We spent a day at Plage de Fautea, next to the village of Sainte-Lucie de Porto-Vecchio in the commune of Zonza. We were charmed by this wild, natural setting dominated by a Genoese tower. In fact, you’ll discover 3 stretches of sand surrounded by magnificent scenery, and less crowded than the other beaches in Corse-du-Sud.
In this article, we invite you to discover this place through numerous photos. Here’s our guide to help you plan your visit: map, access, sand, conditions…
This review is completely independent, we visited the area anonymously and paid our bills in full.
Why visit the Plage de Fautea near Porto-Vecchio?
Is the Plage de Fautea (Zonza) worth it?
We strongly recommend that you discover Fautea Beach, as it actually comprises 3 distinct zones. The closest to the town center is the one with the restaurant, the most emblematic is Plage de la tour de Fautea, and the largest is Plage de Lavu Santu. The beach leading to the Genoese tower is the main one.
It is renowned for its fine golden sands, crystal-clear waters and unspoilt natural environment. Juniper trees line the sandy stretch, adding to its Mediterranean charm. It offers a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere, making it an ideal place to unwind, swim and soak up the sun. In fact, we’ve listed it in our article on must-do activities in Corse-du-Sud.
Why choose this beach?
Plage de Fautea is a must-see destination if you want to enjoy a spot of wild swimming in a lovely green setting. Here are the 3 main reasons to go there, in our opinion:
- its Genoese tower: history buffs will love walking up to this edifice overlooking the countryside. Along the way, you’ll enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the sandy expanse below.
- its rugged beauty: natural and unspoilt, its crystal-clear waters and verdant landscape offer an idyllic setting.
- its tranquility: less crowded than other beaches in Corse-du-Sud, it’s ideal for relaxing and soaking up the sun!
Access and map – Plage de Fautea (Zonza) Corse-du-Sud
Where is Fautea Beach?
Plage de Fautea lies to the south of the commune of Fautea and its Genoese tower, and close to the village of Sainte-Lucie de Porto-Vecchio in the commune of Zonza.
Here are approximate driving times from several Corsican towns to Plage de Fautea:
- from Sartène: 1h40,
- from Porto-Vecchio: 30min,
- from Bonifacio: 1h15,
- from Ajaccio: 2h50,
- from Bastia: 2h20.
Here is a map to help you find your way:
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Corsica
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
How to get there – access road
Plage de Fautea comprises 3 separate beaches, but you’ll have to take the same road to reach them. To get there from Porto-Vecchio, take the N198 (also known as the T10) towards Bastia. Just before you reach the village of Fautea, you’ll see the Genoese tower on the right.
We recommend driving slowly once you have the tower in your sights, as parking spaces are located directly along the road. The track is of good quality, as it is a territorial road.
Unfortunately, Plage de Fautea is not accessible by public transport from Porto-Vecchio, unlike the beaches of Palombaggia, Santa Giulia and Pinarello.
Parking de la Plage de Fautea (Arinella di Fautea)
To reach the Plage de la tour de Fautea, park directly along the road on the T10. Parking is available at the end of the path leading to the sandy beach and the Genoese tower.
Alternatively, to get to the beach with Restaurant Le Fautea, which is closer to the town center, you can park in the parking lot reserved for the establishment’s guests. If you don’t want to drink, there’s another parking area on the other side of the road.
Access to the beach from the parking lot
To reach the wilder Plage de la tour de Fautea, follow the path to the right at the crossroads. It will be located 300 meters away. It will also be possible to access the Genoese tower. Allow a 5-minute walk from the crossroads, or 15 minutes from the beach. The climb up to the Genoese tower offers spectacular views of this unspoilt landscape.
You can also continue on to Lavu Santu beach. To do this, we have to cross the Corsican scrubland. While the first 2 Fautea beaches are renowned for their family-friendly atmosphere, this one is more difficult to access.
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On the sand and in the water…practical advice
Best time to visit
The best time of year to visit the Plage de Fautea in Corse-du-Sord depends on individual preferences. However, Corsica’s peak tourist season is between June and September, which means that the beach will be busiest during these periods. However, it is quite wild, as it is far from Corsica’s major cities. You shouldn’t have too much trouble getting there.
Beach type and size
The Fautea beach with the restaurant is rather small, but wide and pleasant. The Plage de la tour de Fautea is wilder, as you have to take a sandy path to reach it. It’s not very big, but the sand is fine and white. We found Posidonia meadows on both.
