Bonjour! Time to download your favorite language app, because we’re going to France! More accurately, we’re going to the island of Corsica, France’s Mediterranean jewel. Known as L’Île de Beauté, Corsica lives up to its name as the Isle of Beauty with its glimmering coastlines, lush terrain, rock formations and jagged mountaintop summits.
Looking at the high mountain ridgelines from the sapphire sea, it may be obvious that hiking is a go-to pastime in Corsica, but knowing more about the landscape, the island’s rich history, the best time to visit, and what you can do when you’re winding down might help you make a decision about when to book your trip to this beautiful French island.
Hiking Trails from Beaches to Mountains (and Back Again)
Corsica is a hiking paradise, with trails that take you from balmy beaches to rugged mountain summits. Perhaps one of the most famous hiking routes in the Corsican mountains is the Mare e Monti, or “the sea and the mountains,” a trail that links high mountain passes to coastal vistas in the Northwest corner of the island. Take a dip in blue bays, camp on white-sand beaches and explore remnants of ancient ruins along the way. Traditionally a 125 km trek (approximately 77 miles), many visitors opt to do only a portion of this hiking trail.
The challenging GR20 trail is another popular trail for long-distance trekking. Spanning over 112 miles of jagged high mountain trails, many hikers take anywhere from ten to 16 days to complete this trail. Hikers often encounter mouflon (a horned sheep species native to Corsica), wild boar and free-roaming cows on the trail. Similarly to the Mare e Monti trail, many visitors opt to complete only sections of this trail as day hikes on their first trip to Corsica.
For people who want to hike on vacation but don’t want hiking to be their entire vacation, we suggest checking out day hikes around Cap Corse and along the banks of Pietracorbara. If you find yourself in Pietracorbara, make sure to make your way to Pont Genois Guadubughjj, a beautiful Genoese arched bridge tucked into a bucolic glade surrounded by lush terrain.
Rich History of the Corsican Mountains
While you’re hiking around this French island, you’re bound to stumble upon remnants of its past. Whether it’s a Roman church or Genoese stone home, these histories are a prominent throughout the island. Perhaps the most common are the tours génoises, or Genoese towers.
These towers were constructed during the 14th to 16th centuries and served as defensive structures against the Barbary pirates. They were built in high-up places along the Corsican coast and nearly cover the perimeter of the entire island. We highly recommend touring one should you visit this island!
Best Time to Visit
If you’re considering a trip to Corsica to check out its hiking routes, you may want to take temperature and crowds into consideration as a starting point. We recommend visiting between May and September.
May and June are great spring/early summer hiking months, when it’s not as hot and the Mediterranean is just beginning to warm up, offering the perfect temperature for a cool dip after a day on the trail in the sun. In September you’ll find the summer heat beginning to fade and the Mediterranean to be quite comfortable for a swim, even on mild days.
Refuel and Wind Down
I recommend capping off a long day hike with a meal made from local ingredients like olive oil, cured meats, and sheep or goat cheese. If you’re looking for additional regional flavors, check out some courses such as zuppa corsa (Corsican soup), civet de sanglier (wild boar ragu), veau aux olives (veal and olive stew) or, my personal favorite, agneau Corse (Corsican lamb). These dishes are available at many restaurants in the historic city of Calvi and others around the island.
In the evenings, kick back and relax at some of Europe’s stunning hotels. On our Corsica Hiking and Walking Tour, we stay at some of the island’s finest.
Visit Corsica for Yourself!
If this charming part of France sounds like a great place to have your next adventure, then consider coming with us to the island of Corsica! Our Trip Leaders would love to show you our favorite hiking trails. Until then, au revoir!
