Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on May 5, 2021
Even if it is not as renowned as its neighbor Palombaggia, La Folaca beach (plage de la Folaca) remains a good snorkeling destination in the Porto-Vecchio region. The beach’s southern side shelters a quiet rocky area where mesmerizing underwater life can be observed. Its shallow, very accessible rocky seabed attracts moray eels, scorpionfish, wrasses and sea stars.
La Folaca beach is located in Porto-Vecchio, between famous Palombaggia beach and Acciaju beach. Acciaju parking lot (parking fee applies) is the best option to park your car as it is located just south of the beach, close to the recommended snorkeling area.
All you will have to do is walk to the southern end of the beach to reach the rocky point.
You can enter the water from the beach, next to the first rocks.
The recommended snorkeling area is located at the southern tip of Folaca beach. It encompasses the shallow rocky areas extending along the point as well as the Posidonia meadows and sandy seabed surrounding them.
Close to the rock point, the seabed is made of rocky ridges and scree areas covered by a wide diversity of algae (↕1-5ft/0,5-1,5m): fine clumps of mermaid’s cup and peacock’s tail can be seen between patches of common brown algae.
Many purple sea urchins and a few red sponges are set in the rocks’ shadows. This environment is a true paradise for fish living in rocky environments such as Mediterranean moray, ornate wrasse and small scorpionfish. Snorkelers also often report spotting Mediterranean red starfish here.
As you swim further from the shoreline, you will come to irregular slopes (↕3-10ft/1-3m) gently coming down to Posidonia meadows and sandy patches (↕12-16ft/4-5m).
Two-banded seabream and sharpsnout seabream are commonplace on these areas, just like damselfish, which can often be spotted going by in schools around rocky cliffs.
This part of La Folaca beach takes shape of a small bay and is generally well sheltered. However, do not enter the water is water if the sea is rough, which can happen when eastern winds blow.
Water from Acciaju ponds sometimes pours down in the bay after heavy rain, altering underwater visibility. Luckily, the water is crystal clear on this spot most of the time.
A few restaurants and private beaches can be found on La Folaca beach’s southern side (Cala d’Asciaghju, Le Petit Chose, Da Mare by Sea Lounge) and on Acciaju beach (L’Acciaro Plage), about 200m from the spot. Some house and apartment rentals are available on the hills surrounding the beach.
These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
