Kayak and Canoe in Ogliastra

Kayaking is the most intimate and slow way to discover the Ogliastra coast. While motorboats skim past the coves with the noise of outboards, a kayak takes you inside the landscape: you hear the sound of waves breaking on the limestone cliffs, enter sea caves where the water shifts from azure to emerald green, and land on small white pebble beaches that no other means can reach. It is slow, silent, and deeply rewarding.

The Supramonte coast of Baunei is the main theater: 40 kilometers of vertical cliffs with no roads, no buildings, and no parking lots. The coves — Cala Mariolu, Cala dei Gabbiani, Cala Biriala, and Cala Sisine — are accessible only by sea or via challenging trails. By kayak, you can reach them all in a single day, with the freedom to stop wherever you like, snorkel in crystal-clear waters, and have lunch on a deserted beach.

To the south, the Arbatax and Tortolì area offers more accessible itineraries: the coast is less rugged, the waters generally calmer, and the starting points easily reachable by car. The Isola dell'Ogliastra, a few kilometers from Lotzorai, is the ideal destination for beginners: short distances, sheltered waters, and seabed rich in marine life. The artificial Lake Flumendosa (Lago del Flumendosa), on the border with Villagrande, offers a gentle, scenic alternative for those who prefer inland waters.

Kayak rental centers operate in Santa Maria Navarrese, Arbatax, and Tortolì. Many offer guided excursions with instructors who know every nook and cranny of the coast — a vital asset, especially for those venturing onto the Supramonte waters for the first time, where conditions can change rapidly with the wind and current.