Last Updated October 17, 2026
Navigating a gommone through the Gulf of Orosei is a day I’ll never forget. Limestone cliffs dropping straight into an almost unreal shade of blue, coves you can only reach by water, hundreds of fish swimming right beside you… This is one of the most stunning coastlines in the entire Mediterranean, and renting a boat in Cala Gonone to explore it on your own terms is hands down the best way to do it.
We left one morning from Cala Gonone, a small harbor village at the northern end of the Gulf of Orosei, on a 5.5-meter dinghy for a full day out at sea. No skipper, no license, and a homemade pasta salad in the cooler for lunch. Truly one of those days. Here’s the itinerary we followed and everything I wish I’d known before going.
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Renting a Boat in Cala Gonone: the booking process
I started by searching for a boat rental in the Gulf of Orosei on GetYourGuide, my go-to platform for how seamless and secure it is. But two days before we left, nothing was available. Only outrageously overpriced options. I reached out to several boat hire companies directly and ran into the same story everywhere: fully booked. I genuinely thought our whole plan was about to fall apart, and then Dolmen came through: one boat left. Ouf!
The direct booking did require a €100 PayPal deposit, though. I’ll be honest, I hesitated. Sending money to a stranger without going through a platform is not my usual move. But the Google reviews were solid and we didn’t have many options. Spoiler: everything was totally fine.
How much does a boat rental in the Gulf of Orosei cost?
Here’s exactly what we paid with Dolmen:
– 5.5m dinghy rental: €360 for the day
– Fuel: €45 (paid at the end when you refuel)
– On-site deposit: €200 cash, returned at the end of the day
– Booking deposit: €100 via PayPal
Total for 4 people: around €100 per person, all in. For a day like that, in the middle of August, worth every cent.
One thing worth knowing: prices are season-based, not booking-date-based. I asked Dolmen directly, and whether you book in May for an August trip or two days before, you pay the same rate. So book early to lock in availability, not to save money.
On GetYourGuide, boats start around €160 in low season. Spots go fast in summer, so the earlier the better.
Arriving at Cala Gonone in the morning
Parking
After an hour’s drive from San Teodoro, with gorgeous Sardinian landscapes at sunrise, we pulled into Cala Gonone’s port at 8:45am. The parking lot was completely full. Mild panic, especially since I thought waking up at 7am gave us a solid head start! Thankfully, the fix was easy: plenty of street parking along **Via Lungomare dell’acqua Dolce**, right above the port. We parked easily, less than a 5-minute walk from the harbor.
My recommendation: aim to arrive before 8:30am if you want a spot at the port itself. Otherwise, head straight to Via Lungomare. Though honestly, those spots probably fill up fast too once the day gets going.
Checking in with Dolmen
The rental booths are easy to find, they’re all lined up along the quay. Check-in with Dolmen was quick and smooth: they went through the navigation rules clearly, gave us a handy recap sheet to keep on board, and walked us straight to the dinghy.
A skipper met us on the boat and walked us through everything: starting the engine, accelerating, braking, reversing, dropping anchor. I could barely contain my excitement. I’d rented a small boat in Mallorca before, but this one was bigger and faster, and I could already feel the adrenaline building!
We did a short practice run at sea, then dropped the skipper off at the meeting point where we’d pick him up again at the end of the day.
One detail I really appreciated: Dolmen tracks every boat by GPS throughout the day. Super reassuring in case anything goes wrong. They monitor your position and come out to meet you as soon as they see you heading back.
The gommone
The boat had everything we needed for a perfect day: a canopy for shade, a fold-out ladder for easy water entry, cushioned areas for sunbathing, dry storage compartments. Super comfy!
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Our Gulf of Orosei boat trip itinerary
The Gulf of Orosei is a truly magical setting. The morning light catches the cliffs and gives them a golden glow that reflects off the deep blue of the sea. I’m so glad we got up early, it was absolutely worth it!
We wanted to make the most of all the highlights along the coast and reach the most famous spots as early as possible, with Cala Goloritzé as our top priority. So we quickly headed south into the Gulf of Orosei. Looking back, I think our route was perfect and I wouldn’t change a thing! Heading all the way south first, then working your way back up the coast with stops along the way, is the best way to discover the Gulf of Orosei.
