Lotu

Lotu, sometimes written Loto, is the more easily reached of the two famous Agriates beaches near Saint Florent, its neighbour Saleccia being the other. It shares the same wild character: a broad stretch of soft white sand, clear turquoise water and a backdrop of empty maquis covered hills, with almost nothing built behind it. What sets Lotu apart is access. The seasonal boat shuttle from Saint Florent crosses the gulf and lands close to the sand, making this the simplest way to taste the Agriates without the punishing track that guards much of the area.

The water at Lotu is a real draw. It is clear and shallow near the shore, often calm and a soft shade of turquoise, which makes for easy, pleasant swimming on a settled day. The open setting and the lack of development are the whole point, giving the beach a remote, unspoiled feel that the busy southern beaches cannot match. From Lotu you can also walk the coastal path to Saleccia in around an hour, so many visitors land at one beach, walk to the other and catch the boat back, turning the day into a small adventure along an empty coast.

Now the honest part. Lotu is wild, and wild means you come prepared. The boat is seasonal and runs to a timetable, so you must watch the last departure or risk being stranded on a beach with no easy road out. Facilities are minimal, sometimes no more than a simple seasonal bar, so water, food and sun shade are your responsibility. The beach is exposed, and when the wind gets up the calm turquoise can turn choppy. None of this is a reason to stay away, but it is a reason to plan rather than just turn up.

Who should skip it: anyone who wants loungers, a restaurant and a short walk from the car, since Lotu offers none of that reliably. Who should go: travellers who want the wild Agriates with the least effort, and walkers who like the idea of pairing it with Saleccia. Combine Lotu with Saleccia along the coastal path, the dunes of Ostriconi further west, or the easier town beach at Calvi for a change of pace.

Lotu lies in the Agriates near Saint Florent in northern Corsica, and the usual way in is the seasonal boat shuttle that crosses the gulf from the town. The crossing is short and scenic and lands you close to the sand, which makes Lotu the easiest of the wild Agriates beaches to reach. By land the options are harder: a rough track that suits a four wheel drive, or a long walk along the coastal path. For most visitors the boat is the obvious and most enjoyable choice.

Because the beach is undeveloped, come self sufficient with water, food and sun shade, and check the boat timetable carefully so you catch the last return. The clear water is usually calmest in the morning, which is also the quietest time before the day boats arrive. From Lotu the path to Saleccia takes around an hour each way if you want to see both. June and September bring warm sea and long days with fewer people than the August peak, when the shuttle boats run at their busiest.