Macinaggio is the last proper harbour on the east coast and the largest pleasure port on the cape, with several hundred berths, a row of restaurants along the quay, a supermarket, a fuel station and a tourist office. After the quiet marinas further south it feels almost busy. It is the practical base for the northern tip: the coast path starts at the end of the beach, and the road beyond turns inland and climbs towards the Col de la Serra.
The port has seen its share of history. Pasquale Paoli, the father of Corsican independence, landed here in 1790 on his return from exile in England, and in 1869 the Empress Eugénie came ashore on her way back from the opening of the Suez Canal. She was carried up to Rogliano, the commune to which Macinaggio belongs — a cluster of hamlets strung across the hillside with towers, a ruined castle and a big baroque church. The road built afterwards is still known as the Chemin de l’Impératrice.
Top things to do: Macinaggio & Rogliano
Walk the first stretch of the Sentier des Douaniers
Even if you do not have time for the full walk to Barcaggio, follow the coast path north from the end of Macinaggio beach for 45 minutes to Tamarone, a sandy bay with a summer beach restaurant, and on to the viewpoint over the Finocchiarola islets.
Drive up to Rogliano
Ten minutes above the port, Rogliano is worth the detour for the view alone. Look for the round towers among the houses, the ruins of the castle of the Da Mare family — lords of the northern cape in the Middle Ages — and the church of Sant’Agnellu. Some of the large 19th-century houses are maisons d’Américains, built by emigrants who came home rich from the Americas.
Swim at Tamarone
A dirt track continues about 2 km north from Macinaggio to a car park behind Tamarone beach, so you can drive if you would rather not walk. The track can be rough; take it slowly in a hire car.
Take to the sea
In season, boat trips from the harbour run along the protected coast towards Barcaggio — a good way to see the towers and islets, and in some years a way of walking the path one way and returning by sea. Ask at the port for what is running. A guided e-mountain-bike outing also starts here; see tours.
How to get to Macinaggio & Rogliano
- By car: about 37 km from Bastia on the D80 — allow 50 minutes to an hour without stops.
- By bus: a few buses a day link Bastia and Macinaggio, fewer on Sundays and outside the summer. Check the current timetable before relying on them.
- Parking: large car parks by the harbour and the beach.
Insider tips
- This is the last reliable place for fuel, cash and groceries before Saint-Florent if you are driving anticlockwise.
- Local Rogliano wines — a dry white and a Muscat du Cap Corse — are made a few minutes away; look for them on restaurant lists.
- Stay the night here if you plan to walk to Barcaggio: you can be on the path by 7 am, before the heat. See where to stay.
Best tours & boat trips for Macinaggio & Rogliano
These experiences pair well with a visit to Macinaggio & Rogliano:
E-bike tour Macinaggio: Discover Cap Corse by Electric Mountain Bike
One of the very few bookable activities that actually begins on the cape: three hours on an electric mountain bike from Macinaggio with a qualified guide. A new listing without reviews yet; check the price for your group size and the minimum age on GetYourGuide.
- Starts on the cape itself
- Qualified guide
- Electric assistance makes the hills manageable
Sailing trip from €108 Le Grand Tour: Cap Corse Sailing Trip from Bastia Old Harbour
Four hours under sail along the eastern shore of the cape, starting from the old harbour in the middle of Bastia. You pass the Genoese towers and marinas that the D80 strings together, seen from the side they were built to watch, with a stop to swim. The easiest way to get onto the water if you are staying in town or arriving by ferry.
- Leaves from Bastia’s Vieux Port — no car needed
- Genoese towers, villages and coves of the east coast
- Swimming stop in a small group
