Photo by Cristiano Cani. Very clear beaches, crystal clear sea, fine sand, coves, dunes, cliffs, sea beds, flora and fauna in perfect balance, and let’s not forget the excellent food. You are imagining that you are on the other side of the world
And instead you don’t need to cross the ocean to find all this! Staying in Italy, and precisely in the beautiful Sardinia, we go to the discovery of Porto Pino , a heavenly destination reminiscent of the Caribbean, but in the middle of the Mediterranean.
Where it is and how to get there
Porto Pino is a town in Southern Sardinia, belonging to the municipality of Sant’Anna Arresi. The closest cities are Cagliari and Oristano, even if the latter is still a bit distant. From the cities the best way to reach Porto Pino is certainly by car with a journey of less than two hours, while by public transport you have to reach Carbonia and then change to Porto Pino, taking up to three hours.
- From Cagliari : about 80 km. Travel time by car 1 hour and 24 min (Get directions). Journey time by public transport approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes (By train to Carbonia and then bus to Porto Pino, train ticket € 5.00 + bus ticket € 2.50)
- From Oristano : 159 km. Travel time by car 2 hours (Get directions). Travel time by public transport 4 hours and 40 minutes (By train to Carbonia and then bus to Porto Pino, train ticket € 12.00 + bus ticket € 2.50)
The best beaches of Porto Pino
Imagine the coast of Porto Pino as a half moon. The main beach is very long and is divided into two parts, simply called First Beach and Second Beach. The first is the most popular due to its location near the parking lots, the second is the most impressive due to the presence of the dunes. Subsequently, at the end of the dunes, at the tip of the half moon we find a small beach called Is Arenas Bianca. Furthermore, in the surroundings of Porto Pino, there are other beaches where it is worth spending a day: Porto Pinetto Beach, Spiaggia dei Francesi, Porto su Trigu Beach.
1 – First Beach of Porto Pino
Photo by KS. This first part of the beach is 600 meters long, and is the most popular area despite being less characteristic, as it is the closest beach to the center and the most equipped for tourists. In fact, there are several kiosks, umbrellas, public toilets, and sports equipment rentals for water activities.
- Distance from the center : 550 meters (2 minutes by car and 7 minutes on foot)
- How to get there: On the road to Sant’Anna Arresi, follow the signs for Porto Pino. Get directions
- Type : Compact sand but less white than in other areas
- Admission : Free with the presence of beaches
- Recommended for : Young people and families
2 – Second Beach of Porto Pino
The second part of Porto Pino beach is about 2 km long and is much more natural than the first and definitely more beautiful. It is characterized by white sand reminiscent of the Caribbean, with the presence of shells and coral fragments that make it pink at times. In the last 800 meters, the characteristic sand dunes for which it has become famous extend.
- Distance from the center : 2.5 km (13 minutes by car and 30 minutes on foot)
- How to get there: Arrive at the Prima Spiaggia and turn right onto Via Della Prima Spiaggia, then continue for 2 km. Get directions
- Type : Very fine and very clear sand
- Admission : Free
- Recommended for : Couples and families
3 – Is Arenas Bianca
It is the last of the Porto Pino beaches and begins at the end of the dunes. It is also made up of fine sand sometimes white and sometimes pink, again due to the presence of shells and corals. Getting there, however, is not so fast, in fact it is not possible to continue on the road that led to the Second Beach, but you have to leave Porto Pino and go around the outside.
- Distance from the center : 8 km (19 minutes by car)
- How to get there: From Porto Pino follow the Provincial Road 73 towards Is Pillonis, then follow for Teulada. Get directions
- Type : Thin white and pink sand
- Admission : Free
- Recommended for : Couples and young people
4 – Porto Pinetto beach
It is located in the northern area of ​​Porto Pino, a few km away. This beach is located in an inlet, thus forming a cove, where you can admire a beautiful sunset thanks to its exposure. If you are a lover of coves you cannot miss this beach, one of the most beautiful in Sardinia.
- Distance from the center : 500 meters (2 minutes by car and 12 minutes on foot)
- How to get there: From Porto Pino take Via dei Pescatori and turn right onto Via Porto Pineddu. Get directions
- Type : White and thin sand
- Admission : Free
- Recommended for : Couples, young people and families
5 – Spiaggia dei Francesi
If you are in Porto Pinetto, don’t miss the Spiaggia dei Francesi. It is not very far from there and you can reach it in just 15 minutes on foot along the cliff to the north and through all the coves that follow one another. The characteristic of this beach is that in case of wind it always remains well sheltered with the water always flat.
- Distance from the center : 1,5 km (5 minutes by car)
- How to get there: From Porto Pino reach Porto Pinetto, pass it and turn left onto Via del Pino d’Aleppo, then turn right towards the beach. Get directions
- Type : White and thin sand, presence of rocks and rocks
- Admission : Free
- Recommended for : Couples and young people
6 – Porto su Trigu beach
A little further north of the Spaggia dei Francesi, we meet this other enchanting secluded beach. Porto su Trigu beach is characterized by cliffs that offer diving enthusiasts a rich and varied underwater scenery.
