Corsica in the heart of unspoilt nature
Do you enjoy hiking, trekking and discovering unspoilt nature? Corsica will amaze you with its varied landscapes: a mountain range plunging into the sea, magnificent beaches and secret coves where you can enjoy a swim, lush green forests honeycombed with streams for beautiful hikes and unusual places where rock formations dominate.
Corsica: an island between sea and mountains
With 120 peaks over 2,000 metres in altitude, Corsica is the most mountainous of the 3 major Mediterranean islands, and is also known as the "Isle of Beauty". It's also one of France's greenest regions. From its elevated mountains flow rivers, waterfalls and streams that carry freshwater to the sea through gorges and valleys (Asco, Tavignano, Restonica...). The mountains are covered with forests where water is omnipresent (Castagniccia, Aïtone, Vizzavona...). On high plateaus such as the Cuscionu, alpine meadows form vast natural expanses irrigated by springs, or dotted with pozzi (or wells), which can be seen at the edge of Lake Ninu.
Corsica also boasts 1,000 km of coastline bathed in the warm Mediterranean climate. Rocky heaps shaped by the sea, sun and wind plunge into crystal-clear waters where beaches, cliffs, gulfs and coves follow one another, creating landscapes of remarkable beauty.
With only 15% of its total surface area urbanized, the Corsican coastline has managed to retain its wild aspect. The Conservatoire des côtes françaises de Corse (CLFC) works to preserve these natural areas: the Sanguinaires islands, the Agriate desert, Palombaggia, Campomoro, Roccapina and Terrenzana.
The central mountain range - the famous GR20divides Corsica in two. This is not insignificant, since the two regions give rise to two distinctly different landscapes. To the south and west, in the region where you'll find Porto-Vecchio, Sartène or Ajaccio, Corsica is granitic, but also volcanic (as in Scandola, on Monte Cintu or Capu Tafunatu). The landscapes are sharp and rugged, with high peaks, deep, jagged chasms, capes, streams, valleys and narrow gorges. To the north and east, schist dominates the Cap Corse, Castagniccia and Casinca regions. The difference in altitude is generally less pronounced, although the peaks are sometimes steep and wide, separated by a multitude of valleys, ridges and rocky spurs on which villages sit.
Bonifacio and Saint-Florent are limestone enclaves with clear rock.
Finally, the Plaine Orientale offers a calm, harmonious landscape where the coastline is a long beach of fine sand bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea.
These major systems do not reveal the full extent of Corsica's mineral wealth. Numerous rocks emerge from all kinds of places, forming striking contrasts between shapes and colors (calanques de Piana, rocky coves, peaks of the Aiguilles de Bavella, gorges of the Inzecca gorge, Omu di Cagna peak...).
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Discover the scents of the maquis on a hike
The maquis... It's a word that opens the door to all sorts of bucolic possibilities. Withimmortelle, cistus, myrtle and other wild plants, the maquis offers you an escape between mountains, valleys, lakes and rivers. Endemic nature, idyllic landscapes, angelic fragrance... It's a cocktail that inspired Napoleon Bonaparte 's famous quote: "By the scent of its maquis, I'd recognize Corsica from afar, with my eyes closed. Appreciated for its density, authenticity and immense variety of flora and fauna, Corsica's maquis stretches from north to south, and is accessible via numerous hiking trails. It represents 20% of this island of authentic natural riches, and grows without any human intervention whatsoever, between 0 and 900 meters altitude.
In the south, for example, you can discover the area around the Bonifacio citadel, the Pertusato lighthouse and its path leading to Saint-Antoine beach and the Orca grotto. A scent of iodine, enhanced by flowery notes in the low-lying vegetation. Not far from Porto-Vecchio, the Ospedale forest is a sublime place where local essences blend perfectly with perched granite clusters. The scents of high altitude, including pine cones and heather, will gently caress your nose, while you'll meet cows, pigs and red kites on your way to the sublime Piscia di Gallu (pine waterfall), for example .
To the east, stroll through the Castagniccia region, where wonderful little villages stand side by side with chestnut groves as far as the eye can see.
In central Corsica, the paths through the Restonica lakes, the Valduniellu forest or the trails along the Scala di Santa Regina road will also enable you to discover countless endemic species, while reaching breathtaking viewpoints. Just a few kilometers away, the Fango delta and its banks, classified as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, or the Paglia Orba - a remarkable summit to be climbed over luxuriant passes and hamlets of ancient sheepfolds.
Walks and strolls along exceptional coastlines
If Corsica is famous for its coastline, where the turquoise of the sea reveals all its nuances, particularly on the beaches of the extreme south and north, other coasts are just as worth a detour.
On the eastern coast, at Ghisonaccia, you'll discover the Pinia estate, a vast pine forest bordering the beach, under which an infinite number of walks are possible. Don't resist a jog to the song of the cicadas, or a picnic under the pine trees, sheltered from the sea spray.
Still on the seafront, and to quench your thirst for thrills, the Altore adventure park offers a variety of accrobranche courses, right next to Calvi beach. A sporting getaway in an exceptional setting.
Not far from the famous port of Porto in western Corsica, the Scandola nature reserve attracts hordes of visitors every year. Fascinated by the ochre of its rocks, they can observe an incredible array of underwater fauna lining its chiselled meanders. An extreme and unspoilt territory, home to bearded vultures, ospreys and crested cormorants among others, the cliffs here are best visited by sea.
In Cap Corse, as along the entire west coast, the Genoese towers - ancient fortresses that amaze young and old alike - are almost all accessible via signposted paths or customs trails. As you make your way along these vestiges of the successive eras of Corsican occupation, the wide open spaces, the magnificent panoramas over the Grande Bleue and the vegetation will leave a lasting impression on your mind.
All the riches of Corsican nature are within your reach. Eager to share our most beautiful natural gems with you, we put our heart and soul into creating a touring or linear holiday, close to remarkable sites.
Campsites, hotels or residences: close to wild Corsica
Among our selection of establishments, we're sure to find the one best suited to your nature-oriented stay. If the traditional hotels that flourish in the most touristy areas seem inappropriate for your quest fora more intimate getaway, our farmhouse inns and bed & breakfasts, often further inland, will bring you closer to the locals. All the more reason to glean valuable information about your hiking plans!
If you'd prefer to stay in a rental property, our advisors can help you find a residence or campsite from which you can easily explore our island, while benefiting from a full range of services at your destination.
No matter how you plan your trip to Corsica, we'll do our utmost to help you discover the natural sites in the best possible conditions.
Corsicatours: prioritizing environmental preservation for your holiday
At Corsicatours, we've always been aware of the impact of tourism on the local and global environment. That's why we've always strived to be a "green" company, constantly striving to minimize the negative impact of our activities on our destination, while maintaining long-term environmental and social benefits.
We are committed, wherever possible, to :
- Protecting the environment - its flora, fauna and landscapes
- Respect local cultures - traditions, religions and built heritage
- Promoting the activities of local communities - crafts, animal husbandry, local production...
- Minimize pollution by focusing our offers on ecotourism in Corsica.
