Sardinia is an island that is famed for its unique and distinct culture and its diverse and exceptionally beautiful landscape. In particular, it is home to a large number of incredibly pretty beaches all around its craggy and fascinating coastline. From long stretches to secluded little gems, there is a range of different types of beaches, all with their own particular charms, to discover. The area around the seaside town of Cala Gonone in the province of Nuoro to the east of the island, in particular, boasts some especially lovely examples of Sardinian beaches. Part of the Parco Nazionale del Golfo di Orosei e del Gennargentu (or the Gennargentu National Park), this part of the coast is famed for the quality of its waters and is a popular destination for tourists seeking sun and fun and relaxation as a result. The beaches immediately surrounding the town of Cala Gonone include the Spiaggia Centrale (or central beach), S'Abba Durche, Cala Luna, Cartoe, Osalla, Sos Dorroles, S'Abba Meica, Ziu Martine, and Cala Fuili. Among these then, Cala Fuili is particularly scenic and lovely and is an ideal spot to spend a day by the sea for those who have found a villa in Sardinia.
Located just three kilometres further south along the coast from Cala Gonone, the beach of Cala Fuili is a picturesque little gem that is made up of jewel-toned waters lapping a bay that is surrounded by rocky cliffs and hillsides densely covered in lush scrub and trees. Just 100m long, the beach is mostly made up of white sand and pebbles and is accessed via a winding path down to the beach from a small car park. As it is located in the untamed and untouched central part of the island, Cala Fuili has nothing by the way of modern facilities to offer a visitor but does, however, have plenty to recommend it when it comes to natural beauty and appeal. Those planning a visit, therefore, should bring an umbrella for shade, a beach chair if they want to lie out on the strand, slippers or sandals for traversing the pebbly beach, and their own snacks and drinks if they think they might require any of the above as there aren’t beach supply rentals or a snack bar anywhere nearby. At the bare minimum, we recommend bringing some water as it can get very hot.
It is also worth noting that it can get very busy as it is one of the most popular beaches in the area and in Sardinia. Timing your visit earlier in the morning or later in the evening will help you avoid the worst of the crowds but if you are looking for a villa in Sardinia outside the peak tourist season of the summer months then you will probably have fewer numbers to contend with in general. Those who don’t mind a bit of bustle and lots of people around won’t need to worry about any of this at all.
One of the main reasons for the popularity of Cala Fuili, aside from the visual appeal of this charming little bay, is the range of activities that can be enjoyed at the beach. Those famously clear waters make it an ideal place for swimming, snorkelling, and diving and you’ll see plenty of people out enjoying the sea. However, this lovely little beach is also a paradise for climbers and you may encounter some scaling the steep walls of the canyon bordering the strand and others on canyoning excursions right through the passage of rock formations in the area. Those looking to canyon can do so on guided excursions with Wild Project Sardinia whereas climbing in the area is really only an option for those with experience and their own equipment – a nice addition for climbers on holiday in Sardinia but maybe not the best place to start for beginners. Finally, the area is also a nice spot for those looking to go for a hike and then cool off by the sea as there is a 3.5km walk from Cala Fuili to Cala Luna that is well-signposted and very pretty.
So, if you have found a vacation rental in Sardinia and you’re looking for a dreamy beach where you can do nothing at all or get very active indeed, then check out the lovely Cala Fuili, which somehow manages to cater to everyone perfectly!
Photo credit: Giorgio Galeotti / CC BY 4.0
