Corsica is a magnificent island separated from mainland France by the Mediterranean with beautiful beaches, scenic mountains, fascinating villages, jaw-dropping views that will leave you stunned. You also get to enjoy their elegant culture. You are guaranteed maximum excitement and enjoyment when you visit. 

To assist you in getting the best out of your time on this amazing island, we have listed the things you can do in Corsica.

Take a Road Trip to Discover the Most Exquisite Spots

The best way to explore Corsica is through a road trip because, at every turn of your drive, you experience the wonderful scenery. There are so many lovely things to see and experience. In the morning, you can get on the mountain to grace the summit of the Bavella Needles and relax on the beautiful beach of Palombaggia in the afternoon. Here are some road drives you can try out:

• The West coast of Cap Corse (where the mountains plunge into the sea)
• From Evisa to Porto with the red mountains
• The narrow canyon of Inzecca, up-close with the rock (you need to be careful and try to reduce your speed)
• The Restonica Valley with the high summit (it is quite difficult to drive here)

Marvel at the Island From the Sea

After driving around to find the coolest spots, you can take boat trips. You can take breathtaking trips from one town to the other and enjoy the delightful views. You won’t regret it. Seeing the Corsica Island from the sea and the colorful work of nature on the cliffs is pleasing. At times when the weather is not so perfect, you can still have such wonderful trips, especially when it’s raining. The sea is quieter, and it allows a better touring experience. Here are some tours you can try out.

Gulf of Porto

This is a UNESCO Heritage Site that is best viewed from the sea, especially the Scandola Nature reserve (which has no known roads). When the boats leave Porto, you can either:

• Steer towards the Gulf of Girolata and the Scandola Reserve. This tour is a longer one where you get to experience the rare geological features of the peninsula and stop at the isolated Girolata village on accessible by boat or a day of hiking.
• Sail along the popular Calanques de Piana. You see, the red cliffs descending into the sea. A marvelous work of art by nature.
• You can do both in a row if you love colorful rocks. Just check for availability when booking your boat trip.

Desert des Agriates from Saint-Florent

Agriates Desert is another area known to have no paved roads. You take a short boat ride from Saint- Florent down to Lotu beach where you can hike to Saleccia beach. The views as you sail away from Saint Florent is amazing, and the mountains behind are magnificent. On one side, you experience the awesomeness of the rocky desert with the Mediterranean Maquis vegetation, and on the other side, you get carried away by the summits of Cap Corse. People see it as a short but splendid boat trip.

Cliffs and Lavezzi Island from Bonifacio

Another lovely place to take a boat trip is Bonifacio. One of the ways to admire the magnificent white limestone cliffs that were sculpted by erosion is to take a boat trip around and also experience the impressive angle of the Aragon Staircase. 

There are two major boat trips:

• The Lavezzi island tour- You get a delightful boat ride along the cliffs, past Capo Pertusato all the way to the Lavezzi Islands. There, you can explore the huge rocks detached from their place of origin and pick the return you want.
• The Cliff tour- You sail along the cliffs and under the town, inside covers and inside the cave if there’s perfect weather. You also visit Paraguan, where the limestone cliffs of Bonifacio meet the granite plateau.

Sanguinaires Islands from Ajaccio

There is a short tour to Sanguinaires Island (‘Bloody Island’) from Ajaccio, where you can take a tour around on foot before sailing back to port. It is fun when you tour during the day and more interesting at sunset when the rocks tour red with the one(s) you love.

See the Large Colorful Rocks

One of the main reasons why visitors love Corsica is because of the huge rocks formations, boulders everywhere, and fascinating scenery where you can’t just stop taking beautiful pictures. It is a great place for both kids and adults. You can also find some inspiring locations in North and South Corsica. It is also a kind of place for learning and acquiring knowledge. 

At times, the boulders are huge and sparse of grey colors. Sometimes the rocks are sprayed low on the ground and red in color. They are more beautiful at sunrise and sunset when the red becomes brighter and striking. And sometimes, they are just all over the place with a mix of beautiful colors.

Spend Time Daydreaming at the Magnificent Corsican Beaches

Your visitation is incomplete if you don’t spend time at the beautiful beach. There are many beaches you can visit. The turquoise water with white sand beaches is also in coves or bay with mountains, rock formations, and historical Genoese towers around for you to explorer. You can also snorkel around and hike.

Visit the Enchanting Villages

Most of the villages are in the hills and mountains where there are water and protection. The houses are quite square and not really elaborate or have decorative details (Corsica is not the place for architecture), but you have come for its serenity and also to explore the small alleys in search of a specially attractive feature. 

Villages like Ota are protected by red mountains, and Pigna, just like many other villages in the Balagne region, is built at the top of a hill. The village has become a place of destination for tourists because of its artists’ shops and blue shutters.

It is really an enchanting village to visit and explore. As you explore, you will be stunned by some special features from the old times like the tunnel under the church in Vescovato. It is interesting if you explore with your loved one(s). Just choose a village and explore.

Canyoning

There are many magnificent canyons in Corsica, mainly concentrated in the south of the island. Canyoning is an outdoor pursuit that deals with rock climbing, swimming, and walking while following the trails and waterways that that wind through the canyons. Corsica is a place of amazing natural beauty. As flying down natural rock slides and splashing into the rock pools can be fun, one should not forget that it can be dangerous to do. Many companies operating in Corsica offers canyoning tips and guides that will suit your adventure to the degree of your physical ability and experience. For example;

• Beginner level- In the Richiusa canyon, between Ajaccio and Corte.
• For more experienced travelers, you can try the Rudda Canyons and the famous Purcaraccia.

Drive Through the Mountains and Gorges

If you are bored or you just want to drive around, get into your car and explore the canyons and mountains at the center of the island. You get to see the summits and get down by a river pool in the shade of a gorge. 

The mountain with the highest summit is Monte Cinto. The mountains reach an elevation of about 2706m, and a single chain of mountains covers 2/3 of the island. The areas around the mountains less than 600m are known as the coastal zone. The rest is temperate montane and high alpine zones. Try not to get carried away by the beautiful landscape when you drive.

Enjoy the Traditional Corsican Cuisine

Corsica offers French Cuisine with flavors from the fragrant herbs of the maquis and forests of chestnuts. Traditional Corsican cuisine is unique and varies. Look out for their awesome delicatessens that specialize in meat- made from free-roaming wild boars that have eaten their way through many chestnuts. Corsicans eat more meat than they eat fish but they’ve got a fabulous range of fresh seafood.

Visit the Scandola Natural Reserve

The Scandola Natural Reserve was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its elegance and biodiversity. One of the ways to explore and experience the area is by taking a boat from the port of Calvi up to the north. One of the boat lines- The Colombo Line organizes a 3- hour tour that takes in the red cliffs and volcanic headlands of the coastline and the beaches, grottoes, caves, islets, and sea stacks on which the turquoise waters lap. You might be fortunate to have sea eagles and Dolphins join you.

See the Garden of Bees (Le Jardin des Abeilles)

This place is an unexpected attraction in Corsica. The Casalta family controls 400 hives, getting six varieties of honey as well as beeswax from their insect livestock. You can get beauty, health, and a collection of sugary treats at their shop. You can have fun by following the wooded ‘learning path’ through the nearby woods. A glass beehive stands for inspection at an excellent location close to the Prunelli River.

Things To Do In Corsica – Summary

All these and many more are things you can do when you visit Corsica. It is such a beautiful island and most of its finest and purest hidden gems can only be reached when you try these things. Be sure you are having a nice time when you make Corsica your next holiday destination.