The marina of the only inhabited place on the island of San Pietro is still an insider tip. Hurry up before this little gem of the sardinian coastline becomes just another crowded tourist port!
![Marina Carloforte - A Lot of Attention to Detail]()
Location & Approach Though most descriptions place the Carloforte marina in Sardinia, the small picturesque town and its marina is actually located on a neighboring island called San Piedro, to the southwest of Sardinia. You’ll find the said town on the eastern side of the island, on the part facing the biggest island in this part of the Mediterranean.
The island of San Pietro is known among circles for its pristine beaches and its stunningly beautiful nature reserves. This also proves to be an excellent base to start exploring the Sardinian coastlines, but also a departure point for the Balearics, Tunisia and Sicily.
The marina is open all year round and is located on the town’s waterfront, overlooking the very nice pastel-colored houses, a testament to the old history of Carloforte, a town founded by coral fishermen. The location of the marina takes advantage of the natural shape of the coastline in this region and is completely protected by the two linear breakwaters perpendicular to the shore, leaving a small opening facing directly to the east, for incoming boats.
The approach can be made from either the north or the south, but care should be taken as waters in this region are generally shallower than marked on most maps. Also, if mooring outside of the marina piers, it’s a good idea to safely secure your boat as there are numerous ferries coming from several directions. skippers should be aware that the northern breakwater is marked by a green flashing light and the southern one is marked by a red flashing light.
Infrastructure & Ambience There are over 250 berths inside the harbor (39° 8' N, 8° 18' E), for boats with a maximum draft of 5m and a maximum length of 50m. All the berths are connected to 220V and 380V electricity and drinkable water. The marina is also fitted with an extensive waste collection system that can handle most types of waste from a boat, a fact which earned the marina an environmental award.
There is also a boat repair facility at this location which operates with 2 travel lifts, one with a maximum load of 30t and another with 70t capacity. These can handle most types of basic repairs and together with the local gas station, offer good service to any skipper looking for assistance.
Among the other features of the marina, the tourist will find here toilets and showers, berthing assistance (VHF channel 15 upon approach), Wi Fi access, CCTV surveillance, weather forecast service, laundry service, doctor and first aid station as well as a pharmacy, a cash point, hotel, restaurants and bars (more options can be found in town), a sailing school, car and boat rentals, boutiques, supermarket and a chandlery and hardware store. The location also provides you with access to a number of technical assistance to major suppliers.
The island and the town of Carloforte are great places to visit for a variety of reasons, including a large number of architectural and historical buildings, an excellent cuisine which culminates with the locally acclaimed tuna (the Giro Tonno is actually a week-long festival that celebrates precisely that), and the relative proximity to Sardinia and the airport at Cagliari.