- Distance from the center : 8 km (15 minutes by car)
- How to get there: From Porto Pino take the Provincial Road 73 towards Is Pillonis, on which you will find signs for the beach. Get directions
- Type : White and thin sand, presence of rocks and rocks
- Admission : Free
- Recommended for : Young people and couples
What to see in the town and its surroundings
After having seen in which beaches to spend long and pleasant days, let’s now see what else Porto Pino offers tourists in its surroundings.
1 – Sant’Anna Arresi
First of all we have already said that Porto Pino is part of the municipality of Sant’Anna Arresi, a small town of 2,700 inhabitants a few kilometers from the sea. The town has a modest historic center where you can visit the church of Sant’Anna, and all the small shops that could be useful.
- How to get there: Sant’Anna Arresi is 6 km from Porto Pino. By bus 819 you can reach the town in just 3 minutes at a cost of € 1.30, but the rides are infrequent. By car, follow Via Is Pillonis, then take the SS 195 to the town. Get directions
- Information : Bus tickets can be purchased at automatic vending machines near the stops, from authorized resellers by consulting the ARST website, or online via the DropTicket application.
2 – Sant’Antioco
Photo by Roberto Ferrari. It is a village on the island of Sant’Antioco of the same name , which is located near Porto Pino but a little further away and even larger than Sant’Anna Arresi. It can be reached by car in less than half an hour and the main attraction of this town are the boat trips, which will take you to the nearby island of San Pietro to admire along the way the great columns of cliffs that sprout in the middle of the sea. .
- How to get there: From Porto Pino follow the Provincial Road 73 towards Is Pillonis for about 9 km, then turn left and enter Statale 195 Sulcitana from which exit at Tratalias / S.Antioco, finally turn left onto Via Nuova and from there follow the signs for the town. Get directions
- Information : The town can also be reached by bus, but it takes almost 1 hour and a half and you have to make two changes. The lines to take are the 816 to San Giovanni Suergiu, and then the 827 to the destination. Tickets both cost € 2.50 and can be purchased from authorized resellers found on the ARST website, or online with the DropTicket application.
3 – Teulada
Photo of Efisi. It is another village near Porto Pino, which is about 20 minutes by car. This small town is rich in history, culture and eighteenth-century architecture. You can visit the Church, the Sanjust Baronial House, military structures, sculptural monuments and about 70 nuraghi which testify to the presence, in that area, of the ancient Nuragic civilization.
- How to get there: From Porto Pino take Via Is Pillonis and continue for 5 km, then turn right onto Strada 195 Sulcitana and after 8 km turn left for Teulada. Get directions
- Information : The only way to reach the town is by car, as there are no buses connecting Porto Pino to Teulada.
4 – The ponds of Porto Pino
Behind the beaches of Porto Pino extend its ponds, or rather those humid environments that make this locality characteristic. The ponds are called Stagno di Porto Pino, Stagno Brebeis, Stagno Maestrale, Stagno Foxi and Stagno Corvo. The presence of these ponds is decisive for the local ecosystem, as it allows the growth of various plant species and fish and birds, although what attracts the attention of visitors the most is the presence of pink flamingos.
- How to get there: Along Via Is Pillonis you can already see the Mistral Pond. Turning right onto Via Corru Manciu and following it all the way, you will reach a large parking lot. From there you can easily walk to Stagno Foxi and Stagno Corvo. Get directions
5 – Grotta dei Baci
It is a large cave located at the end of the Spiaggia dei Francesi, running along the entire beach and crossing the cliff that appears there. This cave is located along the coast of Punta Sa Bua and is very secluded, thus remaining sheltered from the currents. This favors the ideal environment for scuba diving by offering wonderful underwater sceneries.
- How to get there: From Porto Pino the distance is 1.7 km, and the route to follow is the one to the Spiaggia Dei Francesi, from which you must then walk north. Get directions
6 – Grotte Is Zuddas
Photo of Sémhur. In the surroundings of Porto Pino you cannot miss a visit to these caves of Dolomite rocks and immerse yourself in their magnificent scenery created by the natural formations that you will find inside. You will cross a path that will take you between stalagmites, stalactites and aragonites of 530 million years and you will surely be fascinated.
- How to get there: They are 28 km from Porto Pino but there is no public transport connecting the two areas. By car it takes 30 minutes, following Via Is Pillonis to exit Porto Pino, and taking the Statale 293 di Giba which will take you to your destination. Get directions
- Information : Hours vary according to the seasons, but during the summer months they are open from 10:00 to 12:15 and from 14:30 to 18:00. The ticket can be purchased at the ticket office of the caves at a cost of € 10.00 for adults and € 7.00 for children.
