Cala Goloritzé Hike: Full Guide to Hiking Sardinia’s Prettiest Hidden Beach

Where is Cala Goloritzé & What to Expect

Cala Goloritzé is located in the Gulf of Orosei, on the east coast of Sardinia. The beach is part of the province of Nuoro, about 9 kilometers north of the town of Baunei. 

Location: Google Maps

Cala Goloritzé is like heaven on Earth: it is a small but extraordinary beach at the foot of a deep gorge offering fine white grain sand, turquoise waters, and breathtaking panoramas on the coast and the Tyrrhenian Sea. Framed by huge craggy cliffs, the landscape is dominated by the spire of Punta Goloritzé, an arch of rock reaching out to the sea, and by some limestone rocks that emerge from the sea to form small islets.

Spiaggia Cala Goloritzé stands out because of the constant change of the shade of its waters: sometimes blue, sometimes greenish, it is the perfect place to snorkel in Sardinia as you will be able to swim with thousands of fish around you. 

There, there are absolutely no amenities (no beach equipment rental, no snack bar), only nature. So make sure to bring anything you could need with you (especially plenty of water).

How to Get to Cala Goloritzé

Find below all you need to reach the start of the hike to Sardinia Cala Goloritzé, directions, and pricing info included.

Directions to Cala Golorizé

There are no buses going to Cala Goloritzé, so you will need a car to get to Su Porteddu, the hike starting point. Simply write “Su Porteddu” on your GPS device, and you will find it easily. 

• From Baunei, it will take a 20-minute drive to arrive at Su Porteddu parking lot.
• From Nuoro, it will take you 1h50 following the SS 389
• From Olbia, it is much longer as you will need 2h30 to reach Su Porteddu following the SS 131

Wherever you come from, you will have to pass through the village of Baunei to get to Cala Goloritzé. From there, follow the road that passes over the village, and then follow the signs to Cala Goloritzé. The road curves like a hairpin bend with great views of the surroundings. If you are lucky, you might even meet some cows, goats, and wild donkeys on the way. 

When the concrete road turns into a dirt road, you have to follow the signs “Su Porteddu”. It is in fact the name of the small bar where you will have to park your car.

Cala Goloritzé Ticket

Cala Goloritzé beach is a jewel of nature protected by UNESCO and as such, its access is limited during high season (June to September) to preserve it from mass tourism. You will also have to pay a small fee. 

To secure your access to the trail and the beach, you need to book your spot 72 hours in advance on the Heart of Sardinia app (download it here). 

When arriving at the hike starting point, you will have to pay 6€/person at the wooden booth at the entrance of the hike. Make sure to have cash with you as credit cards are not accepted (wifi hardly passes through there). Also, keep your ticket safe during the hike as a guide will check it when you arrive on the beach. 

Opening hours: The trail is open every day from 7.30 am to 3 pm.

Cala Goloritzé Hike Details

The hike to Cala Goloritzé Baunei is moderate, with quite of elevation but with a clear path, without any difficult sections although it is rocky and sometimes slippery. Wear good walking shoes to start this walk (the guide at the entrance will check them). 

The trail is actually great, I loved it. Although there are almost no viewpoints on the way, it is very beautiful. The trail is mostly in the shade, immersed in the vegetation typical of the Mediterranean area, so we weren’t too hot while walking.

Here are the details of the hike: 

Cala Goloritzé Hike

Moderate

2h30    7 km / 4.3 miles

506m / 1,660ft    512m / 1,680ft

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Hike distance: The distance of the hike is 7 km/4.3 miles including the return trip. 

Hike duration: Because of the elevation, it will take you about 1 hour to go down, and 1,5 hours to come back (average time). Plan at least 4h30 to be able to do this hike at your own pace and enjoy your time at the beach.

Hike elevation: Although there are a few elevated sections on the way down to the beach, most of the elevation is concentrated on the way back, with a challenging elevation change.

