The Agriates Desert

On your camping holiday in Upper Corsica, don’t miss the Agriates Desert

The North Corsica under the Mediterranean sun with paradisiacal panoramas, with its beaches and turquoise waters, its wild creeks and its superb preserved natural spots can only charm tourists from around the world. Among the natural wonders of its territory, we obviously find the Agriates Desert, in the northeast of Corsica, a small hostile and fierce desert that perfectly represents the full extent of Corsican beauty!

Located between Saint-Florent and the Ostriconi Valley, the Agriates Desert offers an almost desert-like expanse of 16,000 hectares and 35 km of coastline. In its wild environment, Mediterranean plants and trees stretch as far as the eye can see, just like the craters and valleys. One can enjoy the view of snow-capped peaks in winter, with the blue sea and Cap Corse in the background. Breathtaking scenery paired with immaculate white sand beaches. Among the most beautiful beaches in Corsica, 2 are located in this region; Lotu beach and Saleccia beach. Expanses of fine sand with turquoise water, making the Agriates Desert one of the most beautiful places in Corsica.

In the Agriates Desert, expect to find:

• A very wild territory: large dry maquis, hills, dusty tracks. It is not a sand desert, but raw nature, sparsely populated.
• Exceptional beaches at the end: especially Saleccia and Lotu, white sand and turquoise water, “end of the world” vibe. Discover what the most beautiful beaches in Corsica are!
• Very few services: almost no shade outside of pine forests, few or no water points, no shops. You need to bring everything.
• Often adventurous access: either by boat, or via a bumpy 4×4 track, or on foot for hikers.
• Strong heat and sun in summer: arid terrain, glare, and possible crowds on the beaches in July-August.
• Silence and disconnection: irregular mobile network, just the sea, the wind, and the maquis.

In short: a day of “total nature” + dream swimming, but in autonomy.

While you will find some of the island’s most beautiful beaches, incredible views, and preserved Corsican maquis, the Agriates Desert will reveal its most secret treasures in different ways: on foot, by bike, in a 4×4, or by boat.

However, the simplest way to reach this area remains by boat, with regular departures on small shuttles departing from Saint-Florent. You will also have the option to reach the Agriates desert by 4×4 for a more sporty excursion.

For the Agriates, plan for a completely autonomous outing: it is mainly accessed by boat from Saint-Florent (20–30 min, seasonal shuttles to be booked early) or via the long and rocky track from Casta, which is bumpy and requires slow driving (allow 45 min to 1h+ depending on the vehicle, SUV/4×4 recommended). There are very few services on site, almost no shade, and no reliable water source, so bring at least 1.5–2 L of water per person, a picnic, sun protection, and good shoes if you walk. The best times are May-June and September; in July-August it’s beautiful but hot and more crowded, and the mobile network can be irregular.

For that, nothing could be simpler, choose a Corsican campsite from the independent group Corsica Camping to enjoy an accommodation mode authentic, friendly, and deeply rooted in the territory, where every stay supports a vibrant and preserved Corsica.