We left from Cala Gonone around 9:15am. Here’s how the day played out!
9:20am – Grotte del Bue Marino
First stop, just minutes from the port: a slow drift past the Grotte del Bue Marino. The cave openings cut straight into the cliff face, just a few hundred meters from the harbor. Worth taking a moment to take it all in from the water.
You can also book a dedicated Grotte del Bue Marino boat tour to explore inside, the caves run almost a kilometer along the sea.
9:30am – Cala Luna
Famous for its sea caves, white sand, and crystal-clear water, Cala Luna is an absolute must in the Gulf of Orosei. We dropped anchor before the crowds showed up and swam to shore, dodging schools of fish along the way: white seabream, the most common fish in Sardinia, and a shoal of garfish, those long, slender ones with the sharp pointed snout. The visibility underwater is incredible. An absolute paradise!
The caves at Cala Luna are stunning. Walking inside and looking out at the beach framed by that electric blue water is one of those moments. When we arrived, we practically had it to ourselves. But then the boats started piling in, and that was our cue to move on.
Note: you can pull directly up onto the beach at Cala Luna.
10:45am – Cala Goloritzé
If Cala Luna blew us away, Cala Goloritzé completely stopped us in our tracks. Jagged rock needles shooting straight up into the sky, a natural arch carved by the sea, people jumping off it into the water below. Breathtaking doesn’t even cut it!
We swam underneath the arch with masks and snorkels, surrounded by damselfish, those small dark grey fish with the distinctive V-shaped tails I keep spotting in Greece too, especially in Corfu. I also caught a glimpse of a tub gurnard resting on the sandy bottom. I had never seen anything like it, those fins are something else!
The beach at Cala Goloritzé is also accessible by hiking trail. We went by boat because of the heat and the size of the beach, but off-season the hike is absolutely worth it for the bird’s-eye view.
Important: landing at Cala Goloritzé is prohibited. Boats must anchor at least 300 meters from shore. There were already dozens of boats when we arrived, it’s the most popular stop in the gulf.
12:00pm – Cala Gabbiani
We hadn’t really planned to stop here, but the spot was calm, the views were insane, and we were hungry. No debate needed: anchor down, cooler open, pasta salad out. We ate on the boat with our feet in the water, staring straight at the cliffs. Easily the best meal of the entire trip! A group of wild goats even wandered onto the beach mid-lunch and put on quite a show.
Note: the sea floor around Cala Gabbiani is pretty rocky, so dropping anchor on a sandbank is tricky. You can pull directly onto the beach, alongside the tour boats that stop there regularly.
1:00pm – Cala Mariolu
The beach I’d been most excited about after falling down a rabbit hole of Sardinia videos online! That sandbar splitting the two bays is iconic. But honestly? Big disappointment. Even when we’d passed by early in the morning, it was already packed. By 1pm, finding a spot was mission impossible, as the sandbar had completely vanished under a sea of tourists. To actually enjoy Cala Mariolu, you really need to go off-season.
We kept moving.
1:15pm – Cala Mudaloru
We spotted a catamaran heading toward a gap in the cliffs and followed it. That gap turned out to be a beach sheltered by a cave: Cala Mudaloru. Strong waves, dark water, black cliffs, it had a slightly eerie atmosphere, so we didn’t linger.
On the way back along the coast, surprise guests again: wild goats perched on the rocks just meters above the waterline, watching us go by with total indifference. We watched them scramble up the jagged cliff face for a few minutes, a great little moment!
Just past Cala Mudaloru, you can also visit Grotta del Fico, another sea cave worth a detour.
1:30pm – Piscine di Venere
One of the highlights of any boat trip from Cala Gonone: the Piscine di Venere, or Pools of Venus. The name makes total sense the second you see it: the setting is enchanting, almost spellbinding, the kind of place that makes you want to dive straight in. Nearly 200-meter cliffs plunge into turquoise water, giving the spot a character completely unlike anything else we saw that day. A picturesque little beach sits tucked at the back of the lagoon, and even though we didn’t swim to it, the view from the boat was stunning on its own!
