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Saint-Florent harbour, yachts and the hills around the gulf
Saint-Florent and the Balagne

Where to stay near the Agriates Desert: Saint-Florent, Patrimonio, L'Île-Rousse

Updated · Independent guide, sourced information

Saint-Florent, the most practical base for the Agriates. Photo: Gzen92, CC BY-SA 4.0

To visit the Agriates Desert as a day trip, the best area is Saint-Florent: the Lotu shuttles leave from the harbour and the hamlet of Casta, where the 4x4s for Saleccia start, is 15 minutes away. Patrimonio, 10 minutes away, has places to stay among the vines. If you are heading for the Ostriconi and the catamarans, L'Île-Rousse is 24 minutes from the beach. To sleep in the Agriates themselves, there are only the Saleccia campsite and the Ghignu huts.

Key facts

  • Saint-Florent: shuttles at the harbour, Casta 15 min away; the most practical base.
  • Patrimonio: 10 min from Saint-Florent, in the middle of the vineyard.
  • L'Île-Rousse: 24 min from the Ostriconi, catamarans to the Agriates.
  • In the Agriates: U Paradisu campsite at Saleccia, Ghignu huts; wild camping banned.

The right area for your plans

Area For Useful distances
Saint-Florent Lotu, Saleccia, the path from Roya shuttles at the harbour, Casta 15 min, Bastia 31 min
Patrimonio vineyard, peace and quiet, Saint-Florent next door Saint-Florent 10 min
L’Île-Rousse the Ostriconi, catamarans, Balagne Ostriconi 24 min, Saint-Florent 53 min
Calvi Scandola, jeeps to the Agriates Ostriconi 50 min, airport 8 km
In the Agriates hikers Saleccia campsite, Ghignu huts

Driving times: OSRM on OpenStreetMap.

Saint-Florent harbour at sunset, boats and houses
Saint-Florent, a short walk from the shuttles. Photo: Ruthven, CC0

Saint-Florent

This is the most practical base: you walk to the harbour for the Lotu shuttle and drive to Casta in 15 minutes for the Saleccia 4x4. The town has restaurants and shops for your picnic. See things to do in Saint-Florent.

Patrimonio

Ten minutes away, the village sits in the middle of the AOC: a good choice if you want to combine beaches and the vineyard.

L’Île-Rousse and Calvi

If your plans lean towards the Balagne, the Ostriconi and the Agriates catamarans are on that side. See L’Île-Rousse and Calvi.

In the Agriates

Hikers on the coastal path sleep at the U Paradisu campsite and the Ghignu huts. See camping and huts.

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Things to do from your base

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Frequently asked questions

Which town is best for visiting the Agriates?

Saint-Florent for Lotu and Saleccia: the shuttles leave from the harbour and the Casta 4x4s are 15 minutes away. L'Île-Rousse for the Ostriconi and the Balagne.

Can you sleep in the Agriates Desert?

Only at the U Paradisu campsite near Saleccia and at the Ghignu huts. See camping and huts.

Sources

Information checked against the sources below. Shuttles, tracks and prices change: confirm before you go.

Keep exploring

More to see

Dirt path between trees leading to an old shepherds' hut in the Agriates
Exploring the desert

Camping and huts

Where you can spend the night in the Agriates, and why wild camping is banned.

 Saint-Florent harbour, pleasure boats and village houses
Saint-Florent and the Balagne

Saint-Florent

The harbour, the citadel, the Nebbiu cathedral, Roya beach, the Mortella, and trips by sea or by air.

 The Patrimonio wine plain, the church and the Nebbiu mountains
Saint-Florent and the Balagne

Patrimonio

The Patrimonio AOC: seven villages, nielluccio and vermentinu, 36 winegrowers, 10 minutes from Saint-Florent.

 Calvi harbour, its boats and the citadel on its rock
Saint-Florent and the Balagne

L'Île-Rousse and Calvi

The two Balagne towns where catamarans and jeeps leave for the Agriates, and what to do there.

 Bastia's old harbour, its colourful façades and boats
Saint-Florent and the Balagne

Getting to Corsica

Bastia and Calvi airports, Bastia and L'Île-Rousse ferry ports, car hire and driving times.

 A dirt track lined with scrub and an information board in the Agriates
Exploring the desert

Getting there

Shuttle boats from Saint-Florent, 4x4 from Casta, the coastal path: the three ways in, their prices and their limits.