red colour of sea heath in autumn, or a corruption of an old name linked to Sagone. See the islands' history.
Where can you watch the sunset over the Sanguinaires?
From Parata Point, at the foot of the Genoese tower, or at sea on a sunset cruise from Ajaccio or Porticcio. See the sunset.
Sources
- Wikipedia (French), Sanguinaires archipelago, accessed 9 November 2026
- Grand Site of the Sanguinaires Islands and Parata Point, getting there (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Grand Site, the Sanguinaires lighthouse (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Nave Va, Sanguinaires trip: stop and price (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- GetYourGuide widget, Sanguinaires Islands offers: number of reviews, accessed 9 November 2026
- Grand Site, the Grand Site de France label (in French), accessed 9 November 2026