Fautea Beach (Zonza): tips and photos

Why go to Fautea

Fautea is two small sandy beaches, each about 200 m long, either side of a headland topped by a Genoese tower. They are on the east coast, between Sainte-Lucie-de-Porto-Vecchio and Solenzara, in the commune of Zonza; the tourist office places them on the Côte des Nacres. The T10 runs just behind: a few minutes after parking, you are in the water.

The two beaches are quite different. To the north is the one with more facilities, including a restaurant and a beach wheelchair. To the south is a wilder beach, on land owned by the Conservatoire du littoral (the public body that protects the French coastline), where the path to Lavu Santu begins. Fautea suits a stop on the road to Bastia as well as a whole morning, if you add the walk to a swim.

Type of beach: sand, water and swimming

Both beaches are sandy, separated by a rocky shore with small pebble coves tucked into it. They face east: the sun rises behind the point, and the Zonza tourist office makes much of those mornings.

To the north, the water is calm, and the tourist office presents the beach as suitable for families. To the south, the rocks on either side of the sand are good for snorkelling. According to recent averages (2023-2025) from the Open-Meteo Marine dataset, the sea offshore is around 23 °C in June, 27 °C in July and August, 24 to 25 °C in September, and still 22 °C in October.

Neither the commune nor the tourist office lists a lifeguard station at Fautea: you swim at your own risk, and you can ask the town hall in Zonza whether lifeguards are planned for the summer. A 2022 municipal by-law has the 300 m coastal strip in front of Fautea marked out with buoys; swimming is banned in the access channels to the shore.

The parts of the beach

To the north, Fautea beach proper has the most facilities: a beach restaurant, water sports, a campsite next door and parking spaces along the road. A small stream flows out at its northern end.

Between the two beaches, the tower headland runs out to Punta di Fautea, with a rocky islet at its foot. Below the campsite, the rocky shore forms small coves.

To the south, Fautea sud is a beach with no facilities, backed by maquis. You reach it along the path that starts from the road, in about 5 minutes.

The tower and the Lavu Santu path

The tower overlooks both beaches from its headland, about thirty metres up. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1992 (Mérimée database). The tourist offices say it is being restored, and access is forbidden while the work is going on: look at it from the beach and check on site before you climb up. An old lime kiln stands near the path that leads to it.

From the south beach, a waymarked path follows the coast south to Lavu Santu: an easy walk of about 30 minutes, with a few slightly steep sections. Lavu Santu is a long sandy beach of about 900 m, running to the mouth of the Cavu. It is nicknamed the “Americans’ beach” because of NATO exercises held there. The seabed drops away quickly: the Agence du tourisme de la Corse does not recommend it for children.

A protected coastline

The south beach and the land around it have belonged to the Conservatoire du littoral since 1979. The south beach and the tower are also part of the Natura 2000 site Marais de Lavu Santu et littoral de Fautea. Stay on the paths and take your rubbish away with you.

If you come by boat, the commune asks you to limit anchoring that damages the Posidonia seagrass meadows and the noble pen shells. Anchoring is regulated by the maritime prefecture: read its orders before dropping anchor.

When to go

June and September give you a sea that is already or still warm and a quieter road. All year round, the sunrise behind the tower is a reason to come early. In July and August, if the north beach is full, the south beach is only five minutes away on foot. With a dog, wait until October: dogs are banned from the beach from 1 May to 30 September.