A jagged strip of coastline on the far north-eastern side of the island, the Costa Smeralda is renowned for its stunning beaches and scenes of rare beauty, for the promenades and boutiques in its fascinating towns, for the intense emerald of the sea, and the high quality of its services. These elements make the Costa Smeralda one of the universal symbols of luxury tourism and the summer retreat of the international jet set.
As defined by the Costa Smeralda Consortium, set up in the 1960s to enhance the natural heritage of the area, the boundaries of the Costa Smeralda are limited to a costal stretch belonging to the district of Arzachena. These boundaries, however, generally tend to be extended to include Porto Rotondo, Poltu Quatu, Baja Sardinia and Cannigione.
Located in the traditional village of San Pantaleo, Hotel Arathena is the perfect starting point for exploring the main attractions on the Costa Smeralda.
Costa Smeralda’s most stunning beaches, the area’s most famous nightlife spots, Gallura’s picturesque villages, archaeological sites and areas of natural beauty are all a stone’s throw away from San Pantaleo.
Starting from the typical Sardinian town of Palau in the north, a perfect costal itinerary would take you to Cannigione with its small port and daily boat trips to La Maddalena archipelago, and Baja Sardinia, renowned for its high-quality services and its many restaurants and night spots.
Following the coastline around, visitors will catch a glimpse of the spectacular hidden cove of Poltu Quatu before arriving in Porto Cervo – the beating heart and symbol of the Costa Smeralda.
Continuing on south, the next ports of call are Abbiadori and Cala di Volpe, famous for their breath-taking beaches that only serve to further enhance the beauty of this stretch of coastline. Spectacular headlands and coves lead down to picturesque Porto Rotondo, eventually leading to Portisco and its modern tourist port, just a few kilometres from San Pantaleo.
The scenic route that runs alone the Gulf of Marinella and continues along the Golfo Aranci leads directly to Olbia, gateway to the Costa Smeralda with its port and international airport.
Equally spectacular are trips into the Gallurese countryside, following routes that open up between the granite walls. Don’t miss the many areas of natural interest or the towns of Tempio Pausania, Aggius, Luras and Santa Teresa Gallura.