Private Tour, Spargi Islands, Budelli, Santa Maria.

The best part of this private Sardinia boat tour is the freedom to shape the day around the wind, boat traffic, and your group. Skipper Paolo takes you from Palau to Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria, and nearby islets, with time for swimming, snorkeling, and jumping from the boat. I especially like the small-group format and the tasty Sardinian aperitif served on board.

I also like that the schedule is not locked to one rigid route. You can spend more time in a sheltered cove or move on when a beach is crowded. The main trade-off is practical: there is no restroom on board, and water, towels, windbreakers, and rock shoes are not included.

Key points to know before booking

• A private 10-meter inflatable boat carries only your group, with a maximum of 10 people.
• Spargi offers the widest choice of beaches, including Cala Soraya, Cala Granara, Cala dell’Amore, and Cala Corsara.
• Budelli’s Natural Pools and Porto della Madonna provide the clearest water for swimming and snorkeling.
• Paolo adjusts the route according to wind, boat traffic, and your group’s preferences.
• A Sardinian aperitif is included, with pecorino, sausage, guttiau bread, Vermentino di Gallura, coffee, a small sweet, and mirto.
• Bring water shoes and drinking water, since both are left to you.

Why this Palau boat trip works so well

This is a full day on the water, not a quick sightseeing cruise. The tour begins at 9:00 a.m. at Pontile C in Palau Marina and lasts about seven hours, returning to the same meeting point.

You pay $841.02 for the entire group, up to 10 people. That price looks high if you are booking alone or as a couple, but the calculation changes with a larger party. Split among 10 people, it comes to about $84 per person before any personal extras. For a family or group of friends, a private boat can be a sensible way to see several islands without sharing space with a large crowd.

The private setup is the main value. You are not tied to a fixed public-boat timetable, and Paolo can discuss the order and length of stops with you. The route still depends on weather and boat traffic, so private does not mean complete control. It means more room to make sensible choices during the day.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 46 ratings, with 98 percent of participants recommending it. That fits the strongest features here: personal attention, flexible timing, attractive swimming spots, and a relaxed food break. One especially useful detail is that Paolo suggested leaving 30 minutes earlier on one outing to reach the first stops before the crowds. The stated start time is 9:00 a.m., so ask in advance if an earlier departure might be possible for your date.

Leaving Palau for Spargi

Your meeting point is MAXIRIBEXCURSIONSPORTO TURISTICO at Pontile C, 07020 Palau. The departure area is near public transportation, and the tour ends back at the same pier, which keeps the day simple if you are staying in or near Palau.

The first major stop is Spargi, often considered the most beautiful island in the Archipelago because it has so many beaches packed into a relatively small area. The route may include Cala Soraya, Cala Granara, Cala dell’Amore, and Cala Corsara, along with smaller coves.

Cala Soraya is a key stop. You may swim from the boat toward the beach, depending on conditions and the boat’s position. This gives you two ways to enjoy the cove: stay in the water around the boat, or swim toward the sand if you are comfortable with the distance.

Cala Corsara suits anyone who likes entering the water from the rocks, though you should bring proper rock shoes if you plan to walk on uneven surfaces. The boat also provides a good base for snorkeling, but the mask included with the tour is the basic piece of equipment. If you care a lot about fit or visibility, bringing your own mask may be worth considering.

Spargi is also where the private format matters most. The skipper chooses among the coves based on wind direction and boat traffic, rather than forcing the group into an exposed stop. The drawback is that you cannot count on every named beach in one day. The route is a menu of possibilities, not a guaranteed checklist.

Stramanari and the Maddalena Archipelago

The next section includes the Stramanari islets and a passage known as the Enchanted Step. This is a shorter stop, about an hour, focused on the sea itself rather than a long beach visit.

You can swim and enter the water from the boat in a clear stretch of emerald-colored sea. For many people, this will be one of the easiest parts of the day. There is no need to organize a long walk or find a place on shore. You step from the boat into the water, swim, and climb back aboard.

If you are not a strong swimmer, tell Paolo early in the day. The provided details allow for swimming, snorkeling, and entry from the boat, but they do not describe flotation equipment or a dedicated swim ladder. You will want to understand how each stop works before getting into the water.

The changing scenery also breaks up the day nicely. Spargi gives you beaches and coves, while the islets offer a more open-water stop. That variety helps the seven-hour outing feel like a proper tour rather than a single beach transfer.

Cavalieri Beach and Budelli’s Natural Pools

The tour then moves toward Spiaggia di Cavalieri, in front of the Natural Pools of Budelli. This is another flexible stop, with about an hour set aside for swimming, snorkeling, or entering the water from the boat.

The Natural Pools are valued for their clear, shallow-looking water and protected setting, but conditions still determine how close the boat can get and how long you stay. Boat traffic and wind can change the plan. Paolo and the group decide what works on the day.

Do not expect a long, traditional beach stop with facilities. The tour information does not include a restroom on board, and no beach towel is supplied. If you want to sit on sand, dry off, or spend time on shore, pack accordingly and bring your own towel.

This is a good place to use water shoes. The shore and rock areas may be uncomfortable in bare feet, and one past participant specifically advised bringing shoes for exploring the rocks safely. You do not need to plan a serious shore hike, but sturdy footwear will make getting in and out of the water easier.

Porto della Madonna, the tour’s main water stop

The longest scheduled stop is about two hours around Porto della Madonna, an area of coves, beaches, inlets, islands, and small islets in the Maddalena Archipelago. This is the heart of the outing for anyone booking mainly for swimming and snorkeling.

