Walk down to the sand
A short path leads from the old main road to the beach.
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Plage de l'Ostriconi
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One of 178 Things to Do in France
In short
At the mouth of the Ostriconi river in Palasca, north-west Corsica, about 15 km from L'Île-Rousse, this wild sandy beach is backed by dunes and wetland and marks the western edge of the Désert des Agriates. There are no facilities, so carry everything in. Access is free at all times, with lifeguards only in summer. Walkers and nature lovers spend half a day.
Plage de l'Ostriconi is a wild sandy beach at the mouth of the Ostriconi river in Palasca, north-west Corsica, about 15 km from L'Île-Rousse on the road toward Bastia. It suits walkers and nature lovers who are happy with no facilities, and it marks the western edge of the Désert des Agriates.
Dunes, river and the Agriates
The beach fills the Anse de Peraiola, where the Ostriconi river meets the sea. Behind the sand lie dunes and a river wetland, and the whole site, about 373 hectares, is classed as a natural area of ecological interest (ZNIEFF type I). Nothing is built on the beach. The river valley marks the start of the Agriates, a roadless area of 15,000 to 16,000 hectares that stretches east to Saint-Florent. The Ostriconi tower stands about 500 m away at the river mouth.
In winter, when the river mouth is open, crossing it on foot can be difficult.
Sentier des douaniers east to Saleccia and Lotu
The customs officers' path, the sentier des douaniers, starts at the far end of the beach and runs east along the Agriates coast toward Saint-Florent. It passes beaches reachable only on foot or by boat, among them Saleccia and Lotu. The full route takes most of a day, so many walkers do a section and turn back. Carry plenty of water; there is no shade on much of the route.
Big west-facing waves and the summer first-aid post
The bay faces west and catches large waves when the wind blows. Lifeguards watch the water in summer from a first-aid post, and Visit Corsica warns that on windy days the waves can be dangerous for adults and children alike, so follow the post's instructions. Outside the season nobody is on watch.
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Key information
🏖️Beach: Wild beach at the mouth of the Ostriconi river
🌿Protection: Natural area of ecological interest since 1985 (about 373 ha)
📍Location: About 15 km from L'Île-Rousse toward Bastia
🎟️Entry: Free; free parking
💰Currency: Euro (€ EUR)
🕕Time Zone: CET (UTC+1) · CEST (UTC+2) in summer
Explore the area
Ostriconi Tower 0.5 km
Plage de Bodri 13 km
L'Île-Rousse 15 km
Désert des Agriates 2 km
✦
Plan your visit to Plage de l'Ostriconi
Dates, opening hours and how to get there are below. Booking ahead secures your preferred day.
Highlights Include:
Beach
- Dunes and river wetland
- Undeveloped sand
- Ostriconi Tower at the river mouth
Walks
- Start of the customs path along the Agriates
- River and dune walks
What They Offer
Facilities
First-aid post in summer Free parking by the road
Visit duration
Half a day
Timed entry required No
Customs path
The sentier des douaniers starts at the far end and runs east along the Agriates.
Dunes and river
Walk along the dunes and the Ostriconi river behind the beach.
Accessibility
Reached only on foot by a path; not suited to wheelchairs. The path is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Age limits
None
What to pack
Water, food, sun cream; food, water and shade: there is no restaurant or bar on the sand
What to wear
Walking shoes for the path
Not allowed
Walking on protected dunes, fires, camping, littering
Amenities
Seasonal first-aid post; no other services
Tips for visiting Plage de l'Ostriconi
- Check the wind before you go, as waves can be strong.
- Carry everything you need, as there are no shops on the beach.
- Wear sturdy sandals for the footpath down from the road.
- Keep off the dunes and follow the marked paths.
- Combine your visit with a short walk on the coastal path toward the Agriates.
Driving
Follow the T30 from L'Île-Rousse toward Bastia for about 15 km; park free along the verge of the old main road above the bay and take a path down through the scrub, about ten minutes on foot.
Public transportation
No public transport reaches the beach, which is reachable only on foot.
Address
Ostriconi is in the commune of Palasca, on the western edge of the Désert des Agriates in Haute-Corse.
Opening Hours
- MondayOpen 24 hours
- TuesdayOpen 24 hours
- WednesdayOpen 24 hours
- ThursdayOpen 24 hours
- FridayOpen 24 hours
- SaturdayOpen 24 hours
- SundayOpen 24 hours
Last entry: None (open access)
Open all year.
Free access; lifeguards in summer only.
Special events
No special events on record for Plage de l'Ostriconi.
Best times to visit
Morning, before the afternoon heat on the return climb.
Best days to visit
Calm days; waves can be large on windy days.
Best months to visit
June to September for swimming; spring and autumn for walks.
Admission tickets
Entry is free.
Plage de l'Ostriconi: free entry
An undeveloped beach at the edge of the Agriates.
- Free access to the beach
- Free parking
Admission
Free entry: no ticket or booking is needed.
Visitor policy
Cancellation and prepayment
No booking is needed; access is free.
Children and admission
Waves can be dangerous on windy days; follow lifeguards' instructions.
Groups
No booking needed.
Pets
Follow posted rules for dogs on the protected site.
Photography
Personal photography is welcome. Drone flights must follow national drone rules and local restrictions.
Bags
Carry everything in; take rubbish out.
Smoking
Do not smoke on the dunes in fire season.
Accepted payment
No payment needed.
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Yes, parking along the road above the path is free.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What to know about the Ostriconi.
Getting there
Drive to the old main road above the bay, about 15 km from L'Île-Rousse toward Bastia, park on the verge, then walk down the path. There is no road to the sand.
Yes. You park along the verge of the old road above the bay at no charge.
General
In summer only, from a first-aid post. Outside the season nobody watches the water, so on windy days with big surf a walk along the dunes is safer.
Yes. The sentier des douaniers starts at the far end of the beach and runs east along the Agriates toward Saint-Florent.
Yes. The dunes, beach and river wetland form a natural area of ecological interest covering about 373 hectares. Stay on the paths to protect the dunes.
A roadless area of 15,000 to 16,000 hectares of scrub and wild coast between the Ostriconi valley and Saint-Florent.
It depends on the season. In winter, when the river mouth is open to the sea, the crossing can be difficult, so check conditions locally before relying on it.
Yes, entry to Plage de l'Ostriconi is free.
Plage de l'Ostriconi is in France. The street address and directions are under How to get there on this page.
Explore the area on this page lists 4 places around Plage de l'Ostriconi, among them Ostriconi Tower and L'Île-Rousse.
Stay & facilities
Only the seasonal first-aid post. There is no restaurant, bar or toilet, so bring water, food and shade.
Families & accessibility
On calm days, yes. The bay faces west and waves can be dangerous for children when the wind blows, so check the lifeguards' flags.
Timing & weather
Mornings in summer, before the heat makes the climb back hard. Spring and autumn are good for walks along the dunes and river.
Plage de l'Ostriconi is open Monday–Sunday: Open 24 hours.
Most visitors spend Half a day at Plage de l'Ostriconi.