Scandola Nature Reserve

Scandola Nature Reserve is a protected area in northwest Corsica covering a rugged peninsula where red volcanic cliffs rise directly from the sea. The reserve includes both land and a marine zone, with caves, underwater arches, and steep rock faces forming a complex coastal relief.

The area was designated in December 1975 as the first combined land and marine reserve in France to protect the coast from overfishing and uncontrolled tourism. Eight years later, the region joined the Gulf of Porto in receiving World Heritage Site status from UNESCO.

The name Scandola derives from a Ligurian word for shingle, referring to how layers of volcanic rock appear stacked along the shoreline. Fishermen still respect the no-take zone and shift their activities to nearby waters, while boat operators adjust routes to avoid disturbing nesting colonies during breeding months.

The peninsula itself is closed to hikers, so visitors reach the rock formations and caves only by boat from Porto, Calvi, or Ajaccio between April and October. Departures from Porto offer the shortest approach, taking around two hours round-trip, with calmer seas generally found during summer months.

The reserve supports over 450 different seaweed species and serves as a breeding ground for ospreys, which build nests on the red porphyry rock faces. Several pairs return each spring and reuse the same nesting sites, which grow into large twig and branch structures over the years.