The water here is described as exceptionally clear, with conditions that can feel like an open-air aquarium. That does not guarantee a particular marine sighting, but it does explain why this area is suited to looking below the surface. The tour includes a snorkeling mask, and the stop is planned around swimming, snorkeling, and boat access.

Two hours gives you time to settle into the water instead of rushing through a 20-minute pause. You can swim, return to the boat, dry off, and go back in if conditions and the group’s preferences allow. Paolo also aims to find shelter from the wind and space between other boats.

This stop is not a fixed route through every cove. The skipper chooses sheltered areas according to wind and boat traffic, and the exact movements are agreed with the group. That approach is useful in an area where conditions can make one side of an island pleasant while another feels exposed.

The main limitation is that the experience is water-based. If you do not enjoy swimming or snorkeling, you will spend much of the day sitting on the inflatable boat. The tour is a strong match for people who want repeated water stops, not for anyone seeking long visits to museums, villages, or historic sites.

The Sardinian aperitif on board

Food is one of the pleasant details that makes this more than a simple boat transfer. The included aperitif features pecorino, sausage, guttiau bread, Vermentino di Gallura, coffee, a small sweet, and Sardinian mirto.

Guttiau is a crisp, seasoned style of Sardinian flatbread, while pecorino and sausage give the snack a local character. Vermentino di Gallura is a Sardinian white wine, and mirto is a traditional after-meal liqueur made from myrtle. You get a taste of the island without leaving the boat.

The supplied details do not specify how much food or drink is provided, so treat it as an aperitif rather than a full lunch. Most important, bring your own drinking water. Water is not included, and a sunny day on the sea can make you thirstier than expected.

Coffee, a sweet, and mirto round out the food service. If you do not drink alcohol, you can still enjoy the food and coffee, but the information does not list alternative soft drinks. Ask when booking if your group has dietary needs or drink preferences.

What the seven-hour schedule feels like

The listed stops add up to about five and a half hours, plus the departure period, movement between islands, and time spent adjusting the route. In practice, you should think of this as a relaxed day on the water with several distinct stops, not five exact blocks timed to the minute.

The flexibility is useful when the weather shifts. One outing began in cold, poor weather before conditions improved, turning into a pleasant day. That experience points to a simple rule: check the forecast, bring a windbreaker early and late in the season, and accept that the first hour may feel cooler than the afternoon.

Paolo’s role is more than steering the boat. He discusses the stops with the group and adjusts the plan according to wind and traffic. A past outing also included help with a marriage proposal, including finding a suitable setting. That is a nice sign of personal attention, though you should arrange any special request ahead of time rather than rely on a last-minute surprise.

The boat is a 10-meter inflatable craft. That gives you a close-to-the-water ride and makes it easy to stop for swimming, but it is not the same as a large vessel with indoor seating, restrooms, or broad shaded decks. Expect a more exposed day with sun, spray, and wind.

What to pack for the boat

Pack lightly, but do not arrive unprepared. I would bring:

• Drinking water
• A beach towel
• A windbreaker, especially in spring or autumn
• Rock shoes or sturdy water shoes
• Sun protection
• Dry clothing for the return trip
• Your own snorkeling mask if you need a particular fit

The tour includes a snorkeling mask, fuel, the skipper, and the aperitif. It does not include a restroom, towel, windbreaker, rock shoes, or water.

Your shoes matter more than they might on a standard beach cruise. Several stops involve entering the water from the boat, swimming near rocky areas, or reaching a beach with uneven ground. Water shoes help you move safely and protect your feet.

Keep valuables to a minimum. The supplied information does not describe storage arrangements on board, so use a small waterproof bag for phones and cameras. A waterproof phone case is a practical choice if you want photographs from the water.

Who should book this private tour

I would recommend this tour to a group that wants to swim often, share a boat with only its own party, and accept a flexible route. Families with older children, couples, and groups of friends can all make good use of the private format, especially when the $841.02 price is divided among several people.

It also suits people who care more about coves and clear water than formal sightseeing. The main attractions are beaches, islets, swimming areas, snorkeling, and the pleasure of moving through the Archipelago by boat.

I would hesitate if you need a restroom, dislike open boats, want a guaranteed beach itinerary, or prefer a fully organized lunch. The tour depends on good weather, and the exact stops can change with wind and boat traffic.

Most travelers can participate, according to the supplied booking details, but the activity clearly involves getting into the sea and climbing back onto the boat. If anyone in your group has mobility or swimming concerns, contact the provider before booking and ask what assistance is available.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the 9:00 a.m. start. If bad weather forces cancellation, you can receive another date or a full refund. Last-minute changes made within 24 hours are not accepted, so watch the forecast and make decisions early.

Is this Palau boat tour worth booking?

Book it if you want a private day built around Sardinia’s best water stops, especially Spargi, Budelli’s Natural Pools, and Porto della Madonna. The flexible route, Paolo’s personal approach, included aperitif, and generous two-hour stop around Porto della Madonna give the outing real value for a group.

Think twice if your idea of a day trip requires facilities, a fixed schedule, or lots of time on land. Bring water shoes, drinking water, a towel, and a windbreaker, and you will be ready for the practical side of the trip. For a group of several people that wants clear water and a flexible boat day from Palau, this is a strong choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

The tour leaves from MAXIRIBEXCURSIONSPORTO TURISTICO at Pontile C in Palau Marina, 07020 Palau SS, Italy. It returns to the same meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 9:00 a.m. The tour lasts about seven hours.

How many people can join the private boat tour?

The private activity is for your group only, with a maximum of 10 people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

A snorkeling mask is included. You need to bring your own towel, rock shoes, windbreaker, and drinking water.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

No. A restroom on board is not included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.