Hike difficulty: The hiking trail is well-maintained and signed, easy to follow. The way down is easy, even though you have to be careful where you put your feet to avoid slipping on the rocks. On the other hand, the way back is mainly uphill with important elevation gain which warrants a “moderate” rating, but it is manageable if you take your time.

Hiking Cala Goloritzé

Nesrine and I decided to hike Cala Goloritzé on the second day of our trip to Sardinia. As always, we decided to start the day with this hike to avoid the blazing summer sun. The night before, we slept in Nuoro for the Redeemer Festival, so we drove almost 2 hours to get there. 

When arriving, we were welcomed by cute wild donkeys. We stopped by to take some photos, but I am a little fearful of wild animals, so we stayed inside the car. 

After we parked, we went to the wooden booth at the hike starting point, and had a stressful moment: we didn’t know we had to book, and we had almost no cash! Hopefully, there were a few spots left and we luckily found 12€ in our pockets to pay for the tickets.

Anyway, we were finally able to start the hike at 11 am, under the best conditions!

The hike is pleasant from the beginning, in the middle of the bushes with a slight elevation, but nothing difficult at this point. 

After about 15 minutes of walking, here is the one and only viewpoint, but what a view! From here, we could see the sea of a blue so intense that it almost merges with the sky, the gorge leading to the beach, and the tip of the famous pinnacle pointing to the sky.

We kept walking and we were amazed by the rock formations all along the way. We could even see the pinnacle up close. But what we liked the most is that we were always in the shade, so we weren’t hot.

The last section of the hike is mostly inside a little forest, on much more comfortable soil without rocks. We met another cute friend, a wild goat this time. 

We finally arrived at the top of the stairs leading to the beach at 12 pm, so it took us 1 hour (stops included) to get to the beach.

When arriving, we were stunned by the incredible view. Seriously, it is one of the most beautiful settings I have seen in my entire life. The shades of blue with the boats in the background and the trees on the way create a wonderful panorama I will never forget.
 

The beach was already packed, but we managed to find a small spot where to put down our towels. Unfortunately, we didn’t think of bringing our umbrella with us, so we struggled a bit with the sun as all the shaded spots were already taken. But we certainly had an amazing time there! 

The water is so transparent you can see your whole body while swimming. We also really enjoyed snorkeling there because there were tons of beautiful fish, visible as soon as you enter the sea. 

We had lunch on the beach, and then it was time to go back to the car. We started the hike back at 2 pm, and it was definitely tiring! The trail is uphill all along, and we met a few people struggling in the middle. But all of them managed to do it! 

Hopefully, the trail is beautiful and we loved seeing the rock formations from other angles. 

We arrived at the hike starting point at 3.15 pm, so it took us 1h15 to come back. We walked at a normal speed avoiding stopping to keep up with the pace. But hell yeah, we were dead tired at the end!

We stopped at Su Porteddu to have a drink before resuming the trip to our next stop, and it was really refreshing. 

Things to Know about Cala Goloritzé

Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about this hike:

Why choose to hike Cala Goloritzé instead of taking a boat tour?

There are several reasons to choose hiking instead of a boat excursion. But the reason no.1 is MONEY, of course! 

When it costs on average 60€/person for a boat tour, hiking will only cost you 6€/person, so 10 times cheaper. Not to mention that food/drinks are not included on these boat tours. So, if you are traveling on a budget, this is the best option so far.

The second important reason is freedom. Boat tours have a precise itinerary you have to follow, including departure/return time and timed stops. So whether you want to stay longer or leave earlier, you will have no choice. 

There are many other reasons, but let’s give you one last. Boats aren’t allowed to dock close to the beach, so they stay quite far from the shore. If you are a good swimmer, then you will definitely get to the beach. If not, then you will stay close to the boat…

If despite all these reasons you want to take a boat tour, then you should check this one on Get Your Guide, it is certainly the best.

Is this hike suitable for kids?

Well, this depends on your kids. 

