Places in Santa Maria Coghinas, Sardinia

Santa Maria Coghinas is located in the north western area of the island, between Stintino and Castelsardo, an area that offers many kilometres of fine sand, its beaches being among the longest of the island together with Costa Rei and Bari Sardo.

The whole area is blessed with excellent weather all year round and it is a true paradise for those seeking sea and sun enjoyment. Within a short distance of Stintino, on the west coast, Cala Isola dei Porri and Cala Coscia di Donna are the best spots if you prefer rocks to sandy beaches.

To get there, follow the route SP 34 from Porto Torres and turn left about 5 km from Stintino. This is roughly when the road becomes closer to the beaches on your right. As a reference you could use the sign indicating the farmhouses of Cuile Novo.

From there any dirt road to your left will take you to destination. Stintino itself is a cosy old fishermen village just recently known as a popular beach resort, attracting sea lovers from all over Europe, with a lively atmosphere and busy cafes and restaurants.

Its transformation is largely due to its main beach, Spiaggia della Pelosa. It is truly the queen of beaches, with its light ultramarine blue to cadmium shallow waters extending for some 50 meters from the long stretch of fine white sand.

Here children can play safely and adults may enjoy refreshing sunbathes right at the water's edge. Moving eastwards you will first get across the Casaraccio lagoon with Spiaggia delle Saline, where migrating birds stop during spring, Porto Torres, the white long stretch of Platamona beach with beautiful sand dunes and finally Castelsardo, a small fortified village on a steep rock overlooking the gulf.

The Asinara National Park on the island of Asinara, right in front of Stintino, is home to some rare animals, including a population of wild albino donkeys from which the island takes its name. The Asinara lies in the west portion of the homonymous gulf, at less than three kilometres from the mainland and has been banned to human settlements after being declared a quarantine area and high security prison island in 1885.

Two events which forbade entry to the island until a decade ago when it became a National Park. Guided tours to the old prison and quarantine area settlements with magnificently landscaped gardens are available.

Moving around is not difficult as public transport is available and even some bike rental agencies right in front of the boat landing spot at Fornelli in the south and Cala Reale and Cala d'Oliva in the north west.

Access is easy and direct from either Stintino or Porto Torres harbours where an admission ticket must always be bought before boarding.