Last minute Corsica

Looking to book something in the last minute? Check out some of our beautiful villas in the French island of Corsica. It is located in the Mediterranean, just a few kilometers from the Italian island of Sardinia. The island is the perfect holiday paradise, with its high mountain tops and clear golden beaches.

Corsica is famous for its nature, that’s why there are several natural parks there, declared for UNESCO World Heritage Site. No matter on land or under the water, you will be amazed from this sunny heaven in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. The accommodations sizes vary from 5 to 12 people. Most of them allow pets and have big organic gardens filled with natural veggies and fruit. Internet and tv are installed and ready to go. The most expensive ones even have their very own swimming pools, as well as a barbeque space.

An astounding array of flora and fauna

There are many natural parks and reserves you can visit there. The biggest one is The Regional Natural Park of Corsica, covering nearly 40% of the island. Within the park is located The Scandola Nature Reserve, which is on the World Heritage List from 1983. It is famous for its red cliffs, sand beaches, and headlands. The Corse Natural Park can’t be missed as well with its 340,510 hectares of protected land. It consists mostly from mountainous terrain, with the highest peak Massif du Clinto reaching more than 2700 meters. The forests within the park consist of Laici pine trees, holm oak, beech, maritime pine and cork oak.

Many representatives of the flora and fauna can be found only on Corsica and nowhere else. The isolation of the island has created branching of common species with their ancestors. Around 22,500 plant species are present on the island, 140 of which are endemic to Corsica and 80 of which are endemic to Corsica and Sardinia. On the coastline you can find durable plants like aloe, eucalyptus, wild olive tree, prickly juniper, cotton weed, sea fennel and many more. From the beaches up to 1000 meters of altitude you can find forests composed of strawberry trees, heather, cistus, broom, oak trees and more. Mushroom pickers won’t be disappointed with all the 500 different species of mushrooms growing in the autumn. High in the mountains you will observe endemic Corsican pine, evergreen oak, sessile and pubescent, yew and more. Many flowers developed special features, making them endemic for the island. Some of them are crocus, orchids, violet, romulea, aconite and many others.

Besides the little mammals like fox, weasel, wild rabbit, hare, hedgehog, shrew and vole, on Corsica you can also find Corsican deer, which was successfully reintroduced in its natural habitat. Mouflons, a wild species of mountain sheep can be found in the regional nature park of Corsica. The forests are populated by a large number of wild boars. Corsica has a big population of bats. More than 22 species fly in the night skies looking for some tasty bugs. They are extremely important for keeping the balance in the environment. Many reptiles and amphibians call the island their home as well. The Bedriaga's rock lizard, Tyrrhenian wall lizard and the Corsican brook salamander, can be found only here and Sardinia. A few species of tortoises and turtles can be found on the island like the Hermann tortoises and the European Pond Turtles.

There are many interesting birds for the birdwatching enthusiasts. Representing the birds of prey on the island are red kites, barn owl, peregrine falcons and sparrowhawks. If lucky you might even spot the very rare for the region's golden eagle or bearded vulture. European birds can be found here like swift, blackbird, thrush, robin, tit, swallow, goldfinch, but Corsica is used as a rest stop for many migratory birds like duck, Mediterranean shearwater, European bee-eater, egret. There are also two endemic species of butterflies dancing above the flowery fields. There are more than 150 species of fish in the waters surrounding the island.

Any interesting activities that you should know about?

Exploring the island would be very easy if you rent a car. That way you can cover a bigger span of territory and see more from what the island has to offer. You should check out the Filitosa megalithic site in southern Corsica, France. There are remnants of an ancient village dating 4000 BC. Or you can drive to a deserted beach and have a quiet afternoon without a single worry in the world.

Hiking is also a good and healthy way to explore the thousand kilometers of exceptional coastline, landscapes, splendid shores, mountains, forests, high-altitude lakes, and other jaw-dropping scenes. You can also rent a bike and cycle through the beautiful and charming countryside.

If a more extreme activity is what you are looking for you must try mountain biking in the Niolu, or different forms of rafting or canyon cars amongst the many rivers hidden in the mountains. If winter is your season of choice, certain ski stations offer cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

But don’t let land set limits for you. There is a whole water world waiting for you to be explored. Many diving clubs can be found giving you the opportunity for diving and snorkeling amongst reefs and all sorts of marine life. Boat fishing or spear fishing is also a possibility. And if you want to stay on top of the water, you can try surfing or kiteboarding.

And how is the climate?

The climate of Corsica is Mediterranean. It can get pretty windy on the island. The winter months have a high chance of precipitation. From May to September the average temperature varies from 20 to 25 °C. The coldest month is January - 9°C. October is the wettest month, so bring an umbrella. Or take high factor sunscreen if you are planning to go in July, because it is the most sunny and driest month of the year.