The Sentier des Douaniers from Macinaggio to the Tour de Santa Maria

From the car park by the marina in Macinaggio, follow the lane and path north of the marina (the Conservatoire du littoral's booklet says to take the beach north of the marina) and then the coast path, marked by wooden posts and stone cairns. It passes the beach of Tamarone, then goes round a headland facing the Finocchiarola islands, a nature reserve, and comes back to the shore at the Rade de Santa Maria. The walk turns back here, at the Tour de Santa Maria, a Genoese watchtower completed in 1549 and split open by Nelson's guns in 1793; it is now a ruin, in very poor condition according to the Collectivité de Corse's page of 30 April 2024. Do not climb on the tower or shelter against its walls. About half a kilometre before the tower, close to the path, stands the old chapel of Santa Maria, with its double apse. Return the same way.

It is 10.1 km there and back with 199 m of ascent; allow about 3 hours. The grade is Moderate, for its length: the path runs at sea level with short rises over the points, and the Conservatoire du littoral says it presents no particular difficulty, though some uneven stretches need care.

In summer avoid windy days because of the risk of fire, and check with the rangers or Météo-France first, say the Conservatoire's booklet and Visit Corsica. The Conservatoire's page adds that, for safety, access to the path can be closed by prefectoral order on days of strong wind or great heat. Take water and good shoes, and do not rely on a mobile phone, which the Conservatoire's booklet says is unusable on much of the path. On the Conservatoire's land camping, bivouacking and fires are banned (camping and bivouacking in the whole classified site), and landing on the islands is forbidden.

The car park is by the marina and the Cap Corse tourist office in Macinaggio. Beyond Santa Maria the path goes on to Barcaggio, about 3 hours from Macinaggio according to the Conservatoire, and then to Centuri; this walk turns back at the tower.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.