Consorzio delle Bocche review: motor-ship days to La Maddalena from Santa Teresa Gallura

Consorzio delle Bocche is the cooperative that runs the big motor ships from Santa Teresa Gallura to the archipelago, and Consorzio delle Bocche reviews tend to split along one line: people who wanted an organised, all-inclusive day are happy, people who wanted a quiet beach are not. Its own site says it has more than 30 years of experience and three vessels able to move around 700 passengers a day.

The company name means “consortium of the Bocche”, after the Bocche di Bonifacio, the strait its boats cross every morning. That crossing is the main difference from the tours we compare on our Santa Teresa Gallura page and from the Palau fleet on the operators hub.

What they offer

The core product is an 8-hour La Maddalena day with four stops: Santa Maria island (landing by jetty), a view of the Pink Beach of Budelli from the water, free time in La Maddalena town at the marina, and a swim at Cala Corsara on Spargi, again with a jetty and gangways. The operator’s site says boarding starts at 08:00 in August and 08:15 in other months, with return around 17:00.

The cooperative sells two sets of escursioni from the same ticket office. Besides La Maddalena there are two Corsica days: a RIB tour to Bonifacio, Lavezzi and Isola Piana listed from €80, and a motor-ship day to Lavezzi, Piana and Cavallo listed from €90 (prices on the operator’s site, September 2026). The Corsica boats leave from the Molo Piazza del Tempo according to the contact page.

Order of stops is not guaranteed and shifts with wind and the other boats; our fact sheet covers the islands themselves on the islands guide.

Boats and comfort

The site names three motor ships: Hurricane I (264 passengers, 27 m), Love Boat (256 passengers, 25 m) and Aldebaran III (150 passengers, 22 m). These are the largest tour boats operating into the park and the reason the cooperative can promise daily departures at scale.

What the site confirms on board: a galley that cooks the first course, a bar, and a multilingual audio service rather than a live guide. Toilets are standard on ships of this size, though we did not see a deck plan. Shade is limited on the open upper deck; several reviewers say to arrive early for a covered seat. No snorkel gear is mentioned, so bring your own mask.

Prices and what’s included

Consorzio delle Bocche prices for the 2026 La Maddalena tour, as published on the operator’s site in September 2026: adults €60 in May, €65 in June, July, September and October, €70 in August. Children aged 4 to 10 pay €40, €45 and €50 in the same bands; infants 0 to 3 travel free.

The ticket includes the return trip, liability insurance, the audio commentary, lunch with a first course cooked on board (pennette or similar) and the island landing fee. That last point is a real advantage: on many Palau boats the park contribution is a separate cash payment at check-in, while here it is folded into the fare. Drinks are extra and, judging by reviews, not cheap; a full water bottle from town saves money.

Insider tip: The August fare is only €5 above the shoulder months but the boats and beaches are at their fullest. Late September gives you the same ship, a €65 fare, warm water and far fewer bodies on the Spargi jetty.

What customers say

On Tripadvisor the “Consorzio Delle Bocche” listing showed 3.9 out of 5 from 332 reviews at the time of writing, ranked 5th of 22 tours and activities in Santa Teresa Gallura, with most recent reviews from June to August 2026. The operator’s own site claims 4.3 stars from over 400 reviews, and the Google Maps “Check-in Desk” listing, mirrored on the aggregator we consulted, showed 4.4 from 278 reviews.

Praise repeats: punctual departures, a well-drilled crew, the seafood pasta, staff who speak English, and flexibility when the weather forces a change of date. Complaints repeat too: hundreds of people arriving at the same cove at once, roughly an hour and a half of actual beach time per stop, no shade at the beaches, pasta that arrived overcooked on some days, expensive drinks, and pressure for tips. Nobody in the reviews we read disputed the islands themselves.

Departure logistics

Santa Teresa Gallura sits at the northern tip of Sardinia, about 25 km west of Palau. The tourist port is below the town; the check-in desk is on Via la Marina next to the Coast Guard building. Parking near the harbour is paid and fills early in August, so walk down if you are staying in town.

The registered office is at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 16 in the centre; do not go there on the morning of the tour. Phone numbers on the contact page: +39 0789 755112 and +39 338 2039771.

The crossing itself takes you through the Bocche di Bonifacio, open water between Sardinia and Corsica. On a calm day it is a highlight, with the Corsican cliffs on the horizon. When the mistral or an easterly blows, it is a different experience: take a tablet before boarding if you are sensitive, and expect cancellations with refund or a new date on strong-wind days.

Who should book it, and who should not

Book it if you are staying in or near Santa Teresa, want a full archipelago day for a known all-in price with lunch, and are relaxed about sharing the boat with two hundred others. It also suits families with school-age children who appreciate jetties instead of wading ashore.

Look elsewhere if you are prone to sea-sickness, if you want long swims in empty coves, or if you are two adults who would rather pay more for a 12-person catamaran. Those readers should check the small-group options on our catamaran and sailing guide.

Insider tip: Sit on the starboard (right) side on the outbound crossing; the Corsica coast and Bonifacio’s white cliffs stay on that side until the boat turns towards Razzoli.

How to book

The website sells e-tickets with real-time availability and free cancellation more than 24 hours before departure; you can also buy at the check-in desk the evening before or that morning, subject to seats. Whether any of the Santa Teresa listings on GetYourGuide are operated by the cooperative is not stated on the listings, so we do not claim it.

Alternatives you can book online

For a Santa Teresa departure with free cancellation and multilingual support, GetYourGuide’s full catalogue of La Maddalena boat tours includes the full-day boat tour from Santa Teresa Gallura (lunch on board, the listing notes a €5 landing fee paid in cash at check-in), the budget motor-ship cruise and the Santa Teresa catamaran tour with lunch and wine for a smaller boat. Prices are shown on each listing.