Corsica



Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of France, and north of the island of Sardinia. Corsica is one a the 26 regions of France with the special status of "territorial collectivity". The island can be seen as a mountain in the sea, and it is well known for is diversity in terms of landscape, nature and ecology. It offers around 1,000km of coastline and more than 200 beaches, beside a very mountainous area (with an highest peak at 2706m) with various paths and trails. With the mountains providing plenty of fresh water, Corsica is a green and foresty island despite is long exposition to the sun all over the year.

Cosica was named « Kallisté » (the most beautiful) by Ancient Greece, and nowaday she is commonly named « L´île de Beauté » (the beauty island).

By Boat
Night boats are the most common. They are leaving from France or Italy at around 6 or 7 PM and are arriving in Corsica at 6 or 7 AM the next day. Sometimes, and especially during summer, you can find a day cruise. In all cases, It is better to reserve your tickets long before, in order to get the cheapest prices. The main advantage of the boat compared to the plane is that you can bring your own vehicle in Corsica.

There is two main Ferry companies to go in and out of Corsica:

- Corsica Ferries: departing from Nice (FR), Toulon (FR), Livorno(IT) or Savone (IT) and arriving in Ajaccio, Bastia, Calvi or Ile Rousse.

- SNCM: departing from Marseille (FR), Toulon (FR) or Nice (FR), and arriving in Ajaccio, Bastia, Propriano, Porto-Vecchio or Ile Rousse. SNCM also provide the NGV service (High speed boat), from April to October, departing from Nice and reaching Corsica in less than 3 hours.

By Plane
Obvioulsy the quickest way to go in Corsica. Air Corsica and Air France are the two main airlines, and you can take a plane from some major cities in France (Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, and Paris). Prices are more (to much more) expansive compared to the boat, especially during the high season (Mid-June to Mid-September).

You can book your tickets online and try to get discount prices here: Air Corsica.

Important: Starting the 28th of May 2008, for the first time, a low cost company will open a connection between Paris and Figari (3 flights per week: Monday, Wednesday and Friday). You can check on: XL airways or call them.

Some other low cost companies are now available on the island. Have a look at German Wings or Ryanair (from Belgium mainly)

Moving in Corsica
Public transport is very poor in Corsica. So, except if you're planning a lazy holiday on a beach or beat some Corsica's long-distance trail, it is essential to bring or to rent (at the airport or harbor) your own vehicle. If you can't afford it, hitchhiking is a good option. On the road, be very careful, except for few main routes, Corsica's roads are narrow and full of hairpin bends, watch out also for wild and domestic animals... In addition be also ready for parking problems and traffic jams in majors towns, especially in high season. Travelling is a slow process and can be uncomfortable.

About the Train: The corsican train is named the U trinighellu (the trembler). It can be considered as a tourist attraction (because it offers stunning views hidden to road travellers) as well as a slow and unconvenient transport to link few cities: Ajaccio, Corte, Bastia, Ille rousse and Calvi. Here for the Timeables and prices: U trinighellu.

About buses: There are many bus companies that operate routes between the main towns, but the timeables and the directions are not always easy to find out... Fortunately there is this unofficial website, which provide accurate information: Corsican Buses. Be aware, by using the bus, you loose a lot of flexibility and miss the wild part of Corsica.

About boat renting: If you want to avoid the mountains, another way to discover Corsica, is to rent a boat and go along the coastline. Note that this become an expansive trip and it's not given to everyone!

The Main CS Cities of the Region
With around 280,000 unhabitants and less than 30 couches available, we can say that the CS community is so far close to unexistant in Corsica... There is few people who can offer you a couch in the main cities: Ajaccio and Bastia and Corte. Apart of this, we live in the hope that the community will grow in the near future.

Family Welcome


In the region, there is a very nice, active and developped CS Families network. If you travel with your children, if you would like to be hosted by a family, if you are searching for a host who accept a family, meeting other families making to your children more different cultural friendship, you are welcome to join the French Family's group !

A tool exists to localise easily where you can find the CS families' in the region, please check the Family Welcome Map of the area.



Rural Couchsurfing
In Corsica you have the chance to have the possibility to couchsurf a bit everywhere, even in the countryside ! Check the map of the Rural CSers in Corsica, you can find them easilier on this way ! There is also a CS group called "Rural CS France" where you can talk with all Rural CSers in France.

But not all Rural CSers appears on the map or are members of the group "Rural CS France". To find the others, join the Regional CS group of Corsica !

What to visit in the Region
Corsica offers a large diversity of landscape and generally you cannot be wrong wherever you go even if you move only with the wind. It's the island where you enjoy nature and small towns all around it.

Outdoor activities include: Beaches activities, coastal sailing, diving, kayaking, trekking, biking, horse riding, climbing, canyoning, skiing, hunting and fishing...

The GR20 (or fra li monte) is the famous GR footpath of Corsica, reputed to be the most diffcult in Europe (but some parts are accesible to everyone).

Links
hitch:Corsica