Elba by canoe

The Elba Island is easily reached in a ferry hour from Piombino (in summer there are always several dozens of racing). On the ferry you can board the car, to be moved to the island, and on the machine you can board the canoes, which allow you to admire every corner of the coast by moving away from the summer crowds lying (and perhaps bored) on the beach.
is and You use the kayak (or a boat or a boat or a stand up paddle) in the day, whether it covers the entire Elba island, wonderful cliffs, crystal clear sea and isolated beaches are the norm.
Under the map of the island (distance, to plan your canoe itinerary along the coast), we present a guide to Elba starting from our circumnavigation experience of the island in kayak, as well as lots of photos.

How to get to Elba Island
Arriving by car at the ferry boarding of Piombino, a small complex connects with the ticket offices of the various ferry companies that lead to Piombino In Portoferraio (or, in some cases, cable, in the north-eastern part of the island of Elba). If it is a weekday, you can simply take the cheapest ticket among those of the ships close to departure. Otherwise, it could be converted to book on the internet. Among the ferry companies to Elba, the Toremar, Moby and Corsica Ferries are slightly more expensive than the Blue Navy, however in general the prices are similar: about fifty euros for the car plus a dozen for Passenger (note: in 2021 a lot more! Almost double!).

If there are kayaks on the car roof, you can download them for example to Le Gravel, the beach behind Portoferraio, where there is a convenient paid parking, not very expensive. Otherwise, the Elba is a great island: if on one side the sea conditions are bad, it is still likely that on the other are at least discreet, therefore, alternatively, you can drive for example up to the southern coast of the island And starting from there.
Our semicircumnavigation in kayak started from Portoferraio in a west direction, towards Marciana Marina ... and over!
From Portoferraio to Marciana Marina
Once left Portoferraio, the coast is immediately savage. White cliffs and tiny bays edge the crystal clear sea of Elba. A rock bow also appears. About 6 Goduriosissimi kilometers lead to the savage head of enfola, turned which we see in the distance Marciana Marina, on the other side of the wide gulf. Paying to the south (in this case we had the wind against) the coves of tendril, biodola and procchio meet in the order. From here the coast continues to the north-west (we finally had the wind in favor), a little more built but always fascinating seen from the canoe.

After the tip of the Crocetta and the clear waters that surround it, you arrive in Marciana Marina, a characteristic village with a busy marina in summer.
From Marciana Marina to Fetovaia
After Marciana the coast returns extremely wild, with peaked cliffs and small ravines. After the nearby Punta della Madonna, some wider bays are opened as a bararate Ripa, the Cala and the Conca, with ideal beaches to land with canoes and swim. Also for the stand up paddle here is a paradise, at least for a day trip. A little further on, the tiny town of Sant'Andrea offers some bars and shops for the provisions.

The west side of Elba is often the one with the most agitated sea. In the distance you see the Island of Capraia and the Corsica . We also found molly waves that bounced on the cliffs creating an annoying crossed sea. On the other hand, the views on the wild coasts are amazing.
Then appear some beaches that are easily reachable from the road (Chiei, Pomonte and Ogliera) and therefore quite frequented, but still rather wild, therefore the most insulated and spectacular area of the tombs, with Rocky beaches ideal for a break.
The latest efforts lead to the fet of Fetovaia, after which the Gulf of the same name opens. With the wind in favor, we reached the town of Fetovaia along the last kilometer to swimming, while the current pushed the kayaks (which we were linked to life with a top). The water was very clear and rich in fish.
Fetovaia is a wide and very popular beach; In the evening, the place becomes much quieter.
In brackets, if you don't want to sleep in tent, Click here to compare the hotels and find the most convenient accommodation.
from Fetovaia to Lacona
The cliffs after Fetovaia are quite frequented, since the road goes back to it. The beaches of dry and cabbage open between them. A more wild stretch brings then to Marina di Campo, where we left the kayaks to buy to eat and a ride along the wide beach ... where canoe rented, among other things.
The beautiful coast between Marina di Campo e Lacona presented cliffs and crystal clear water again. Immediately before Lacona there are a couple of haunted beaches and some wonderful corner; Lacona instead presents a gigantic beach, where in the evening it is also possible to find parties and life.
From Lacona to Lido di Capoliveri
This brief section presents other wonderful landscapes, if possible even more beautiful, or otherwise different, from the previous one, with Multicolored and tiny cliffs Anse. Always limpid water invites snorkeling. Here in sup is fantastic, you fly over the bottom and you can count the fish standing on the table.
Approaching Lido di Capoliveri, open sandy beaches with bathers, with bathing establishments, campsites and restaurants. Our journey ended here, because from Lido di Capoliveri in about twenty minutes you can reach Portoferraio and easily retrieve the car.

