Riviera di Gallura review: the veteran Palau motor ship, the Festina Lente yacht, prices and who it suits

Riviera di Gallura is the name of both the company and the motor ship, and the company claims to have been the first to carry tourists out to the islands, more than 40 years ago. Whether or not it was first, Riviera di Gallura reviews are among the most consistently positive of any big-boat operator from Palau, and the reasons are specific: a captain who explains what you are looking at, a crew that cooks, and an early start that puts the boat into the coves ahead of the crowd.

The boat leaves Palau from pier 5 and also boards at Cala Gavetta in La Maddalena, which makes it one of the few shared tours usable from either side of the strait. We list its rivals on the operators hub and the port on our Palau departures guide.

What they offer

The main product, the escursioni sold at the kiosk, is a guided full-day tour with four long stops: Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria and La Maddalena. The operator’s site lists the coves it may use depending on the day: on Spargi, Cala Corsara, Cala Zavagli, Cala Soraya, Cala Granara, Cala Connari and Cala Ferrigno; on Budelli, the Porto della Madonna natural pools and Cala di Roto, the landing beach from which a marked path leads to the fenced viewpoint over Spiaggia Rosa (the pink sand itself is closed under park rules). Razzoli and Caprera appear as possible substitutes.

Timetable from the site: Palau pier 5 at 10:00, back around 18:00, be there by 09:30; La Maddalena, Cala Gavetta, at 08:40, back around 17:00. Reviewers put the day at roughly eight hours.

The second product is the Festina Lente, a yacht for a maximum of 12 people, sold per person on shared days or as an exclusive charter, with the itinerary varying by weather among Spargi, the natural pools, Budelli, Santa Maria, Razzoli and Caprera.

Boats and comfort

The site describes the motor ship only as comfortable and modern and does not publish its length, passenger capacity, toilet count or shade layout. Reviews mention a galley (the pasta is cooked on board), a bar, and staff who speak Italian, Spanish and English; the site adds French. We did not verify snorkel gear; bring your own.

The Festina Lente is described as reserved for a maximum of 12 guests, with skipper, fuel and lunch included. Its size and layout are not published either. Ask the same two questions of both boats: how many people, and where is the shade.

Prices and what’s included

Riviera di Gallura prices for 2026, from the operator’s site in September 2026.

Motor ship, adults: €50 in May; €55 in June; €60 in July; €70 in August; €60 from 1 to 15 September; €50 from 16 September to 30 October. Children 5 to 10: €35 in May, June and the late-season band, €40 in July and early September, €45 in August. Under-4s: free in May and from mid-September, €10 in June, €20 in July, €35 in August, €25 in early September.

Not included on the motor ship: the island landing fee, €2.50 per person in May and September and €5 per person from June to August, with children up to 6 exempt, paid separately. Lunch is also extra; the site does not print the price, but several Tripadvisor reviewers quote around €10 for the prawn spaghetti and describe seconds being offered. Treat that as a reviewer figure, not a published one.

Festina Lente: €120 per person or €1,440 for the whole boat in May and October, rising to €150 per person or €1,800 per boat in August and September, with landing fees, fuel, lunch and skipper included. For a full group of 12 in August that is €150 a head for a private day with lunch, which compares well with the catamarans on our catamaran and sailing guide.

Insider tip: Pay the landing fee in exact coins at the kiosk and keep the receipt; the crew checks it on board. And order lunch when the crew takes names in the morning, not at the stop: the galley cooks in batches and latecomers wait.

What customers say

The Tripadvisor listing “M/N Riviera di Gallura” showed 4.7 out of 5 from 1,214 reviews at the time of writing, ranked 3rd of 28 nature and parks attractions in La Maddalena. Recurring praise: the captain’s detailed explanations of the islands and of each manoeuvre, a crew described as smiling and witty, the prawn spaghetti, fair prices for food and tickets, multilingual commentary, and arriving at the coves before the other boats so that the first half hour feels almost private.

Recurring complaints are scarce. One reviewer was unimpressed by the sandwiches but praised the pasta. Older reviews quote lower fares and a €5 landing fee; the figures above are the current ones. We found no reports of missed departures, safety incidents or refund disputes on the pages we read.

Departure logistics

In Palau, pier 5 is on the tourist port in front of the Stazione Marittima, the ferry terminal building, a two-minute walk from Piazza del Molo. The kiosk is there. Paid parking is beside the port and in the multi-storey car park; free spaces are gone by 09:30 in August, and the boat asks you to be present by 09:30, so plan for 09:00.

In La Maddalena, Cala Gavetta is the old harbour in the centre of town, next to where the Delcomar and Maddalena Lines ferries from Palau come in. The 08:40 departure is early; the payoff is being back by 17:00.

Who should book it, and who should not

Book Riviera di Gallura if you want the classic Palau day with a crew that explains the archipelago, a hot lunch for a few euros, and the best chance among the big boats of a quiet first swim. It suits couples, groups of friends and families with children over five.

Book the Festina Lente if you are up to 12 people and want a private, all-in day from Palau at a per-boat price. Skip the motor ship if you need the newest hull, guaranteed shade, a published capacity or card payment at every step; and skip the whole company if you want to book online with instant confirmation. For that, see the platform alternatives below or our private charter guide.

How to book

By phone on +39 349 3294608 or +39 342 3853569, by e-mail at rivieradigallura@gmail.com, or at the kiosk on pier 5 in Palau (walk-in sales the evening before or the same morning, subject to seats). The site is in Italian, English, Spanish and French. Its Facebook page is “Riviera di Gallura - Gite in Barca”. We did not find the company on GetYourGuide at the time of writing.

Alternatives you can book online

If you want free cancellation and reserve-now-pay-later, browse all La Maddalena boat tours on GetYourGuide. The archipelago boat tour from La Maddalena or Palau on a vintage motorboat with four swim stops is €76 on GetYourGuide at the time of writing; the full-day archipelago trip is the classic motor ship; and for a private day from Palau pier 5 with fuel, aperitif and lunch for up to ten people, the private all-inclusive boat tour is the closest match to the Festina Lente, with the price per boat shown on the listing.