Carchincu and Spano peaks from Lumio

Discover Pointe Carchincu and Pointe Spano as you walk along the coast. There are plenty of opportunities to swim in crystal-clear waters in spectacular locations.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 12.01 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 269 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 269 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 185 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐
    Area: Balagne
  • ⚐ District: Lumio (20260)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 42.58397° / E 8.822491°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 4149OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

The starting point is at the entrance to Camping Monte Orto. You will find parking spaces along the road.

(S/E) Continue along the road heading west. After about 300 metres, turn right down the track.
Pass the first two tracks on the right and continue to the crossroads.

(1) Turn right onto the track.

(2) Pass a path on the right at elevation 73 and arrive at the intersection to go to Pointe Carchincu.

(3) Follow the railway line on your left, cross it quickly and continue on to reach a new intersection.

(4) Continue left to reach Pointe Carchincu.

(5) Enjoy the beaches, rocks and views. Retrace your steps until you reach the previous intersection.

(4) Follow the coastline to the left. There are several possible paths to reach Pointe de Spano.
In any case, follow the coastline to reach it: the Visorando app or a GPS will be very useful.

(6) Photos and swimming possible. Continue to follow the coast along the paths to reach the village of Sant'Ambrogio. As mentioned above, there are several possible paths. In any case, follow the coastline to reach it: the Visorando app or a GPS will be very useful here too.
Along the way, you will see a pretty Genoese tower and all the natural beauty of this coastline.
Leaving the coast, the trail leads to a small cove with a beautiful staircase that will take you to the village houses.

(7) From this point, you will need to follow a section of the route along the road. You will need to be vigilant and pay attention to traffic, even if it is not heavy!
Follow the street to the right. At the T-junction, turn left. After about 100 metres, turn right to reach the tennis courts. Continue along Avenue des Coteaux and stay on this road until you reach the first roundabout. Take the first exit to reach the second roundabout.

(8) Take the first exit, Route de Cocody, towards the railway line.

(9) Cross the level crossing and continue straight ahead. The road gives way to a track that runs alongside the railway line to reach the intersection you passed on the way there.

(3) Turn left.

(2) Turn left and continue along the path that leads to the paved road to Caglia Foscia.

(10) Turn right towards the antennas and continue until you reach a road junction. Take the Monte Orto road on the right and join the (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 177 m - Parking Route de Monte Orto
  2. 1 : km 1.09 - alt. 99 m - Intersection
  3. 2 : km 1.49 - alt. 76 m - Common intersection A/R
  4. 3 : km 1.8 - alt. 38 m - Common intersection A/R
  5. 4 : km 2.59 - alt. 3 m - Pointe Carchincu intersection (round trip)
  6. 5 : km 3.29 - alt. 11 m - Pointe de Carchincu
  7. 6 : km 6.04 - alt. 4 m - Pointe de Spano
  8. 7 : km 7.86 - alt. 26 m - Village entrance, start of paved section
  9. 8 : km 9.08 - alt. 14 m - Roundabout
  10. 9 : km 9.68 - alt. 42 m - Crossing railway tracks
  11. 10 : km 11.49 - alt. 156 m - Tarmac road
  12. S/E : km 12.01 - alt. 177 m - Parking Route de Monte Orto

Notes

This hike starts opposite the Monte Orto campsite with Pointe Carchincu in addition, but it can also be done starting from Algajola.
https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-la-p...
There are no water sources along this hike. Bring plenty of water if you are hiking in hot weather.

Remember to protect yourself from the sun: sunglasses, hat, sun cream and perhaps light but covering clothing in hot weather.
High-top shoes are recommended.

Worth a visit

There will be opportunities to swim throughout this hike. Your smartphone will heat up because you will be taking lots of photos.

Reviews and comments

4.1 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.8 / 5
Route interest
4.1 / 5
Schubetzer
Schubetzer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very well,
From the Genoese Tower, I rejoined the road, as the previous travellers had pointed out that the path was no longer passable beyond that point
But I still think I made the most of this magnificent coastline in October
It's certainly very busy in summer because it's served by a road at each end and in the middle

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Thierry Del
Thierry Del

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I agree with the previous comment! The first part of the walk is very nice and the path is easy to follow.
However, the last part, in the scrubland after the old ruined industrial building, is not very clear on the ground and it is almost impossible to make progress between the vegetation and the rocks, which can be dangerous at the end. We were forced to turn back and return to the industrial building to join a small road that then took us to point 9.
It is worth noting that there is a very nice little restaurant near point 9 called La Pizzeria des Cavaliers. You can enjoy an aperitif or a Corsican dish while watching the villagers play pétanque!

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inconnu qui randonne
inconnu qui randonne

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Hello,

A pleasant and interesting hike with beautiful scenery.

I confirm the previous review. There is no longer a path after the destroyed industrial building (visible on the IGN map) between point 6 (actually 200 metres after the Genoese tower at Punta Spano) and point 7.
To continue the walk, we chose to follow the asphalt road to point 9, where we resumed the described route.

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ROUHIR FJ
ROUHIR FJ
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 16, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

From the Genoese tower, follow the tarmac road and do not follow the route, as access to the village is dangerous and prohibited by a sign that can only be seen from the other side.

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NiniJeff
NiniJeff

Overall rating : 4 / 5

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

We started this hike at point 5, where we parked the car. Beautiful scenery over Algajo Bay, with views of Calvi. We followed the path closest to the sea, as recommended. When we arrived just before point 7 and couldn't find the path to continue, we decided to retrace our steps. We didn't regret it, as the scenery was the same but the colours were even more beautiful than on the way there. It would be a good idea to mark this hike to avoid having to search for the path.

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Jean-My
Jean-My

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

At marker 7 on Spano, there has been runoff and the climb is not easy to find or ascend.
Otherwise, the entire coastline is magnificent.

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Stef3772
Stef3772

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

From the starting point along the campsite to the Genoese tower, this hike is magnificent. Things take a turn for the worse after the Genoese tower, where it is difficult to follow the path, and after the climb back up to the tarmac, it is really uninteresting for a long stretch of tarmac road where you bake under the blazing sun.
Setting off in the morning with 3 litres of water for two was a good option. You can eat at a small restaurant (the only one on the route) called Le Spano. Freshly cooked food.
The end of the route after Le Spano offers nothing more than a stroll to aid digestion.

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patrick55
patrick55

Hello, I don't think that's the opinion of all Corsicans. As someone from the mainland, I really loved the landscape. But anyway, I can easily understand that opinions differ.
Thank you for your opinion, which may be useful to others.
Best regards

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Régis14
Régis14
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Hiking for walking and swimming, as the route and landscape are not particularly remarkable.

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