If they are used to walking, then yes, this hike is suitable. But some elevated sections on the way back may tire them, so you will certainly take more time. Count about 3h to 3,5 hours round trip with kids. 

If they are not used to walking, then I wouldn’t recommend it because the way back can be really tough and you shouldn’t underestimate it. But just so you know, we have seen a few kids on the beach.

In any case, you are the best judge of what you can and cannot do with your children. So trust yourself, and avoid making a risky choice when kids are involved. 

What to pack for hiking to Cala Goloritzé?

To spend a great time at Cala Goloritzé, I recommend taking these items with you: 

• Wear proper footwear
• Plenty of water, enough for the 2,5-hour hike + the time you will spend on the beach
• Snacks and lunch
• Towel
• Umbrella – we made the mistake of not bringing one, and we regretted it! Try to fit it on your backpack when walking, it should be fine!
• +50 Sun protection
• Snorkeling gear

As already said above, there are absolutely no facilities on the beach and no shade, so make sure to be well prepared and equipped. The guide at the trail entrance will check if you have good shoes on your feet and food & drink in your bags.

New to hiking? Check out this post of the essential hiking gear to take with you.

Are there any rules to follow on Cala Goloritzé?

Like in any other place in the middle of nature, there are minimum rules to follow to protect the environment:

1. ✅ Leave no trace on the way: take all your trash and items you came with back again with you. It is very important not to pollute and to leave your place clean as Cala Goloritzé is not equipped with bins.
2. 🐕 No dogs: dogs aren’t allowed on Cala Goloritzé.
3. 🔥 No barbecue: in general, avoid lighting a fire, even for a barbecue, when in nature for obvious reasons.
4. ⛔️ Don’t take anything from the beach: it takes a lot of time for nature to create sand, corals, etc. Stealing sand is considered a crime in Sardinia and can be fined up to 3,000€.

What to see near Cala Goloritzé?

The Gulf of Orosei is full of wonderful coves all as beautiful as the others. Among the most famous, there are Cala Luna, Cala Sisine, and Cala Mariolu, all located north of Cala Goloritzé. 

• Cala Sisine is one of the largest coves on the coast and the closest to Goloritzé. The beach is easily accessible by foot through a 4 km trail (about 1-hour hike round trip) starting at Planu ‘e Murta.
• Cala Luna is an amazing pebble beach with great caves, but very difficult to reach by foot. 2 difficult trails lead there, one of 10 hours and the other of about 6 hours. Hopefully, there are several boat tours going there, check them here.
• Cala Mariolu is another beautiful beach accessible through an extremely difficult 6km-trail, dedicated to advanced hikers. But you can access it easily by boat, and many tours include both Goloritzé and Mariolu, like this one.

Visit Sardinia

Going to Sardinia? Here are further readings that will help you plan your trip to Sardinia: 

👉 Here is the main travel guide: 7 Days Itinerary in Sardinia (with free map)

If you are looking for Sardinia’s best beaches, here are other dedicated guides:

• All the Most Beautiful Beaches in Sardinia
• The Best Beaches on La Maddalena archipelago
• The Best Beaches in Northern Sardinia
• The Best Beaches in Southern Sardinia
• The Best Spots to Snorkeling Sardinia
• The Best Beaches Near Olbia

Also, find below my guides to discovering some of Sardinia’s best attractions: 

• The Best Things to Do in Olbia
• Hiking Guide to Cala Napoletana, La Maddalena
• Visit Laveria Lamarmora
• Discovering Porto Flavia & Pan di Zucchero
• Visit the archeological site of Tharros
• Hiking Capo San Marco
• Visit Neptune’s Grotto
• Complete Guide to di Cala Li Cossi Beach

Finally, if you’re looking for a home base in Sardinia, you will find my best accommodation recommendations below:

• The Best Areas to Stay in Sardinia
• The Best Place to Stay in Sardinia for Couples
• The Best Places for Nightlife in Sardinia

I hope you have found everything you need to hike to Cala Goloritzé, Italy; if you have any questions, let me know in the comments below.

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