Beach at Farinole
Located on the D80, northwest of Patrimonio on the western side of Cap Corse this is a fine sandy beach with a bar and restaurant, and which is generally not too busy. Please be aware that there are often some strong undercurrents and so it can be quite dangerous, especially when the sea is less than calm.
Desert des Agriates
The Désert des Agriates is a landscape of wild maquis and rocky cliffs. Take a boat trip to one of its beaches, inaccessible by car, or rent a boat yourself to explore the hidden coastline around the town. Boats from the harbour will take you to the beaches of Saleccia and Lodo (3-6 departures a day and a 30 min trip). You can also get to these beaches on quad bikes (see activities section) that can be hired locally or for the more adventurous try kayaking. The spectacular beach of Saleccia is a tropical dream of silver sand and turquoise sea, inaccessible by road.
Tour the Cap Corse
Many people explore the Cap in a single, day-long trip from Bastia but we recommend that you start at Farinole and drive clockwise so that you are always driving in the inside – the road is winding and narrow and some of the drops can be unnervingly precipitous. Visit Nonza, a flower-garnished slate roofed village, Centuri Port, a charming fishing village and a good lunch spot above which is the Moulin Mattei, Macinaggio, the start of the Sentier des Douaniers (the old customs officers route) and finally Erbalunga on eastern coast with its genoese tower and delightful port.
