Cala Goloritzé is one of the most recognizable beaches in the Gulf of Orosei: a cove of white pebbles in the municipality of Baunei, closed in on both sides by pale limestone walls and watched over by the Aguglia di Goloritzé, a 143-meter rock pinnacle that has made this cove one of the most photographed spots in Sardinia. It has no road access. The only ways in are on foot, down a 3.5 km mountain trail from the Golgo plateau, or by swimming ashore from a boat anchored offshore. Since 2020 it has also been a numero chiuso site, meaning access is capped and must be booked, and 2026 is no exception.
How to Book Cala Goloritzé
Cala Goloritzé allows a maximum of 250 people on the beach at any one time. Booking is handled entirely through the official Heart of Sardinia website or its app (available on iOS and Android)—there is no other route in. New dates are released three days in advance, always at midnight, so if you have your heart set on a specific day, it is worth setting an alarm.
Ticket Prices and Payment
Entry costs €7 per adult in 2026/27. Children up to and including age 5, and residents of the Comune di Baunei, go free—though free places still need to be declared at booking, since they count toward the daily cap like any other ticket. Payment is taken online at the time of booking and is non-refundable, so it is worth checking the weather forecast before you confirm.
What You Receive
Once booked, you'll get a QR code, which is checked at points along the trail and again at the entrance to the beach itself.
Opening Hours and the Afternoon Slot
The standard booking window has the trail opening at 7:30am, with entry closing around 2pm and visitors expected to leave the beach by 4pm. A newer afternoon slot has also been introduced, with check-in between 12pm and 1:30pm and validity extended to 5pm—useful if an early start doesn't suit you, though this slot isn't always available at the start of the season.
The Trail to Cala Goloritzé
The walk begins at Su Porteddu, up on the Golgo plateau above Baunei, where there's a car park and a small bar for a coffee before or after. From there it's roughly 3.5 km down to the beach, dropping around 470 to 500 metres in elevation through the Bacu Goloritzé ravine, past centuries-old holm oaks and the stone remains of old sheepfolds.
Distance, Timing, and Difficulty
The descent takes about 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30 minutes. The climb back up is the harder part—allow 1 hour, 30 minutes to 2 hours, since the return is steeper and warmer, so pace yourself and don't finish your water on the way down. The trail is graded E (escursionistico): no climbing gear or mountaineering experience is needed, but the route is a genuine mountain path, not a stroll, so trekking shoes rather than sandals are the right call. It's well marked and busy enough that a guide isn't necessary.
What to Know Before You Go
There are no bars, sunbeds, or toilets on the beach itself—it is genuinely wild, so whatever you bring in, you carry back out.
Dogs are not permitted on the trail.
Boats from Arbatax or Santa Maria Navarrese cannot dock at the cove; anchoring is allowed around 500 meters offshore, and access is by swimming in from there.
Carry 1 to 2 liters of water per person—there are no refill points on the trail.
The best months are May-June or September, when temperatures are cooler and it's easier to find a place. In July and August, slots disappear weeks in advance.
The Aguglia di Goloritzé
The limestone pinnacle standing above the cove, the Aguglia di Goloritzé, rises 143 meters and has become the defining image of this stretch of coast. It has been protected as a Monumento Naturale since 1993 and recognized as a Monumento Nazionale since 1995.
Planning the Rest of Your Trip
Baunei and the Golgo plateau sit within the wider Supramonte region, and travellers combining Cala Goloritzé with a longer stay often base themselves nearby to explore the rest of the Supramonte area. If you're arranging a car for the drive up to Su Porteddu or a villa for a longer stay on this coast, our Rental12 ecosystem covers both, which is worth checking before you finalise your Cala Goloritzé booking date.
