Hike to Girolata and Lunch Tip for the La Scandola Peninsula

Girolata, a small, secluded fishing village with a Genoese citadel on the west coast, is only reachable on foot or by boat. There is no access road. It is located on the La Scandola peninsula close to the nature reserve, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. For a deeper exploration of the nature reserve, you must book a boat tour, but these tours do not take place during strong winds. For this reason, we hiked along the coast to Girolata. 

I can only recommend this amazing hike. It's best to start in the morning and reach the village at lunchtime. Like almost everywhere else, the restaurants here are only open until 2 pm.

• Distance: All-day round trip 10 km plus lunch
  We opted for the same way back because of the stunning coastal path and beach. There is also another route inland, a section of the Mare e Monti (sea and mountains).
• Length: 4-5 hours plus lunch break
• Elevation gain: approx. 350 m - the starting point is at around 250 m, descends to the sea to the Plage de Tuara (Tuara beach), climbs another 100 m and descends 100 m to Girolata.
• Difficulty level: Medium, steep and exposed in some places
• Parking and trailhead Google Maps
• Take snacks and plenty of water with you and make sure you protect yourself from the sun.
• If you fancy a dip, you should also pack swimming gear. There are two fantastic beaches on this hike.
• Best boat tour from Cargese to La Scandola Nature Reserve by GYG

At the beginning, the path leads in the shade of the trees and it is still pleasantly fresh in the morning. The steep path goes almost straight down to the sea. You pass a fountain which is a great stop to cool off on the way back. As soon as you reach Tuara beach, the hiking trail is completely in the sun all the way to Girolata.

From here the narrow path is steep in places, exposed and there are a few climbing passages over rocks before you get a breathtaking first view of Girolata.

We found the route perfectly doable, but two hikers in a guided group struggled with a fear of heights. From this point onwards, the lush vegetation repeatedly offered a view of the turquoise blue bay to Girolata and the Scandola Peninsula. When we arrived at the beach and the jetty in Girolata, we saw most of the hikers and day visitors by boat sitting in the first restaurants. We walked another 400 m through the village to the restaurant Le Bon Espoir. One of the best meals on our 3-week trip.

My tip is not to stop at the first or second restaurant, but to check out the Google reviews. That's what we did and we were rewarded with a superbly delicious meal and a magnificent view of the bay before heading back. The menu from  Le Bon Espoir

On the way back, we took a longer break to photograph the cows at the Plage de Tuara. It looked truly bizarre.

Accommodation Tips

• There is one option to stay in Girolata itself. Absolutly amazing, quiet, and great for hiking but I assume La Maison de Mammò is usually fully booked.
• There is a fantastic campground for tents and smaller vans at Corsica Gradelle (more in my camping guide).
• The nearest accommodations are located in Galeria, a 30 km drive like Stella Marina.

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