What got me most was the clarity of the water and the sheer number of fish. I swam through a whole shoal of them, surrounded on all sides! The seabed is pristine, just sand as far as you can see. One of those moments where you just float and let it sink in.
2:00pm – Cala Birìala and Cala Esuili
We cruised past Cala Birìala and its beautiful natural arch, then dropped anchor at Cala Esuili to explore this small, wild cove. You can’t get too close by boat, which means very few people and not a beach umbrella in sight. A proper hidden gem!
3:00pm – Cala Sisine
We had a little time left, so one last stop at Cala Sisine for a final swim. The sky had started to cloud over and the vibe was completely different from the golden morning light.
For context: this is what Cala Luna looked like on the way back, packed, with the sun no longer lighting up the caves. A totally different experience! Getting out early on a boat trip from Cala Gonone is non-negotiable.
4:00pm – Heading back to refuel
We still had an hour and a half on the clock, but seven hours at sea was more than enough, and more importantly, we wanted to beat the fuel station queue. In peak season, the wait can run over an hour! Hard pass. And we didn’t feel short-changed at all.
The skipper met us at the agreed spot, guided us back to port, and fifteen minutes later we had refueled and wrapped up one of the best days of the trip.
Practical tips
Leave early. The port parking lot fills up before 8:30am in August. Aim for 8:15am to be among the first boats out. Some rental companies offer boats from 8am. The coast is also just more beautiful in morning light, before the crowds arrive.
Parking full? Head to Via Lungomare dell’acqua Dolce, just above the port. Free, easy, 5 minutes from the harbor.
Book in advance. Boats disappear fast in August, whether through GetYourGuide or direct booking.
Bring cash. The on-site balance and deposit are cash only.
Pack your own lunch. There are no restaurants accessible by boat. A cooler with sandwiches, pasta, or mezze is the best option for a day on the water.
Bring plenty of water. Long day, full sun, you’ll need at least 1 to 2 liters per person.
Head back around 4–4:30pm to avoid the fuel station queue in August.
My Honest Review: is renting a boat in Cala Gonone worth it?
Without a doubt! It’s one of the most beautiful days I’ve ever had in the Mediterranean. The freedom to explore at your own pace, stop wherever you want, eat lunch on the boat with the cliffs right in front of you, swim to beaches that are completely off-limits to anyone without a boat… it’s just not something you can experience on a guided tour.
Is it intimidating to go without a skipper? Honestly, not really. The on-site briefing is thorough, the boats are easy to handle, and the Dolmen team is reachable throughout the day. The trickiest part is managing your approach to the beaches: slowing down in time, cutting the engine at the right moment, watching out for other boats, finding a good anchoring spot. With a bit of common sense, it’s totally doable even with zero nautical experience.
The Gulf of Orosei is one of the most extraordinary places I’ve ever been! If you have the chance to go to Sardinia, this is the experience to do.
FAQ
Do you need a license to rent a boat in Cala Gonone?
Nope! The 40 HP dinghies available to rent don’t require a boating license in Italy. A skipper briefing is included before you head out.
How much does a Cala Gonone boat rental cost?
In high season, budget around €300–380 for the day depending on boat size, plus fuel (around €40–50) and a €200 deposit returned at the end. On GetYourGuide, options start around €160 in low season.
Are prices cheaper if you book in advance?
No. Rates are set by season. Whether you book 3 months out or 2 days before, you’ll pay the same high-season price. Book early for availability, not for a discount.
How many people fit on the boat?
Between 2 and 5 depending on the size. For a group of 4, the 5.5m dinghy is perfect.
Do you need to book the beaches in advance?
Only if you’re pulling the boat directly onto the beach. If you anchor offshore and swim in, no reservation needed. At every spot where we swam to shore, nobody asked us for anything.
What’s the best time of year to rent a boat in Cala Gonone?
May, June and September are ideal: fewer crowds, great conditions, often lower prices. July and August are stunning but much busier, especially around Ferragosto on August 15th.
If you only do one excursion in Sardinia, make it this one. I hope this guide to renting a boat in Cala Gonone helps you plan your day out there, and feel free to reach out on Instagram @thebeachmuse if you have any questions. See you soon for another Mediterranean adventure!
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