The La Maddalena Archipelago became Italy's first marine national park in 1994, protecting 180 square kilometers of granite outcrops, seagrass meadows, and Posidonia beds that shelter loggerhead turtles and Mediterranean monk seals. Seven principal islands — La Maddalena, Caprera, Santo Stefano, Spargi, Budelli, Razzoli, and Santa Maria — rise from the Strait of Bonifacio, their pink-veined rock sculpted by millennia of mistral winds into tor formations and natural arches. The archipelago's strategic position between Sardinia and Corsica made it a contested naval base from Roman times through the Cold War; Giuseppe Garibaldi spent his final 26 years on Caprera, and NATO maintained a submarine facility on Santo Stefano until 2008. Today, the park authority limits daily visitor numbers and enforces strict anchoring zones to preserve the cala ecosystems that define the region. Spargi's Cala Corsara and Cala Conneri are ringed by Aleppo pine and juniper; Budelli's Spiaggia Rosa, closed to landing since 1998, remains visible from the water, its shell-fragment sand tinged by micro-organisms. Santa Maria's eastern shore curves into a shallow lagoon where sailboats cluster in summer, and Razzoli's weathered diorite faces the open sea. The protected status prohibits motorized water sports and commercial fishing within park boundaries, leaving the water clarity among the highest recorded in the Mediterranean — visibility often exceeds 30 meters. A la maddalena boat tour from porto cervo typically departs from the Costa Smeralda's harbor district and follows the northeast coastline past Capo Ferro lighthouse before entering park waters. Most full-day itineraries include three to four island stops, with swimming and snorkeling pauses at anchorages where the seabed slopes gradually over white sand. Operators provide mask sets, fresh water showers, and galley-prepared lunch; some sailboats allow guests to assist with rigging and tack maneuvers. The 5-euro per-person municipal landing fee, collected June through August, funds mooring infrastructure and marine patrol vessels. Early-season crossings in May and late September benefit from calmer winds and cooler deck temperatures, though water temperature drops below 20 degrees Celsius outside the summer window. The archipelago's name honors the patron saint venerated in the town's baroque chiesa, completed in 1734. Caprera's Compendio Garibaldino preserves the general's stone farmhouse, olive grove, and grave site; Santo Stefano's decommissioned naval complex remains off-limits pending conversion to a research station. La Maddalena boat tour from Porto Cervo excursions return to harbor by late afternoon, the westward passage timed to avoid the Bocche di Bonifacio's afternoon chop. Peak-season departures fill weeks in advance, and cancellation policies vary by operator — most allow free changes up to 48 hours prior.