Zonza Boat Rental review: licence-free RIBs from Cannigione for the La Maddalena Archipelago

Zonza Boat Rental is a RIB rental company in Cannigione, the village on the Gulf of Arzachena about 15 km from Palau. It rents licence-free 5.3–5.5 m RIBs for six people and larger boats for seven, eight or twelve, by the half day or full day, for self-drive trips towards Caprera and the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena. Its Google listing carries the category “commercial office”, which confuses readers; the boats leave from the Sciumara dock on the Cannigione seafront, not from an office. Its Italian tagline mentions escursioni in barca, but the core product is self-drive rental.

Zonza Boat Rental reviews are consistently positive across platforms, and the platform listings publish terms that most rental companies leave vague. We verified what follows on the company’s Tripadvisor page, its CheckYeti listings and its GetYourGuide supplier page in September 2026; the company’s own website would not render for us, so nothing here comes from it.

What they offer

• Licence-free RIB rental for up to six people on a Flyer 5.50 m or a Capelli 5.30 m, with a shaded area, no toilet, and on the Capelli a deck shower. Four-hour and seven-hour slots.
• Larger licence-free options for seven and eight people, and a twelve-seat RIB that requires a boating licence.
• Skipper on request for the bigger boats; the listing for the six-seat boats states that a skipper is not available on those.

The suggested itinerary in the listings is Caprera, Spargi and Budelli, with the route left to you. From Cannigione, Caprera’s east coast (Cala Coticcio, Cala Napoletana) is the natural first target; Spargi’s Cala Corsara and the Porto della Madonna pools are a longer run that only makes sense on a seven-hour rental in flat water. Landing on Budelli’s Spiaggia Rosa is forbidden; view it from the boat. Cala Coticcio can be visited from the water, while access on foot has been regulated by the park since 2021.

Departures in the September listing were at 09:00 and 14:00.

Boats and comfort

The two six-seat boats are documented: 5.30 m and 5.50 m, a sun-protected area, no restroom. Reviewers describe the boats as new and well maintained. The larger boats are not specified beyond capacity. Snorkel gear is not listed as included, so bring your own mask; water shoes are wise on granite and among sea urchins.

Under Italian rules, engines up to 40 hp (30 kW) need no licence, which is the class these six-seat boats fall into. At that power a loaded RIB is not fast, and you should plan distances accordingly.

Prices and what’s included

Zonza Boat Rental prices, as shown on CheckYeti in September 2026: from €170 for the six-seat boat, €200 for seven, €220 for eight, and €450 for the twelve-seat licensed boat, each for four to seven hours. Reviewers on Tripadvisor mention a skipper fee of €80 per half day on the larger boats. The company’s own direct prices may differ; we could not load its site to compare.

The listing terms are explicit:

• Fuel is not included and is paid at the end, in cash, for what you used.
• A €600 deposit is taken by cash or card.
• Free cancellation with full refund up to 24 hours before the start.
• Arrive 15 minutes early; paid parking is available at the dock.

Not mentioned on the listing: the park navigation permit for entering the marine park, which the park authority prices by boat length. Ask whether the company buys it for you or whether you must buy it online before departure.

Insider tip: Do the maths on the seven-hour slot. The four-hour rental from Cannigione gives you Caprera and back; if you want Spargi or the pools, the seven-hour price is the only one that makes sense, and only on a day with no mistral.

What customers say

On Tripadvisor the company showed a 5.0 rating from 145 reviews in September 2026; CheckYeti showed 5.0 from 20 reviews on the six-seat listing. The themes:

• The briefing: several first-time renters say the instructions were clear enough to feel safe, including route advice for coves.
• Staff, with Giuseppe and Nicolò among those named, described as friendly and quick to answer messages.
• The fuel rule, praised as fair because you pay for what you burned.
• Boat condition, repeatedly called new.

One dissenting review from August 2026 complains strongly about a rude captain on a skippered outing. It is a single voice against a long run of praise, but if you hire a skipper, say what you want from the day at the outset.

Departure logistics

The meeting point given on the platform listing is La Sciumara dock, Via Lungomare Andrea Doria 7, Cannigione. Paid parking is at the dock. Cannigione is about 15 km from Palau around the gulf, and there is no ferry involved. Our guide to boat days from Cannigione compares the rental with the motor ships that leave the same village.

Who should book it, and who should not

Book Zonza Boat Rental if you want a licence-free RIB with a proper briefing, are staying near Cannigione, and are happy with a Caprera-focused day or a long calm-weather run north. Families with confident swimmers and groups of six splitting the rate get the best value.

Look elsewhere if your heart is set on Budelli and the northern pools with time to spare, in which case rent in Palau or La Maddalena, or if you want a skipper on a small boat. Our private charter and rental guide explains the trade-offs between renting, skippered RIBs and shared tours.

How to book

Through CheckYeti with free cancellation, through the company’s GetYourGuide supplier page, by WhatsApp, or on the company’s own site. We saw that the GetYourGuide supplier page exists but could not load its products, so we cannot confirm which boats are sold there. All the rental companies we have checked are on the operators hub.

Insider tip: Book the 09:00 slot. Morning air is usually calmer in the gulf, and the afternoon breeze that builds most days will be behind you on the way home.

Alternatives you can book online

If you would rather not skipper yourself, GetYourGuide lists the guided inflatable boat outing, no licence required from La Maddalena, and the private RIB trip for up to eight with a skipper, awning and stops at Cala Coticcio and the natural pools. For a Cannigione departure with no driving at all, the Caprera, Spargi, Budelli and Santa Maria tour was the highest-rated from the village when we checked. Compare on all La Maddalena boat tours.