Cala Mariolu

Cala Mariolu, on Sardinia's raw eastern edge, isn't easy to reach. You arrive by boat, or after a tough two-hour scramble down from the Supramonte plateau. The shore is a blend of smooth, white pebbles and soft sand.

Yet, it's the water that truly defines Cala Mariolu—a nearly unbelievable spectrum of turquoise, aquamarine, and deep cobalt. It routinely gets compared to beaches in the tropics, thousands of miles from Europe. Behind the beach, the Supramonte's limestone cliffs shoot straight up, creating a feeling of profound solitude.

Keep an eye out for the Mediterranean monk seal; this rare marine mammal has been seen in the sea caves close by. Cala Mariolu is just one jewel in the Gulf of Orosei, which boasts over a dozen equally stunning beaches. These are strung along 40 kilometers of roadless, cliff-edged coastline—easily one of the Mediterranean's most dramatic stretches.