Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on September 18, 2021
White sand, gin-clear sea, lazy cows and untouched scrublands: Plage du Lotu, near Saint-Florent, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in Corsica. If the setting, completely wild, is enchanting, the seabed also holds some wonders. In translucid water, you will spot seabream, wrasse and cardinalfish, but also with a little luck a stingray, a moray eel or an octopus.
Plage du Lotu/Lotu Beach (also called Lodu, Lodo or Loto Beach) is located in the Agriates Desert, on the western shore of the Gulf of Saint-Florent. With neighboring Saleccia Beach, it is considered one of the most beautiful in Corsica.
The easiest way to reach this spot is by boat from Saint-Florent. You will have the choice between several options:
It is also possible to reach Plage du Lotu from Saint-Florent by the coastal walk, but it is a challenging 4 to 5 hours hike, often under the sun. From neighboring Plage de Saleccia, the walk to Plage du Lotu takes 45 minutes to 1h15 depending on whether you take the coastal path or the shorter inland path.
Finally, 4×4 trips to Lotu and Saleccia are also offered by several companies in Saint-Florent. They allow to discover the inland of the Agriates Desert and generally operate as shuttles (several round trips per day to the beaches).
Get into the water directly from the beach. We advise you to walk to the western end of the beach (on the left when facing the sea) in order to be closer to the recommended snorkeling area.
You can snorkel the whole bay, but we especially recommend the rocky areas found on the western side of the beach (see map above). Do not cross the boat channel.
From the beach, the sand slopes gently into the sea. Swim towards the rocks and follow the coastline. You will discover a succession of rocky areas, sandy beds and Posidonia meadows, each with their associated species.
A great diversity of marine species can be seen at this location, in particular octopus and cuttlefish, quite common throughout the area. While the red starfish likes to shelter in rocky crevices, the sand sea star is found in opened sandy areas.
Among the most common fish species you may spot at Plage du Lotu are wrasse, sargo and damselfish. In the shade of the rocks, you may also spot bright red Mediterranean cardinalfish.
With a little luck, you might encounter at this location more uncommon species, such as greater amberjack (in open water), pelagic stingray (dwelling in open areas) or Mediterranean moray (around rocks, in which they hide in case of danger).
Plage du Lotu water is renowned for being one of the purest and most translucent in Corsica. Oriented towards the northeast and protected from the wind by the surrounding hills, the bay is also much more sheltered than that of Saleccia.
La Cabane du Lodu is the only restaurant nearby. It is located a few minutes walk from Plage du Lotu (approx. 500m via the coastal path). Reservation recommended. Remember to bring plenty of water with you, as there is no shade.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
