For the Agriates, you arrive via Bastia or the Balagne. Bastia-Poretta airport, the busiest in northern Corsica with more than 1.5 million passengers in 2025, is 41 minutes from Saint-Florent. Bastia harbour, where ferries from the mainland dock, is 31 minutes away. To the west, Calvi-Sainte-Catherine airport and L'Île-Rousse harbour are closer to the Ostriconi. Once there, a car is essential: there is no practical public transport to Saint-Florent, Casta or the Ostriconi.
Key facts
- Bastia-Poretta airport: 34 km and 41 min from Saint-Florent; Air France and Air Corsica all year.
- Calvi-Sainte-Catherine airport: 68 km and 1 h 17 from Saint-Florent, 47 min from the Ostriconi.
- Ferries: Bastia harbour (31 min from Saint-Florent) or L'Île-Rousse (Marseille, Toulon, Nice).
- Car hire at Bastia airport; no DiscoverCars page for Calvi in November 2026.
Ways in
| Arrival | To Saint-Florent | To Casta | To the Ostriconi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastia-Poretta airport | 34 km, 41 min | 43 km, 49 min | 63 km, 1 h 11 |
| Bastia harbour | 23 km, 31 min | ||
| Calvi-Sainte-Catherine airport | 68 km, 1 h 17 | 55 km, 1 h 02 | 36 km, 47 min |
| L’Île-Rousse harbour | 46 km, 53 min | 34 km, 38 min | 14 km, 24 min |
Driving times: OSRM on OpenStreetMap.
By air
Bastia-Poretta is 16 km south of Bastia. It handled 1,532,265 passengers in 2025. Air France and Air Corsica fly there all year; many other routes (Lyon, Bordeaux, London, Geneva, German cities) only operate in season. Calvi-Sainte-Catherine, 8 km from Calvi, handled 399,349 passengers in 2025, with year-round flights to Paris-Orly, Nice and Marseille with Air Corsica, and seasonal routes.
By ferry
Bastia harbour, where ferries from the mainland dock, is the closest to Saint-Florent: 31 minutes by road. L’Île-Rousse, the island’s third port, is served by Corsica Linea from Marseille and by Corsica Ferries from Toulon and Nice: handy if you bring your car to the Balagne side.
The car
You can hire at Bastia airport, where DiscoverCars compares the rental companies. In November 2026, DiscoverCars had no page for Calvi airport. Important: hire contracts generally exclude unpaved tracks, and the Corsican regional authority requires an off-road vehicle on the Agriates tracks. Park in Saint-Florent or Casta and continue by shuttle or 4x4.
Book a trip
Once you are there
From Calvi: Agriate Guided Jeep Tour to Lotu and Saleccia9 hours★ 4.6 (213 reviews)from €110Check availability
L'Île-Rousse, Corsica: catamaran day trip in the Agriates Desert7 hours★ 4.9 (133 reviews)from €165Check availability
Calvi: Guided visit by comfort boat to Scandola and Girolata 6 hours or 4.5 hours4.5 - 6 hours★ 4.7 (184 reviews)from €80Check availability
"From" prices checked on 9 November 2026 and may have changed.
Affiliate links: DesertDesAgriates.com earns a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. "Show live prices" loads the GetYourGuide module, which sets its own cookies (learn more (in French)).
Frequently asked questions
Which airport for the Agriates Desert?
Bastia-Poretta for Saint-Florent, Lotu and Saleccia (41 min from Saint-Florent). Calvi-Sainte-Catherine if you are staying in the Balagne or heading for the Ostriconi (47 min).
Do you need a car to visit the Agriates?
To reach Saint-Florent, Casta or the Ostriconi, in practice yes. But not to get into the Agriates: you go by shuttle boat, 4x4 with driver or on foot. A hire car should not be taken on the tracks.
Sources
Information checked against the sources below. Shuttles, tracks and prices change: confirm before you go.
- Wikipedia, Bastia-Poretta airport: traffic, routes (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia, Calvi-Sainte-Catherine airport (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- Wikipedia, L'Île-Rousse: port, ferry companies (in French), accessed 9 November 2026
- OSRM on OpenStreetMap, driving times, accessed 9 November 2026
