Terre Sacrée Beach and Pointe de la Parata

A walk between the sea and the maquis to the Genoese tower of La Parata, with a superb view of the Sanguinaires Islands.

Details

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Creation:
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Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.59 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: No
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 172 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 174 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 97 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Ajaccio (20090|20000)
  • ⚑
    Start: N 41.910863° / E 8.644329°
  • ⚑
    End: N 41.901711° / E 8.619238°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4153OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from the roundabout at the junction of the D111 and the D111b.

(S) Take the D111b road towards Capo di Feno. At the top of the hill, leave the road and take the path on the left, marked with a yellow rectangle. Continue to a crossroads.

(1) Turn left and then immediately right. Do not go down to the left. The (correct) path descends towards the valley (often dry).

(2) Go back up and go around the hill on the left at elevation 134. Go through another gully, which is also often dry.

(3) At the crossroads, go up to the right until you reach the crossroads (do not go down the path marked with a yellow cross). Cross another valley and head south.

(4) Go up to the right (do not go down). Cross another gully and continue to a small road.

(5) Cross the road leading to the semaphore and continue to the paved road near the car park. Cross this road and go up to the orientation table.

(6) Continue along the path to the south-west and go around the hill on the right. Continue to the Pointe and the Tour de la Parata.

(7) Set off again, going around the two hills on the peninsula on your right. Follow the Route des Sanguinaires to the car park (S/E) near a chapel.

Waypoints

  1. S : km 0 - alt. 8 m - Roundabout at the junction of the D111 and the D111b
  2. 1 : km 0.86 - alt. 56 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 0.99 - alt. 35 m - Talweg / change of slope
  4. 3 : km 2.09 - alt. 69 m - Frati
  5. 4 : km 2.58 - alt. 38 m - At the crossroads, go up to the right
  6. 5 : km 2.94 - alt. 54 m - Private road to cross
  7. 6 : km 3.92 - alt. 24 m - Orientation table
  8. 7 : km 5.22 - alt. 12 m - Pointe de la Parata
  9. E : km 6.59 - alt. 4 m - Parking near the Parata Chapel

Notes

Despite the summery appearance of the area, it is essential to wear good walking shoes. The path is steep and rocky and some sections, although not difficult, are quite steep.
We split the route in two to enjoy the area and go swimming. The first part goes to (6) and back to the car park, and the second part starts at (6).
Please note that bus no. 5 from Ajaccio centre serves both the starting point and the car park at the end of the route.

Worth a visit

View of the Sanguinaires Islands (7)

From the orientation table (6), the path follows a "Sentier des Senteurs" (Scent Trail) illustrating the local flora.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 30 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
PHLNT72
PHLNT72

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Beautiful hike near the Sanguinaires - Bring your swimsuit for a dip on the way back from the beach near the car park!

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AlainD42
AlainD42

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike near AJACCIO, presenting no particular difficulties and very little traffic at the end of September

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Stéphane J1.
Stéphane J1.

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Returning to the starting point, the hike is 9 km long
A pleasant hike with a wide, well-marked trail and beautiful views.

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monile
monile
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in very hot weather. It's a shame it isn't longer because the scenery is magnificent. We returned to the starting point via the Sanguinaires road, covering a total of around 8 km. Of course, there were quite a few people at La Parata... but that's to be expected.
Thank you for this beautiful route.

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Edmeyzieu
Edmeyzieu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Having done this hike in early May, I think it is less crowded than in summer.

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Dede974
Dede974

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Superb view of the Sanguinaires Islands. Very beautiful route.

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CONRAD
CONRAD

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A wonderful way to discover this magnificent place a little better

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lmrcho49
lmrcho49

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very interesting tour. We chose to park at the car park at the tip. Free parking next to the large pay car park. Spaces available outside the summer season! Loop around the tip then picnic in the small wood near the car park. Then back to the sacred beach via the cliff-top path. Very good.
When you arrive at the sacred beach, send the driver(s) to retrieve the vehicle(s) while the others enjoy the beach.

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JMB CORSE
JMB CORSE

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 03, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant short hike. Perhaps best done clockwise to enjoy the coolness of the scrubland area.
Point 4 could be better signposted.

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Chris 01
Chris 01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Shaved

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Chris 01
Chris 01

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant route through the trees with beautiful views of Ajaccio Bay and the Sanguinaires Islands.

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oponcin
oponcin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

If you go on this hike out of season, the day after a storm
https://youtu.be/XuBziK1y-RM?si=OmSLsp6Q...

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Wendie59
Wendie59

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk with splendid views worthy of postcards, a varied route with some shaded areas and no major difficulties
We did this because we were looking for a short walk to stay in the Ajaccio area
We did it at midday and didn't meet many people
It was certainly hot, but the sea breeze made it bearable
You can walk around the tower at the bottom on the large rocks
Hiking boots are recommended as the different paths make it more practical
No problem starting the hike from the car park, but we finished the loop and understood why those who created it didn't do so: it's about 3 km along an endless road

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Dijola
Dijola

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A pleasant short hike in the sunshine, an easy route with just a few narrow sections.
What's more, the scent of various plants is very pleasant along the way, with magnificent views of the Sanguinaires Islands in the middle.

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angegui
angegui

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 26, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Good hike, but we did a variation by not going between the starting point and point 5. We preferred to go to the antenna to get a nice view of the Parata tower and the islands, then go to the Parata semaphore and the blockhouse. There weren't many people on this part, unlike between point 6 and the finish. GPS is very useful when you lose your bearings.

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