From Étang de Ventilegne to Pisciu Cane and back

A superb hike in the Bouches de Bonifacio Natural Park.
A refreshing walk along the coastline with a detour into the Étang de la Testarella wetland. It feels like walking through a landscaped garden filled with flowers in spring. A pleasant walk in any season. The return route offers a different viewpoint, preventing monotony.
Three and a half hours including stops for this walk, which is one of our favourites.
Once again, there is a wide choice of beaches and rocks. Can be combined with the Punta di Ventilegne circular.

Details

32904356
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.66 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 24 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 23 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 16 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 0 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Bonifacio (20169)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 41.441277° / E 9.122565°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4255OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Coming from Propriano - Sartène or Porto Vecchio - Figari, head towards Bonifacio. When you reach Bocca di a Testa, continue on the T40 towards Bonifacio and park on the right-hand side of the road about 3 km further on, just after the Ventilegne bridge that separates the sea from the lagoon.
Leave the space in front of the coastal sign for the Corsica Kiteboarding club truck.

(S/E) Cross the bridge again towards Figari.

(1) Take the first gravel path on the left side of the road. A sign welcomes you at a small wall. Continue along the path, which quickly leads to the Gulf of Ventilegne.
Take the path on the left and follow the coastline for about two and a half kilometres until you reach a posidonia dyke blocking a pond. Continue along the path that runs alongside the pond until you reach a long stone wall. Cross it and follow it on the left. After a small mound, you will come to a wooden footbridge.

(2) Cross the footbridge, turn left onto a small path and leave a path on your right that joins the main road leading to the small car parks. Continue along the coastal path through a landscape that alternates between pink sandy beaches, rocks and wind-sculpted scrubland. You will reach a small hill, behind which lies the Pisciu Cane pond, the end point of this hike.

(3) Return by the same route, which is far from monotonous or tedious thanks to the many magnificent views and, for those interested in flora, the large number of different botanical species.

(1) Be careful here on the return to the T40: vehicles drive very fast on this straight section of road and the return to civilisation can be dangerous. Cross the Ventilegne bridge again to reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Car park at Pont de Ventilegne on the Bonifacio side.
  2. 1 : km 0.28 - alt. 6 m - Crossroads bridge
  3. 2 : km 2.78 - alt. 3 m - End of the footbridge
  4. 3 : km 4.8 - alt. 8 m - Pisciu Cane Pond
  5. S/E : km 9.66 - alt. 2 m - Car park at Pont de Ventilegne on the Bonifacio side.

Notes

There are no water sources, shelters or anything else along the route. Just nature.
The trails are mostly sandy and very pleasant, but the length requires good, suitable footwear.

Worth a visit

(3) Note about this place: the Pisciu Cane pond (dog's piss) is also isolated from the sea by a dyke of posidonia brought in by the wind, storms and sea currents. It is possible to cross the pond on this posidonia dyke and find the coastal path continuing on the other side.Retrace your steps among the rockroses, myrtles, mastic trees and oleasters. In spring, flowers invade the scrubland and the seashore, creating a magical display of colour. Among the rockroses, you may be lucky enough to see red and yellow cytinets. These magnificent inflorescences parasitise the roots of Montpellier rockroses.
Between (S/E) and (3) Enjoy the panoramic views of the coastline and the sea with Sardinia in the background. There is a wide variety of plants, flowers and shrubs all along the way. You may see a few small tree frogs near the pond. And of course, there are beautiful beaches and small coves with red rocks and pink sand against a backdrop of turquoise sea.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 9 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Jacques Pouzet
Jacques Pouzet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, mostly along the coast

Machine-translated

Annie27
Annie27

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 17, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A little over three hours' walk along the coast towards the Gulf of Ventilegne. A small pond blocked by a dam of Posidonia seaweed, a long stone wall, a wooden footbridge and then pretty little coves with very few visitors, with white or pink sand depending on the rock and crystal-clear waters. A hike without any particular difficulties, accessible to all. Best done in the morning as it is very sunny.

Machine-translated

JacquesWaller
JacquesWaller

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 18, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

start by finding a staircase that descends into the undergrowth after the bridge, then no problem. Longer than we thought
very similar to the coastal path in Figari Bay, but not quite as good as there is no loop and fewer rocks (there is a fragrant pond instead). Very pleasant nonetheless. Not much shade. 2 hours 45 minutes without going all the way to the end

Machine-translated

marix65
marix65

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It was a beautiful, easy hike. Thank you!!!

Machine-translated

charpenel
charpenel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike, very close to the sea, sometimes with large sandy beaches, a bit like in the Vendée!
And best of all, there's no one else on these beaches, just you, the sea as far as the eye can see, sand and sunshine!
The landscapes are varied, and the wetlands must be beautiful in spring. Definitely worth doing again.

Machine-translated

amaud
amaud
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

interesting to see beaches along the route with few people

Machine-translated

François QUILICHINI
François QUILICHINI

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 16, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A splendid walk, as usual in Corsica.
Swimming in the sea in mid-October!
Thanks to Visorando for getting us back on track when we took a wrong turn down a hunting trail.

Machine-translated

savaryj
savaryj

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Short, easy hike with beautiful, varied landscapes: coastal path and crossing of wetlands.

Machine-translated

caouec
caouec

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 07, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route with varied views
small, pleasant coves for swimming
birds in the pond area
Best done early in the morning due to the heat

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.