National Park of the Gulf of Orosei and Gennargentu Park

Website: https://www.parcogennargentu.it/ (regional park websites and local tourism pages)

The National Park of the Gulf of Orosei and Gennargentu is a protected area on eastern Sardinia that includes coastal cliffs, sea caves and the Gennargentu mountain massif. It covers both marine and inland karst landscapes and protects diverse coastal and mountain habitats.

The park is known for its dramatic coves and beaches such as Cala Goloritzé and Cala Luna, steep limestone cliffs, sea caves and clear turquoise water that attract boat trips and snorkeling. Inland, the Gennargentu and Supramonte plateaus offer rugged hiking, pastoral scenery and highland trails.

The protected area was created to conserve Sardinia’s coastal and mountain ecosystems and to regulate tourism and grazing practices in sensitive karst zones. Conservation measures have focused on balancing visitor access to iconic beaches with habitat protection.

Stretching along the eastern coast of Sardinia, the park lies between coastal towns such as Cala Gonone and Baunei and extends inland into the Gennargentu range, combining seaside and mountainous terrain.

• Access: Many of the best beaches and coves along the gulf are accessible only by boat or by long coastal hikes, so boat services from nearby towns are a common way to visit.
• Landscape: The area combines marine cliffs and interior mountain terrain, offering both sea caves and highland trails for hiking and climbing.

What to See#

• Cala Goloritzé: Cala Goloritzé - a famed limestone cove and beach reached by boat or a steep inland trail, notable for its striking karst spire and clear water.
• Cala Luna: Cala Luna - a large crescent beach with sea caves and cliffs on the Gulf of Orosei, accessible by boat or by the coastal walking routes.
• Gennargentu and Supramonte: Gennargentu massif and Supramonte - the inland mountain massif of central-eastern Sardinia that provides high-elevation trails, karst plateaus and pastoral landscapes.

Coastal access is usually by boat from ports such as Cala Gonone or Arbatax. By road, the nearest larger towns (e.g., Nuoro, Dorgali) provide access to trailheads for Gennargentu. Ferries and private boats serve the coves during the tourist season.

• Hire a local boatman to reach beaches like Cala Luna or Cala Goloritzé-access by sea gives the best sense of the cliffs.
• Avoid August weekends when Sardinians head to the coast; late June or September will give clearer waters and fewer crowds.
• If driving inland toward Gennargentu, allow extra time: narrow mountain roads and sheep crossings slow everything down.