Lotu Beach (Agriates): tips and photos
The Agriate beach closest to Saint-Florent: 400 m of white sand, a jetty for the shuttle boats and Cap Corse straight ahead.
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Why go to the Lotu
Lotu beach (also spelt “Loto”) is the beach in the Agriates desert closest to Saint-Florent: about 7 km as the crow flies from the harbour, some twenty minutes by boat. In summer the shuttle boats tie up at a jetty, 5 minutes from the sand.
The beach itself is small: about 400 m of white sand (measured on OpenStreetMap), between Punta di Ravijola and Punta Cavallata. It faces north-east, towards the mouth of the gulf of Saint-Florent and the mountains of Cap Corse. Behind it lie two small ponds and hills covered in maquis. It is split between two communes: the west is in Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda, the centre and east in Saint-Florent.
There is no drinking water and no shade provided. Bring water, a picnic and something to shelter from the sun.
Type of beach: sand, water and swimming
The sand is white and fine (Saint-Florent tourist office), 50 to 70 m wide. At the top of the beach, a low dune is covered with large-fruited junipers.
According to recent averages (2023-2025) from the Open-Meteo Marine dataset, the sea off the Agriate is around 23 °C in June, 26 °C in July and August, and 23 to 24 °C in September.
No lifeguard station is listed at the Lotu. You swim at your own risk, and bear in mind that help takes time to reach the Agriate: 112, the European emergency number, from any phone; 15 for the SAMU (emergency medical service), 18 for the fire brigade, 196 for sea rescue.
The parts of the beach
To the north-west, the wooden jetty is fixed to the rocky shore, about a hundred metres north of the sand, below Punta di Ravijola. The Niolincu stream, which drains the Lotu pond, reaches the sea at this end of the beach. This is where shuttle boat passengers land and where the path to Saleccia starts.
In the centre, the beach is at its widest, backed by the fine-sand dune.
To the south-east, the sand gives way to flat rock slabs facing Cap Corse. The Panecalellu pond, which holds water for only part of the year, meets the sea here through a small stream. Further east, the coastal path passes the Genoese tower of Mortella, about 2 km away: its history is told on our Saint-Florent page.
Cows on the sand
Free-roaming cows wander the beach and like to lie down on it: Corse Net Infos showed this again in May 2026. The regional press repeats the basic advice: keep your distance, do not feed them and avoid sudden movements.
Lotu or Saleccia?
The two beaches are a little over 2 km apart as the crow flies, and an hour’s walk apart along the coastal path. The Lotu is the easier to reach, thanks to its jetty, and the shorter of the two. Saleccia is more than a kilometre long; it has pines for shade, the only drinking water on this stretch of coast and a campsite. If you come by boat, land at the Lotu, walk to Saleccia and return via the same jetty.
A protected beach
Most of the sand belongs to the Conservatoire du littoral, the public body that protects the French coastline (Agriate site); the west of the beach and the jetty are on public maritime land, which it manages under contract. The beach lies within the Agriates Natura 2000 site and the Saleccia-Loto wetland listed in the ZNIEFF inventory of natural areas; the sea in front of it is part of the Parc naturel marin du Cap Corse et de l’Agriate, a marine nature park.
On site, you do not camp, you do not light fires and you take your rubbish away with you. The full rules (bivouacking, vehicles, closures for fire risk) are on our page about the Agriates desert. If you come by boat, do not drop anchor on the Posidonia seagrass meadows, and check the maritime prefecture’s orders.
When to go
According to a study by the marine park cited in the Assemblée nationale (the French parliament) in 2023, the maximum number of daily boat runs between Saint-Florent, the Lotu and Saleccia doubled between 2020 and 2022. In July and August the beach is very busy: take one of the first shuttle boats. In June and September the sea is still warm and there are fewer people. On days of very high fire risk, the prefecture can close the paths and tracks: check the day before.
How to get there
No tarmac road leads to the Lotu. Most visitors arrive by boat from Saint-Florent; the others come on foot along the coastal path or by 4x4 on the Agriate track.
By boat
From Saint-Florent harbour, about 7 km away as the crow flies, shuttle boats run to the Lotu in season in about twenty minutes (tourist office). They tie up at a jetty installed every summer with the agreement of the Conservatoire du littoral and the Collectivité de Corse. In 2024, the mooring agreements ran from 1 May to 30 September; no 2026 timetable has been published. See the list of operators on the Saint-Florent tourist office website. From the jetty to the sand, allow 5 minutes on foot.
On foot
The coastal path starts from Saint-Florent: 4 hours 45 minutes from Roya beach, about 3 hours from the cove of Fornali (tourist office), with no shade. The route waymarked by the Conservatoire du littoral plans for a return by shuttle boat. From Saleccia, allow an hour. Details on our page about the Agriates desert.
By car
Not in an ordinary car. The track leaves the D81 at the place called U Salone, near Casta, about a quarter of an hour from Saint-Florent (OSRM calculation, outside summer and without stops). The tourist office restricts it to 4x4s and trial motorbikes. It heads towards Saleccia, then a secondary track branches off east to the Lotu: about ten kilometres from the D81 (OpenStreetMap). In season, access is regulated: check with the commune of Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda.
Parking
OpenStreetMap shows a car park at the end of the track, behind the north-western end of the beach, about 5 minutes on foot from the sand. No official source gives its terms.
Where the beach is
Good to know
Dogs
No official text sets a rule for dogs at the Lotu. Keep them on a lead and check with the communes of Saint-Florent and Santo-Pietro-di-Tenda.
Wheelchair users
No equipment is listed. The floating jetty, the sand and the 4x4 track make access difficult.
With children
No lifeguard station is listed and no official source describes how the seabed shelves. Bring shade, water and a picnic.
Naturism
No official text provides for naturism at the Lotu.
Eating
OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia show a restaurant above the jetty, with no published opening period. There is no drinking water at the Lotu: the tourist office lists it only at Saleccia. Bring water.
The beach in pictures
The Lotu by 4x4 or by boat
Trips from Saint-Florent that go as far as the Lotu and Saleccia, by 4x4 on the track or by sea.
Prices and ratings checked on GetYourGuide in October 2026. We may earn a commission when you book through our partner links, at no extra cost to you.
Staying near the beach
The closest area to the beach in our Saint-Florent guide: Roya and the Bastia road.
See 2 more places to stay Hide
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Frequently asked questions
How do I get to Lotu beach?
By boat from Saint-Florent harbour in season (about twenty minutes), on foot along the coastal path (4 hours 45 minutes from Roya, about 3 hours from the cove of Fornali), or by 4x4 on the track that leaves the D81 near Casta. For shuttle boat times, see the Saint-Florent tourist office.
Lotu beach or Saleccia?
The Lotu is the easier one: the boat ties up 5 minutes from the sand. Saleccia is much longer and has pines for shade, drinking water and a campsite. The coastal path links the two in an hour: land at the Lotu, walk to Saleccia and come back via the jetty.
How far is it from the Lotu to Saleccia on foot?
About 3 km along the coastal path, or an hour on foot (tourist office). As the crow flies, the two beaches are a little over 2 km apart.
Can you camp at Lotu beach?
No. Camping and bivouacking are banned on the beaches and on Conservatoire du littoral land (municipal by-laws). The only campsite in the Agriate is behind Saleccia beach, an hour’s walk away.
Are there cows on Lotu beach?
Yes, free-roaming cows often come and lie on the sand, as the regional press reported again in May 2026. Keep your distance, do not feed them and avoid sudden movements.
Other beaches nearby
Saleccia Beach
Ostriconi Beach
The Agriates desert
