Woke early this morning for the 3 hr boat trip to explore the Reserve Naturelle de Scandola and the Calanche de Piana (Caves of Capo Rosso) - calanche is Corsican for inlet - in the semi rigid 600HP inflatable which gets you right inside the numerous caves. There are plenty of companies all offering the same tour options - so I chose the one outside my hotel. The amazing coastline and caves were well worth the E50 cost. They say that this boat trip is the most beautiful excursion by sea in Corsica, I tend to agree. The ochre red cliffs rise to almost 400m and the sea is crystal clear. In one cave, called Lovers Cave, the skipper put on some romantic music as we drifted around (pretty funny really!)
After going into and around the rock formations we then buzzed across the gulf to the Scandola nature reserve with loud music blaring. You can only see this area by boat. The place was spectacular - very Jurassic park like, with weird and varied red granite shapes and coves formed by the ancient volcanoes that date back to the Palaeozoic era. I thought it was a little disappointing that someone has decided to put signs up everywhere telling you you were in the Nature Reserve! Saw a few nesting osprey's which is amazing as there were only 4 nesting couples left of the whole population in the 70's. The geology of this area is incredible so no wonder it's a UNESCO Heritage area. I'm glad I did this trip early morning because as I write this now the seas have turned into quite a nasty swell. My final day in Corsica tomorrow.
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