Costa del Sud
map of Costa del Sud
Baia Chia
Baia Chia comprises several individual coves that line up along the eastern part of the Costa del Sud.
The small cove of “Torre di Chia” roughly marks the eastern end of the Costa del Sud.
The beach is made up of coarse gravel, and there’s a small beach bar as well as rental services for beach chairs and umbrellas.
However, the tranquility depicted in the photo is usually only found in the early hours or outside of the bathing season because there’s a campground behind the small beach.
Overlooking everything is a Saracen tower, built by the Spaniards on the western cape as a watchtower.
A pathway leads up to the tower, offering panoramic views of the entire Baia Chia on clear days.
Directly west of the cape lies Spiaggia Sa Colonia, a beach with almost white sand.
The surroundings of Baia Chia are still largely undeveloped and less touristy compared to the east coast of Sardinia. However, it gets quite crowded here in the summer, as many residents of Cagliari come here to swim.
Behind the beaches are beautiful sand dunes and some stagnos (lagoon lakes), which can partially dry up in the hot summer months.
Parking is prohibited in most areas, and strict enforcement, especially during the peak season, is observed. The official parking lots all require payment.
Further southwest, there are more dream beaches, all part of Baia Chia: Cala del Morto, Spiaggia Campana, and Spiaggia Su Giudeu.
All of them feature bright, fine sand that mercilessly reflects the sun.
They are among the hottest beaches on the island because their southern location exposes them frequently to the African Scirocco winds.
When visiting, make sure to have adequate sun protection and bring along a parasol.
In the right half of the photo, you can see the former lighthouse on Capo Spartivento. It has been transformed into a small, very expensive luxury hotel.
This cape is the southernmost point of Sardinia that visitors are allowed to enter. The southern Capo Teulada is a military restricted area.
Spiaggia di Tuerredda
From the western end of Baia Chia, the SP 71 winds through the hilly landscape north of Capo Spartivento. It’s not until shortly before reaching Spiaggia di Tuerredda that it reconnects with the sea.
The white sandy beach stretches approximately 400 meters amidst a dreamlike setting of stunning blue waters, the adjacent island, and the green slopes in the hinterland.
From the beach, you can swim over to the Isola Tuerredda, which is about 180 meters away.
In the west, the view extends to Capo Malfatano, home to a Spanish Saracen tower.
The Coastal Road
Further along, the SP 71 winds its way along the coast, always staying close to the sea. The road is well-maintained but consists mostly of curves and blind summits. Therefore, a slow and cautious driving approach is advisable.
This stretch is often frequented by many road cyclists who tend to closely follow cars on downhill stretches.
The drive is particularly beautiful in the early morning or late afternoon hours when the landscape is bathed in the soft light of the low sun.
Almost all parking bays with viewpoints are located on the south side of the road, making a drive from west to east ideal for photography outings.
Porto Teulada, Capo Teulada
The small harbor serves as a starting point for boat trips along the coast.
The entire peninsula is a military restricted area where large NATO maneuvers regularly take place—it’s the largest military area in Italy.
However, from mid-June to mid-September, there are no exercises, and during this period, the coast is open to visitors.
However, the hinterland of the peninsula remains closed.
Porto Pino, Is Arenas Biancas
The road initially runs inland, along the fence of the restricted area, and only reaches the vicinity of the coast again on the west side of Capo Teulada.
About 1.5 km east of Sant’Anna Arresi, during the bathing season, a gate to the restricted area opens. From here, you can drive to a paid parking lot at Is Arenas Biancas Beach.
This beach is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Sardinia, with almost snow-white, fine sand, clear water, and towering sand dunes.
While this section is only accessible seasonally, the northern part of the overall 4 km long beach can be visited year-round.
The beach stretches in a wide arc all the way to Porto Pino.