Sardinia: Budoni and San Teodoro

Budoni and San Teodoro, the southern gates of the Costa Smeralda

For the organisation of this trip I made use of the information provided by the website

Our journey begins at the southern borders of the municipality of Budoni. We are still in the territory of Posada and from the long strip of very fine, silver-coloured sand of Orvile beach we enjoy the view of the Castello della Fava. We leave it behind us and begin, heading north, a long and pleasant route that will take us to visit beaches known for the strong emotions they can stir in those lucky enough to spend even just a few hours there. The first place we come across is Matta 'e Peru. A small cluster of houses that rises near the beach of the same name. Here too very fine sand and crystal-clear water welcome us. Past Matta 'e Peru we come to the locality of Baia Sant'Anna, characterised by small pebbly coves. The next stop takes us instead to Porto Ainu with its postcard-blue sea.

We then reach the village of Budoni which rises beside a stretch of coast characterised by a long beach of over 4 km. There are several access points to the beach and here it is enough to mention those at Sa Capannizza, Lido del Sole and Salamaghe. Continuing always north we then come to the best-known hamlets of Budoni, such as Agrustos and Ottiolu. In particular, near the latter is the well-known tourist marina. At this point the territory of San Teodoro begins. The beach called Isuledda, with a pond behind it, is the first to welcome us and also the first of the many pearls we will come across. And indeed, right after Cala d'Ambra, we reach the beach of La Cinta, the very famous beach of San Teodoro.

The tourist flow concerning this area is the most evident symptom of the natural beauties that are its cause and that above all justified the establishment of the Tavolara and Capo Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area. Budoni and San Teodoro are the southern gates of the Costa Smeralda and we now understand why. After Puntaldia, the splendid beaches of Lu Impostu and Cala Brandinchi. The latter even known as the "little Tahiti". Around these beaches there are others no less pleasant such as Baia Salinedda, the beach of Capo Coda Cavallo and Cala Suaraccia. Finally, the last beaches of San Teodoro are Cala Ginepro and Cala Girgolu, near which is the famous rock shaped like a turtle. We are now just a few dozen kilometres from Olbia and here we stop and mentally retrace the stages of a journey of a thousand colours.