A Guide To Cala Sisine, Sardinia: What To Know To Plan Your Visit

Once known as Portu ‘e Sisine, Cala Sisine is one of the most beautiful beaches on the eastern coast of Sardinia. Historically, this beach was used as landing place for cargos of coal.

Tools found in the area show human presence as early as 4000 years ago. Later on, during World War II, Su Stuggiu (hiding place, in Sardinia) became a perfect hiding spot for boats and submarines.

While none of the coal remains nowadays, shipwrecks have been found along the coast.

What’s important, however, is that the beach is a favorite of locals as well as tourists, surrounded at it is by gorgeous rock formations and with a thick forest of centuries-old carob trees and holm oaks at its back, where you can go in search of shade and cooler air during summer’s hottest days.

The beach isn’t directly accessible by car, but any effort to get there is immediately paid back: this is a truly beautiful place, and if you happen to be holidaying on the eastern coast of Sardinia you shouldn’t miss the chance to go.

Curious to find out more? Continue reading!

Table of Contents

What To Know About Cala Sisine Beach

Cala Sisine Beach

Among the nicest beaches in the Gulf of Orosei, between the mountains of Ogliastra and those of Barbagia, Cala Sisine is located at the end of a ravine – a valley known as Codula Sisine, a river bed that swells with winter rains but completely dries up with the summer heat.

The beach is tucked between the 500-meter (1,640-foot) high cliffs of Serra Ovra and measures 200 meters (656 feet) in length and is around 100-meter-wide (328 feet) at its largest – thus being one of the largest in the area.

This isn’s a sandy beach proper: you will find a mix of sand, pebbles of various sizes and tiny white grains. Water is incredibly transparent but immediately deep.

Despite the lack of proper sand to play with, and the immediately deep water, children love this beach.

At the back of the beach you’ll find a small freshwater pond and a small restaurant called Su Coile, which however isn’t always open.

South of the beach there is another beautiful small cove – you can walk there, but getting there can be quite of an effort. Alternatively, you can get there by boat.

This isn’t an equipped beach so you’ll have to bring anything you may need for the day.

How to get to Cala Sisine

You can’t go all the way to Cala Sisine by car, but if you have a 4X4 vehicle, an old car with high engine (such as an old Fiat Panda, for example) or an SUV you can get quite close to it, and will only have to walk an easy 2 km (1.2 mile) trail.

By car + hike

From the Golgo Plateau, follow the directions to the tiny San Pietro al Golgo church. Before getting there, turn right and follow the dirt road for another 13 km (8 miles). The road is usually quite good, though bumpy.

At the end of it you will find a parking lot where the 2 km (1.2 mile) trail to the beach starts. From there, expect to walk for about 30 minutes before you get to the beach.

On a hike

If your car isn’t suitable to drive all the way to the last parking lot you’ll have to leave it at the first one, where there also is a small kiosk where you can get some refreshment before heading to the beach; and where the challenging trail to Cala Mariolu beach also starts.

From there, it is a 13 km (8 miles) walk mostly downhill along the dirt road, with some parts in the shade.

By Boat

Boats to Cala Sisine and the other beautiful beaches in the Gulf of Orosei depart regularly from Cala Gonone and Santa Maria Navarrese, and you can opt to just stop in Cala Sisine or go on a hop on hop off boat cruise.

Prices for roundtrip rides to Cala Sisine start at €25 in low season and on charter boats. If you opt for a private boat and a hop-on hop-off experience, prices inevitably rise and you can expect to pay €55 per person or more.

You can get tickets directly at the harbor but if you are looking for a private experience you will have to book a week or so in advance.

This boat tour departing from Santa Maria Navarrese stops at many beaches in the area, including Cala Sisine and the gorgeous Cala Mariolu.

Otherwise, you can opt for this boat ride with Tortuga Escursioni that takes you from Santa Maria Navarrese directly to Cala Sisine, with no intermediate stops.

Alternatively, there’s this hop-on hop-off boat tour that departs from Cala Gonone and that stops at all beaches in the Baunei Coast, obviously including Cala Sisine too.

Check out my post The Best Gulf Of Orosei Boat Tour for more boat tour options.

Other useful information

To make the most of your time in Cala Sisine, I’m sharing a few useful tips.

BRING WHAT YOU NEED FOR THE DAY – This is not a serviced beach. There is a kiosk at about 1 km from it, in the forest, but it’s opening times throughout the summer are quite random so you are better off bringing food and water for the day. Make sure to also bring an umbrella, as there is no shade at the beach other than near the formations at its sides.

DON’T TAKE SAND – Or pebbles, stones and shells: it’s forbidden and if you are ever caught with it you’ll be fined. Yes, it’s happened – many times indeed.

TAKE YOUR TRASH BACK WITH YOU – Cala Sisine is not equipped with bins, so you will have to bring any trash you produce back home with you. The same goes for cigarette butts. It’s not ok to drop them in the sand or in the water, ever. In fact, smoking is prohibited in all Sardinian beaches.

THERE’S NO LIFEGUARD ON DUTY – And phone signal is weak. Keep this in mind!

diving in Sardinia, Cala Luna — Cala Luna is one of the most famous beaches in Sardinia

Other nearby beaches

Cala Sisine is located in the Gulf of Orosei, which you may better know as the Baunei Coast, where you will find an incredible amount of gorgeous beaches.

South of Cala Sisine, accessible by boat or on more or less strenuous hikes departing from the Altipiano del Golgo, near Baunei, you will find a few other beautiful beaches – namely:

CALA LUNA – One the most famous beaches on the island, known for being the set of many movies. You can get there by boat or on a hike departing from Cala Fuili, south of Cala Gonone.

CALA BIRIOLA – A small beach characterized by tiny white and pink pebbles and transparent waters. You can get there by boat or – if you want some adrenaline – on a challenging hike that requires abseiling too.

PISCINE DI VENERE (VENUS POOLS) – This isn’t actually a beach, but a stretch of water with pool’s like colors.

CALA MARIOLU – Called Ispuligi de Nie (literally “snow flakes” in Sardinian) because of the tiny white pebbles, it’s the most popular beach in the area. Get there by boat or on a challenging hike.

CALA DEI GABBIANI – Similar to the beaches mentioned above; get there by boat or on a difficult hike.

CALA GOLORITZE’ – Famous for its Pinnacle that is a paradise for rock climbers, it is actually only accessible via a hike departing from the Golgo Plateau – boats can’t anchor there.

Where to stay to easily access Cala Sisine

If you want to take the boat to Cala Sisine, the best access points are Cala Gonone, Dorgali’s seaside town; and Santa Maria Navarrese, which is on the southern site of the Baunei Coast.

If, on the other hand, you intend to hike to Cala Sisine, your best access point is the Golgo Plateau.

The last time I visited Cala Sisine I stayed at the Rifugio Cooperativa Cala Goloritzé, where I have slept many times in the past, but I must say the quality of the service and food has gone down in recent years. You will be better off staying in Santa Maria Navarrese, which is about 30 minutes by car from the Golgo Plateau.