La Grotte du Sdragonatu

Grotte La Sdragonato - S’Dragulinu - La Grotte du Dragon - Cave of the Dragon


Useful Information

Location: Coast near Bonifacio. Visit by boat from Bonifacio.
200 m northwest of the Madonetta lighthouse, 1.5 km west of Bonifacio.
(41.3884065, 9.1428340)
Open: no restrictions.
Boat Tours: All year daily 9-18, every hour.
[2023]
Fee: free.
Vision Sous Marine: Adults EUR 23.50, Children (13-17) EUR 17.50, Children (4-12) EUR 13, Children (0-3) free, Students EUR 20.
Grottes, Falaises, Calanques: Adults EUR 18.50, Children (13-17) EUR 13, Children (4-12) EUR 10, Children (0-3) free, Students EUR 16.
[2023]
Classification: SpeleologyKarst cave. SpeleologySea Cave TopicBlue Grottos Cretaceous limestone
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: W=50 m, H=50 m.
Guided tours: self guided.
D=60 min.
Photography: allowed
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:
Address: Les Grottes Marines, Bonifacio, Tel: +33-495-73-11-88
Guichet Thalassa, Parking du Port, 20169 Bonifacio, Tel: +33-495-73-01-17, Cell: +33-686-34-00-49. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then.
Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History


Description

The Grotte du Sdragonatu or S’Dragulinu (Dragons cave) is visited by boat from Bonifacio. This huge sea cave is entered through a narrow and low passage, which allows the boats to enter only during good weather conditions with calm sea. The cave is a single huge chamber with a hole in the roof, resembling the contours of the island Corsica on a map. It is also known as Gouffre de la Grotte de Sdragonatu (Pothole of the Dragons Cave). The karst cave has many but rather small speleothems at the walls. The whole tour is rather nice, but because of the boat trip, the contrast of blue sky and blue water with the dark cave and the thrill to enter the cave through a narrow passage. The Sdragonatu grotto is said to be the most visited site in Corsica.

This cave is open without restrictions and for free. As it is located at the sea it may be reached by boat or kajak. Boat Torus are offered by various operator, we have listed one of them. The tours of Guichet Thalassa start at the harbour of Bonifacio, turns west after leaving the harbour. The first stop is the Grotte du Sdragonatu which is entered, then it goes to Cala de Paraguana. Back at the harbour entrance it enters the Grotte de Saint-Antoine, then it follows the southern coast of the Bonifacio peninsula to the rock formations Grain de Sable. The tour takes an hour.

We have read that the Grotte du Sdragonatu is currently closed, as far as we understand because of rockfall. Such events are rather common, over-reaction by officials also. If you plan a visit you should ask the tourist info for up-to-date information.