.JPG)
Location and travel: three mistakes
1. Thinking Arzachena town is on the coast: the centre is inland, while Cannigione and Porto Cervo are coastal localities in its territory. Check the accommodation address. 2. Booking by area name without placing the property on a map: being in the same broad region does not mean you can walk between places. 3. Combining distant beaches in one day: traffic, parking and access can turn a list into hours in the car.
Avoid these by planning one main area per day and checking connections from your exact address. If you expect to use public transport, check routes and times with the operator for your dates; an old tourism page is not a current timetable. Keep a nearby alternative beach rather than one that requires another long drive.
Beaches and rules: four mistakes
4. Assuming beach clubs and rentals operate outside peak summer: ask the operator about your date. 5. Assuming every beach has unrestricted access: Le Piscine, for example, has seasonal municipal responsible-access rules. 6. Confusing an entry ticket, parking and a Park permit: they are separate things. 7. Treating Cala Coticcio or Cala Brigantina as freely accessible: a land visit requires an environmental hiking guide and compliance with official procedures.
Check with the authority responsible before setting out and reread rules for your visit date. A photo, review or old article cannot establish current access. Do not plan landings or activities in integral-protection areas; follow Park directions and restrictions. If rules or weather change, switch to an allowed alternative.
Opening times and budget: two mistakes
8. Building the itinerary from hours copied from an old blog: museums, sites and transport update their schedules and may operate seasonally. 9. Budgeting without separating accommodation, travel, parking, tickets, excursions and meals. A municipal parking rate published for 2026 does not automatically apply the following year; activity costs and services may vary too.
Open the official page for the exact place, note its date and what the price includes, then ask the operator if anything is unclear. For boat activities, ask what the quote covers and which permissions are needed. A plan that marks some costs ‘to confirm’ is more useful than a precise total built on outdated figures.
The final mistake: filling every day
10. Treating every online recommendation as essential and forgetting breaks, weather and what your group wants. Choose one or two priorities a day, prepare a nearby alternative and leave time to pause. Check forecasts, notices and access on the day: wind and a beach’s name do not guarantee safe conditions.
Before departure, review bookings, your accommodation address, routes and what you actually need to pack. Holiday homes are not all by the sea, so plan travel realistically. If an activity is regulated, book through the operator named in the rules. If it is not confirmed, do not make the entire trip depend on it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common first-time mistake in Gallura?
Assuming that places which look close on a map are walkable or fit into one day. Mark your accommodation, beaches and visits on a map and group realistic stops together.
How can I check if a beach requires booking?
Check the municipality or Park responsible for the area for your visit date and follow its stated process. A general article or earlier review does not confirm the current rule.
Can I visit Cala Coticcio without a guide?
A land visit requires an environmental hiking guide under the Park’s rules. Check the official procedure and book before planning the day.