Walks in Corsica

A pleasant hike, even in summer, in the Bonifatu forest. The shaded path winds its way up through the pine forest to the magnificent Bocca di l’Erbaghjiolu. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of the forest and the cirque, and even as far as the Bay of Calvi, before continuing along the path to the Bocca di Bonassa. The descent is under a canopy of vegetation, following old charcoal burners’ paths.

 Great mountain walking in the Bonifatu forest.

11km / 4h30 / +730m / -730m, ORANGE /RED / Provisions in CALVI

• Auberge de la Foret (to Bocca di l’Erbaghiolo) 2h00 / 5km

Park in the dirt parking area in front of the AUBERGE DE LA FORÊT in Bonifatu, then return to the car park entrance. From the spring and picnic tables, take the forest path on the left that climbs southwest towards TUARELLI, through a forest of maritime pines and oaks. Follow the TRA MARE E MONTI and the BOUCLE DE ERBAGHJOLU trails marked in ORANGE and RED; ignore any other paths branching off from them. The path is uneven.

After about 30 minutes, you will pass the PRINCE PIERRE HUNTING LODGE. Continue to an altitude of 709 m and ignore the BOUCLE DE CALATOGHJU trail branching off to the right. The path begins to climb in switchbacks. The forest, now a mixed forest of Corsican pines and oaks, thins out, and you will occasionally have views of the neighboring peaks. You arrive at Bocca di l’Erbaghiolo, at 1200 m. Once you’ve caught your breath, you can enjoy the view of the Cirque de Bonifatu all the way to Calvi.

• Bocca di l’Erbaghiolo (to Bocca Bonassa) 0h10 / 1km

The trail continues left for about 20 minutes (west) downhill towards Bocca di Bonassa (1153 m), where you’ll see the Fango Valley and the Bay of Calvi (an ideal spot for a break).

• Bocca di Bonassa (to Auberge de la Foret) 2h20/ 6km

From the top of the pass, a trail marked in red heads off to the right and descends through the pine trees. The trail is easy to follow thanks to the old forest tracks.

Just before the Bonifatu road, turn right towards Bonifatu, climb to a clear viewpoint, and after a few minutes, you’ll reach the Calatoghju Loop circular trail. Turn left downhill and, shortly after crossing the NOCAGHIA stream, you rejoin the TRA MARE E MONTI which you took earlier and follow downhill until you are near the AUBERGE DE LA FORET.