The hike to Cala Goloritzé starts on the Golgo plateau, in the municipality of Baunei, within the Supramonte of Ogliastra, Sardinia. The trailhead is the car park by the former Su Porteddu rest stop, reached via the road that climbs from Baunei through San Pietro al Golgo. From there, a well-marked path descends roughly 3.5 km over a 470-metre elevation drop, winding through Mediterranean scrub and holm oak, down to the cove. The descent takes about an hour; the return climb is noticeably harder and usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours.
The trail is graded easy to moderate and suits reasonably fit walkers — it isn't recommended for young children or anyone with mobility difficulties. Closed shoes with a good grip, ideally hiking boots, are required, along with at least 2 litres of water per person, especially for the climb back up. Access follows fixed hours: the descent is only allowed between 7:30am and 2pm, and the beach must be left by 5pm, which is why most local operators recommend setting off before 10am.
Since summer 2025, access to the Costa di Baunei within the Gulf of Orosei has been capacity-limited — hikers must book ahead through the "Heart of Sardinia" app or website and validate their ticket at the trailhead. The entrance/parking fee is around €7 per person (2026 pricing), free for children under 6 and for residents of the Baunei municipality. There is no boat pick-up for hikers — anyone who walks down has to walk back up the same trail.
The payoff at the bottom is one of the most photographed coves in Sardinia: turquoise water, white pebbles, and a natural rock arch on the right-hand side of the bay. Near the beach, a freshwater spring also emerges from underground straight into the sea. Rising behind the beach is the Aguglia di Goloritzé, a 143-metre limestone pinnacle that became a sought-after climbing objective after its first ascent in 1981. The cove itself, as it looks today, was shaped by a landslide in 1962. Because of its geological rarity, Goloritzé was declared a Natural Monument of the Region of Sardinia in 1993 and an Italian National Monument in 1995.
The Golgo plateau and the descent to the cove cross typical Supramonte karst country — limestone outcrops, sinkholes and low Mediterranean scrub that offers little shade along the way, one more reason to carry enough water and avoid the hottest hours. According to the Baunei tourist office, the hike can be done year-round, but July and August bring both heavier visitor numbers and more intense sun exposure, making spring and early autumn more comfortable windows for the walk.
Travellers who'd rather not walk can reach the cove by sea from Santa Maria Navarrese, Cala Gonone or Arbatax, though motorboats aren't allowed within roughly 200 metres of the shore. For anyone basing themselves in the area to tackle the hike at a relaxed pace, Hotel Ogliastra in Lotzorai sits within the same administrative region, around 20 km from the Golgo plateau. The route is also one of the best-known legs of the long-distance Selvaggio Blu trek, which runs the length of this stretch of Sardinian coast.
Yes. Since summer 2025, access to the Costa di Baunei has been capacity-limited, and booking must be done through the "Heart of Sardinia" app or website, with the ticket validated at the trailhead.
The descent from the Golgo plateau takes about an hour; the return climb usually takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending on fitness.
No. Anyone who walks down has to walk back up the same trail — there is no boat pick-up at the end of the hike.
It isn't recommended for young children or anyone with mobility difficulties, due to the uneven terrain and the 470-metre elevation change.
Closed shoes with good grip (ideally hiking boots) and at least 2 litres of water per person, especially for the climb back up.
