Cala Beach in Marciana Marina, Elba Island

Cala Beach, Marciana Marina, Elba Island

Emerald and crystal-clear sea on a small wild beach

The charming Cala beach is located on the north-western side of Elba Island, near the locality of the same name, between Marciana Marina and Sant’Andrea.

It is a beautiful wild beach, set in one of the greenest stretches of coast on the island, where nature still reigns undisturbed.

Overall, it is about 60 metres long and is divided into two parts by a cluster of large boulders. The area best suited for swimming is the one on the right when looking at the sea, made up of medium-small gravel in various colours, fairly comfortable for lying down and sunbathing. In this part of the beach it is also possible to find posidonia and small pieces of driftwood, natural elements brought in by the sea that contribute to the wild and little altered character of the place.

The left-hand side, beyond the large stones, is instead more shaded and less uniform in its composition, although there are still some spaces where you can lie down. There are also several spots on the rocks, appreciated by those who prefer sunbathing on the stones.

The beach is surrounded by lush vegetation of medium-height trees which, in some stretches, reaches almost down to the sea, helping to create a cool, secluded setting with a wild charm.

The sea, with its turquoise and emerald shades, is crystal clear and extraordinarily transparent. The seabed slopes gradually and is ideal for swimming, bathing and underwater activities. Access to the water, however, is not very easy, as the stones are quite large in the first stretch.

Cala beach is generally very peaceful, even in the height of the summer season, because it is not immediately easy to find or particularly simple to reach. It is therefore an ideal destination for those looking for silence, nature and relaxation away from the busiest beaches. It offers no services.

Being exposed to the open sea, it is particularly affected by northern winds.

Not far from Cala beach there is another enchanting inlet: Caletta beach, accessible only by sea, as the land accesses are private.

How to get to Cala beach

There are two ways to reach Cala beach, both of them scenic.

The first, longer route starts from Marciana Marina. Follow by car the road that climbs behind Fenicia beach and, at the end of the paved road, leave the car in the few available spaces. Walking back, near a hairpin bend, take the path marked by the National Park with number 150, which runs beneath a holm oak wood and crosses old terraces once cultivated with vines. The walking route is just under 1 km long and is of medium difficulty.
To go down to the beach, turn right when you meet the B1 waymarker post of the Via dell’Essenza, with the indication “La Via dei Lentischi”.

The second option starts from the locality of Maciarello, where it is possible to leave the car in a small area with about fifteen spaces available. From here, a rather demanding path, due to the steep slopes and some slippery sections, descends towards the beach through vineyards, old cellars and large trees that make the route almost entirely shaded. The route is about 550 metres long and takes approximately 20 minutes.
When you reach the bottom of the valley, where a small stream always flows, you need to climb back up the path (indicated by an arrow on the ground), follow along some houses and a beautiful rosemary hedge, then descend on the left when you reach the B1 waymarker post of the Via dell’Essenza, with the indication “La Via dei Lentischi”.