in and around Arbatax
It's strange but from the moment we arrived we immediately warmed to Arbatax. It's a small village with very few shops, just the basic supermarket, hairdresser, chandlers/fishing store and a handful of restaurants/bars and for this time of year, pretty quiet. There's a definite lack of tourists. The famous 'green train' doesn't run until mid-June and boat hire kiosks are only just opening for the season. To escape the village a bus runs on the hour to Tortoli town just 5km away.
Despite the general quietness, the marina has been bustling with the comings and goings of cruisers. It was a pleasant surprise to catch up briefly with fellow cruisers Andy off 'Marique', last seen in Portimao and Chris and Freda off 'TomBoy', last seen in Santa Ponza, Mallorca. When Darthmouth registered 'Geni' arrived we introduced ourselves to Mike and Debs. It transpires that they know a number of our Dartmouth friends from the marina so yet again plenty of drinks and socialising. Our arrival in Arbatax also coincided with the arrival of Sue and Andy off 'Psittakos' who had just flown in to prepare their yacht for the summer season. They decided to rent a small house nearby whilst the boat was in the yard and kindly invited us over for a BBQ just as long as we bought the English mustard... BBQ steak, chips and salad served with Italian red wine - delicious. Meeting Sue and Andy is becoming a yearly ritual ;-).
The port sits at the foot of Capo Bellavista, cliffs of weather beaten red rock that emerge from the sea enriched with green Mediterranean scrub - it's one of the main attractions of the coastline and doesn't disappoint especially walking up towards the lighthouse as the views are spectacular with wild animals (deer, giant sheep, goat, ostrich, donkey, wild boar) feeding all around.
From a marina point of view the facilities include toilets/showers/laundrette (€5), free WIFI, free water and free electricity plus there is an on-site bar and restaurant. The berthing charge is extremely good value at €13 per night. In June the price doubles but even so we feel that it's still extremely good value. The staff are friendly and encourage recycling by providing bio-bags for organic and plastic bags for 'plastic' waste. There are receptacles for paper, card, glass, aluminium and engine oil. We are impressed because from what we've seen to date the island has issues with the disposal of rubbish. Since our arrival on the island the marinas that we've visited provide recycle bins but don't encourage or enforce the separation of waste. Bins are normally bursting at the seams no matter where we go.
The marina/boatyard also boasts three travel hoists, the largest catering for up to 200 tonne and for the record it's the largest that we've seen to date.
look for Bruce betweeen the 200t and 65t hoists!
Despite the general quietness, the marina has been bustling with the comings and goings of cruisers. It was a pleasant surprise to catch up briefly with fellow cruisers Andy off 'Marique', last seen in Portimao and Chris and Freda off 'TomBoy', last seen in Santa Ponza, Mallorca. When Darthmouth registered 'Geni' arrived we introduced ourselves to Mike and Debs. It transpires that they know a number of our Dartmouth friends from the marina so yet again plenty of drinks and socialising. Our arrival in Arbatax also coincided with the arrival of Sue and Andy off 'Psittakos' who had just flown in to prepare their yacht for the summer season. They decided to rent a small house nearby whilst the boat was in the yard and kindly invited us over for a BBQ just as long as we bought the English mustard... BBQ steak, chips and salad served with Italian red wine - delicious. Meeting Sue and Andy is becoming a yearly ritual ;-).
The port sits at the foot of Capo Bellavista, cliffs of weather beaten red rock that emerge from the sea enriched with green Mediterranean scrub - it's one of the main attractions of the coastline and doesn't disappoint especially walking up towards the lighthouse as the views are spectacular with wild animals (deer, giant sheep, goat, ostrich, donkey, wild boar) feeding all around.
From a marina point of view the facilities include toilets/showers/laundrette (€5), free WIFI, free water and free electricity plus there is an on-site bar and restaurant. The berthing charge is extremely good value at €13 per night. In June the price doubles but even so we feel that it's still extremely good value. The staff are friendly and encourage recycling by providing bio-bags for organic and plastic bags for 'plastic' waste. There are receptacles for paper, card, glass, aluminium and engine oil. We are impressed because from what we've seen to date the island has issues with the disposal of rubbish. Since our arrival on the island the marinas that we've visited provide recycle bins but don't encourage or enforce the separation of waste. Bins are normally bursting at the seams no matter where we go.
The marina/boatyard also boasts three travel hoists, the largest catering for up to 200 tonne and for the record it's the largest that we've seen to date.
look for Bruce betweeen the 200t and 65t hoists!
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