Surfing and hiking on the wild beach of Capo di Feno

Published on May 7, 2024 at 8:00 am

To the east of Ajaccio, Capo di Feno, or "hay cape" in Corsican, is a beach of breathtaking wild beauty. The area offers visitors small coves of white sand and walks along the edge of the mountains that tumble abruptly into the Mediterranean. In the distance, you can see the Genoese tower, a vestige of a time when the cape was a strategic surveillance point for the country. The place is absolutely magnificent. The main beach at Capo di Feno is one of the most famous surfing spots on the island of beauty. Indeed, the Mediterranean Sea, although calm on the coast, can break loose and give surfers some impressive waves.

The wild beach of Capo di Feno in Corsica.

Summary

History of Capo di Feno
Walks around Cap d'Ajaccio
Surf, paddle or kayak at Capo di Feno
Where to eat?

History of Capo di Feno

The beach is sometimes called Capo di Fenu, the Corsican word 'Fenu' meaning hay. It would appear that agricultural remains were found on Capo di Feno beach many years ago. From Ajaccio, it's about a 25-minute drive to Capo di Feno, where there are two beaches, Grand Capo and Petit Capo. They are separated by a small field, which is very pleasant to cross on foot. There is free parking nearby.

🌊The surfers' beach: the Grand Capo

This is the most famous beach for surfers. Large and open to the Mediterranean Sea, this beach sometimes has impressive waves that are no match for those of the ocean.

🌊The quiet beach of Petit Capo

This beach is smaller and less well-known to tourists. It is quieter due to the fact that the main access leads directly to Grand Capo beach. Just walk a few minutes south to find the beach at Petit Capo.

The petit Capo beach is quieter.

Walks around Cap d'Ajaccio

From the beach, there are several walks of varying degrees of difficulty. Here are our two favourites.

🥾 From Villanova to the beach

The small village of Villanova is 28 minutes north of Ajaccio. From the village with its traditional Corsican architecture, a path leads down to the wide beach of Capo di Feno.

Practical info

🚶 Distance: 6 km (12 if you do the return trip)

🕑 Hiking time: 1h30

🏔️ Difference in altitude: 233m

👉 Difficulty: easy

Ajaccio's coastal path is well worth the detour

🥾 From Capo di Feno's main beach to the Genoese tower on the cape

From Capo di Feno's main beach, a path along the coast leads north to the Genoese tower on the cape. It's a magnificent route that's well worth the diversions.

Practical info

🚶 Distance: 7.5 km (15 if you make the return trip)

🕑 Hiking time: 1h45

🏔️ Difference in altitude: 145m

👉 Difficulty: fairly easy

The sunset over the Genoese tower

Surf, paddle or kayak at Capo di Feno

The Capo Surf Club surf school is a sports centre offering a range of activities including surfing, kayaking, stand-up paddling, windsurfing and Hawaiian canoeing. You can also take a guided tour of the marvellous landscapes of Cap d'Ajaccio. The owners, who are passionate about surfing, organise surfing competitions every year on the Capo di Feno beach. You can hire your equipment or take lessons, by booking on their website or by phone on 06 09 42 82 76.