The door to Paradise
Cape Montesanto is in a meeting point between the Gulf of Arbatax and the Gulf of Orosei and appears as soon as you leave the touristic port of Santa Maria Navarrese. Here the cliffs soften before meeting the sea: it is the point of the coast of Baunei where the cliffs are lower (can measure less than 10 meters) and leave an access to the mountain despite the absence of the beach.
A meeting point between two different Gulfs, of Arbatax in the south and the Gulf of Orosei in the north, Cape Montesanto is said to owe its name to the difficulty of navigating its waters, especially in the more remote past. Immediately to the north of the Cape there are the Montes Insanes, very high limestone walls overlooking the sea, that reach five hundred meters in height; cited in numerous very ancient writings, they seem to be particularly famous precisely because of numerous tragedies that happened on sea. Between Cape Montesanto and Montes Insanes two “fjords”rise, Portu Pedrosu and Portu Quau. The first, Portu Pedrosu, in Italian “porto di pietra”, is a cove that ends with a small inlet of rock and pebbles, from which it takes its name. It is a small fjord, which can be crossed by small boats.
The second, Portu Quau, is instead another stretch of the coast well known by the Tuscany coalmen, who traveled along its entire length to take the coal produced in the mountains around Cape Montesanto. This fjord is called by the fishermen of the area “Cala Tramontana”, which was the scene of a tragic episode in the sixties, when a ship, the “Levante”, tragically sank while looking for refuge in it.
Not far from Cape Montesanto, in the south, there is the Colombi Cave, whose name comes from the strong presence of the pigeons. Nature, however, is never spared. This cave, admired from afar, has the shape of a pigeon in flight with its wings spread.
Life in and around the cave is plentiful. The cave, home of the pigeons, rises at the base of a limestone wall that touches 350 meters of height, among the highest in Europe, overlooking the sea. This steep cliff is the refuge of two species as rare as beautiful: the Peregrine Falcon and the Golden Eagle.
“By definition it is one of the last paradise of nature, where faunal species such as the gull Corso, the falcon of the Queen and the Marangone dal Ciuffo, nest and live in symbiosis with a natural environment, rich of endemism. Jealously guarded by the guardians of the territory: the shepherds who even today grazes herds of goats.”
How to reach it
Orange line: a visit to Cape Montesanto is planned.
Red line: a visit to Cape Montesanto is planned.
Green line: a visit to Cape Montesanto is planned.
Photo gallery
Some pictures of Cape Montesanto.
The lines
Book online
With the fleet of MareOgliastra Lines we will take you with our motor ships to explore 40 km of the wild coast of Baunei, leaving from the port of Arbatax or from the touristic port of Santa Maria Navarrese.
Get your ticket online and save 5% off! You don’t need to print it and you can skip the line!
Ticket Costa di Baunei
Il ticket ambientale di 1,00 € che la “Costa di Baunei” ti chiede per l’accesso alle spiagge servirà a migliorare la qualità dei servizi che si intendono offrire, quali l’assistenza sulle spiagge, attracchi sempre più agevoli e sicuri per i turisti, la pulizia degli arenili e la loro tutela e conservazione nel tempo.
Travel with MareOgliastra Lines
Why choose us to discover the incredible cost of Baunei
There are many ways to visit the coast of Baunei by sea. Here the reasons why choosing to travel with the MareOgliastra Lines represents a guarantee for your day trip in the Gulf of Orosei.
♦ Comfort
Our motor ships, as well as safe, are comfortable. On board there are seats in the shade and in the sun, in semi-enclosed and outdoor areas. Also tables where you can consume a snack or your packed lunch. The boats are equipped with toilets. It’s our habit to try to make you feel more comfortable while traveling around the Gulf.
♦ Serenity
It is our job to offer transport service to passengers. We comply with the standards required by current regulations, our motor ships are well equipped to carry passengers. Furthermore, we provide customer assistance from before purchasing the ticket until the end of the day spent with us (and even after). We are always on time with arrival and departure from the coves.
♦ Safety
We comply with the required safety standards and we only operates with approved motor ships for passenger transportation. Our crews are well trained and have experience in navigation. Our boats are large enough to guarantee more stability and safety than other types of boats, even in case of windy days.
♦ For everyone
Everyone can take a trip to the coves with us. We work with schools and kindergartens, with groups of seniors and high schools in occasion of sports initiatives and educational trips.
Our boats are suitable for families with small children, who are welcome on board along with their inseparable strollers. We are able to transport people with motor disability. There’s the possibility, under request, to carry passengers in a wheelchair.
♦ Experience
We have been traveling along the coast of Baunei since the 1980s. We have behind a wide knowledge that allow us to get the best out of the Gulf every day and face every situation in the best way. We know the coast of Baunei and its history: we try to share with you as much as possible on our website and during navigation.
♦ Warranty
The MareOgliastra Lines offers a stable service. Every summer, from May 1st to October 15th, our boats take you to the discovery of an incomparable Mediterranean stretch. For over 40 years!
Our Fleet
Our confortable and safe motor ships will carry you through the discovery of one of the most suggestive slice of heaven in the whole Mediterranean. Boats capacity from 90 to 300 seats.
Buy online
Check availability and prices on-line to visit the coves of the coast of Baunei. Booking your ticket online is simple, safe and convenient.
Ticket office
Come to visit us in our stores where you can buy the tickets for the trip along the coast. Our ticket office are in Tortolì, Santa Maria Navarrese and Arbatax.
How does the trip work?
Leaving in the morning, return in the evening. During the day an alternation of visit at the beach and boating until the next one, as planned by the line you choose.