Capoliveri to Porto Azzurro
Lido di Capoliveri is located on the opposite side of the island compared to Portoferraio: paid counterclockwise, from the capital of 'Elba to Lido di Capoliveri can be used on average 4 days to travel 65 kilometers. Here the Elbana Terra has a "narrow", so from Portoferraio to Lido di Capoliveri in the car, only a quarter of an hour is used: D is very comfortable for those who want to travel in kayak or stand up paddle only half a trip 'Elba: from Lido di Capoliveri you can quickly come back to Portoferraio by bus, recover the car and thus close the ride.
Who wants to complete the dick of the island, on the other hand, must continue south-east, until you meet the two Gemini islets after a few kilometers, which are really wonderful, as well as invaded by Seagulls.
Continue then by canoe/sup long splendid cliffs up to Punta Calamita, where there are abandoned iron mines that give various colors and fascinating to the rock, and a brilliant black to the beaches. You can park the kayak here to do some industrial archeology, before reaching the beautiful, sandy and very long torch beach.
A little later there are also the beaches of Vetrangoli, splendid and wild, and that of remool, with a quiet private bathing establishment. The tip of the ripports and the Balanta pipes pass, at the extreme south of the Elba, and continues in canoeing towards the north, along splendid cliffs inhabited by goats, until the great Bay of Porto Azzurro opens. There are some beaches, a prison-fortress and finally the beautiful blue port, a slightly chic town that deserves a pause from the paddle.
from Porto Azzurro to Portoferraio
Proceed with the dick of Elba in an anti-clockwise direction towards the north, then reaches the rock of Ortano At the next Bay of Ortano where the beach of Ortano is located (so as not to make a corruption with the names!). Paying to the north you then arrive at Rio Marina, where you can admire other abandoned iron mines. This pleasant town is one of the docking points of ferries from Piombino to Elba.
After Rio Marina, the coast has wild beaches, mostly full of stones, with the shoulders ferrous cliffs with strange shapes and special colors, from red to black. Beautiful places, even if a little uncomfortable! Much more friendly, but less original, is the bay of cable, in the north-east corner of the island of Elba. There are long sandy beaches. Once I passed Joint life, the northernmost point of Elba, only about ten kilometers are missing in Portoferraio.
The latter part of the itinerary presents other cliffs that are very imposing with some wild beaches at the feet. Suddenly recommended by canoe, after which you arrive at the wide Gulf of Portoferraio
In all, proceeding counterclockwise, from Lido di Capoliveri to Portoferraio are 50 km, which added 65 from Portoferraio to Capoliveri make 115 km away easily quite comfortably in 7 days full, or In 4 days for the longest part and 3 for the second. (Plus time inevitably lost on ferries between Elba and Piombino, without counting the risk of rough sea ...).
To conclude, the whole coast of Elba is wonderful! And it lends itself perfectly, as a length and quantity of placing arrives at wild places, a ride in kayak or stand up paddle - by canoe, actually, is simpler than in sup assembled that are sometimes windy zones. Very good trip !!

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