Note that some Corsican beaches can be covered in seaweed at times. This is essential for their renewal. This can happen to all sand zones, but not at the same time. It’s random.
Lavu Santu Beach is much longer and wider than the other 2.
Conditions for swimming
The Plage de la Tour de Fautea offers gentle slopes and crystal-clear waters. It’s ideal for swimming. However, it’s a wilderness area, so it’s unsupervised. This is also the case for the other 2.
Note that Lavu Santu Beach has a more or less steep slope, depending on winter swells. We do not recommend it for children, as it is more dangerous.
WHERE TO STAY IN South Corsica
Option 1: Around the famous beaches
We recommend..:
- Hotel Mariosa with beach and restaurant – see photos and availability
- Résidence U Pirellu, if you want to be able to cook – see photos and availability
- Hotel L’Alivi Santa Giulia with beautiful views over the bay – see photos and availability
Option 2: in the maquis around Bonifacio
We recommend..:
- Hotel Cala di Greco overlooking the citadel! – see prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel A Cheda with its garden and exceptional restaurant – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Version Maquis Citadelle (5 stars) – see prices, pictures and availability
Option 3: in Bonifacio itself (citadel or marina)
We recommend..:
- Hotel Spa Genovese in the citadel – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Santateresa at the top of the citadel – see prices, pictures and availability
- Hotel Solemare and its swimming pool with view! – see prices, pictures and availability
Option 4: in Propriano
We recommend
- Hotel Aria Marina for convenient apartments with views – see prices, photos and availability
- Hotel Marinca for a little luxury and unforgettable views – see prices, photos and availability
Facilities and activities
Monitoring
The beaches are not supervised.
Showers, toilets, deckchairs…
The 3 beaches have no showers, cabins, toilets or deckchairs. However, you can use the restaurant toilets on the first beach.
Shadow
There are umbrellas on the Plage de Fautea with the restaurant. However, the other 2 beaches, which are wilder, don’t have any shady areas.
Nautical activities
The 3 beaches do not offer water sports activities. However, if you have your own equipment, it’s possible to snorkel along the rocks of Plage de la tour de Fautea.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
EN South Corsica
- Introduction to canyoning at Pulischellu – see photos + availability
- Complete canyoning experience at Pulischellu – see photos + availability
- Via Ferrata near Porto-Vecchio – see photos + availability
- Sea kayaking under the cliffs of Bonifacio – see photos + availability
Catering
The first Plage de Fautea has a restaurant, where you can dine both indoors and outdoors. Restaurant Le Fautea serves homemade Corsican dishes made with fresh produce. The setting is very pleasant, as the establishment faces the sea. There’s also a lounge bar where you can order drinks, ice creams and snacks.
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Information for children, mobility, dogs, naturism…
Fautea Beach with children
The beaches are not supervised, and there are no children’s play areas.
Fautea Beach with a dog
Dogs are not allowed on the beaches.
Fautea Beach with reduced mobility
Unfortunately, there are no facilities for disabled access to Plage de la Tour de Fautea and Plage de Lavu Santu. However, the beach with the restaurant has dedicated parking, and is easier to access.
Fautea Beach and naturism
It is not possible to practice naturism on these beaches.
OUR TIPS FOR RENTING A CAR IN Corsica
- Compare prices on our preferred platform: DiscoverCars – one of the best rated sites.
- Choose a car that is powerful enough (the roads are steep) but compact (some passages are narrow).
- Think of thecomplete insurance (some roads are tortuous and narrow).
- There is a lot of demand, book it early.
What to see on and around the beach
We highly recommend the short hike to the Genoese tower. The climb is fairly fast, and offers magnificent panoramic views over the protected environment of Plage de Fautea. In our photo, you can see the small cove surrounded by lush greenery (magnificent juniper trees).
Once at the top, you can admire the Genoese tower standing proudly in this green setting.
Other beautiful beaches nearby
Around Porto-Vecchio, you’ll have access to other superb stretches of sand. Take a look at our selection of the city’s best beaches.
More generally, Corse-du-Sud abounds in magnificent beaches, which we have listed in a dedicated article. Here’s our selection of favorites:
BEST THINGS TO DO IN Southern Corsica
Discover our articles on the region:
Discover our articles on Bonifacio:
Discover our articles on Porto-Vecchio
