Spiaggia Rosa — Isola Budelli
Cala di Roto · Budelli pink beach
41°16.7'N 009°21.5'E
Depth
4–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
No alarm radius applies at Spiaggia Rosa itself — you cannot stop there. For the permitted day anchorages on Budelli's west side, 80m suits 5–10m at 4:1 scope on sand. The relevant number at Budelli is not a radius but a boundary: a boat that drags into Zone A is an enforcement problem as well as a grounding risk, which is a good reason to set a tight alarm on the west side rather than a generous one.
About This Anchorage
Spiaggia Rosa on Budelli is the most famous beach in Sardinia and one you are not allowed to set foot on. Its pink sand comes from the eroded shells of Miniacina miniacea, a foraminifer that lives on the Posidonia meadows offshore and washes ashore when it dies — a mechanism delicate enough that decades of visitors filling bottles measurably faded the colour. The beach and its cove, Cala di Roto, were declared Zone A of the La Maddalena National Park in 1994: total protection, no landing, no swimming, no anchoring, boats outside the marked line. For thirty-two years the island's only resident was Mauro Morandi, the self-appointed custodian who lived alone on Budelli until he was moved off in 2021. The correct way to see it from a yacht is to pass slowly offshore, then take the permitted day anchorage on the west side or a buoy in Porto della Madonna a mile north — which is where you would want to sleep anyway.
Protected From
E · NE · SE
Exposed To
W · NW · SW
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- No anchoring at Spiaggia Rosa. Free day anchoring on sand in the permitted Zone B areas of Budelli with a valid permit.
- Maximum stay
- 1 days
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- La Maddalena National Park permit required for all vessels. Buy online at lamaddalenapark.it before you sail; fees scale with LOA and sailing yachts receive a discount.
Restrictions: ZONE A (riserva integrale) at Spiaggia Rosa / Cala di Roto: no entry, no landing, no swimming, no anchoring — stay outside the marked boundary. Enforced by park wardens and the Guardia Costiera; fines are substantial. Elsewhere on Budelli, Zone B rules apply: day anchoring on sand only, Posidonia protected, no night anchoring outside designated buoys.
Hazards
- !Zone A boundary: the single biggest risk here is regulatory — drifting or anchoring inside the marked line brings an immediate and substantial fine
- !Shallow rocky shelf between Budelli and Razzoli: the Passo dei Monaci carries little water and is unforgiving — use the charted route into Porto della Madonna
- !Open to the E and NE at Cala di Roto, to the W on the permitted side: no single spot at Budelli is all-weather
- !Heavy excursion traffic: the pink beach is on every tripper-boat itinerary and the water off it is crowded from mid-morning
Skipper's Tips
- →Do not plan to swim ashore 'just briefly' — this is the most watched stretch of water in the archipelago
- →Pass at slow speed along the Zone A boundary for the view, then anchor legally on the west side or take a Porto della Madonna buoy
- →Late afternoon light turns the sand its deepest colour and the excursion boats have gone
- →The Passo dei Monaci between Budelli and Razzoli is shallow and best left to local knowledge — enter Porto della Madonna from the charted side
Facilities
Nearest provisions: La Maddalena town (8nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, September, October
May–October for the passage; the Zone A restriction applies year-round with no seasonal relaxation. June and September give the clearest water and the fewest excursion boats.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
In Sardinia, the Maestrale can build from calm to Force 8 while you sleep. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — alerting you the moment your anchor starts to drag.
Download Free for iOS