· 7 min read · by Salimar Boat Tour
Boat tours from San Teodoro: what you see and where they really leave from
If you searched “boat tour San Teodoro” you are probably staying here and want a day on the water with no surprises: where you go, where boats leave from, what it costs. Here is the honest picture, with verified numbers.
Where you go: the Tavolara Marine Protected Area
Right in front of San Teodoro lies one of the most beautiful marine areas in the Mediterranean: Tavolara, a 565-metre limestone mountain rising straight out of the sea, Molara with its natural pools, tiny Molarotto and the Capo Coda Cavallo coastline. This is where every excursion in the area heads.
You can land on Tavolara (only at Spalmatore di Terra): pale gravel beaches, transparent water, a couple of restaurants, a panoramic trail and even the tiny cemetery of the “kings of Tavolara”. Molara you admire from the water: the swim stop at its natural pools, when the park allows it, is the moment you will remember.
The three possible departures (and the real differences)
1) From the San Teodoro beach (Isuledda area): daily motorships loading straight from the shore, with a short dinghy transfer of a few dozen metres. Convenient without a car; fixed itinerary and large groups.
2) From Porto San Paolo, 15 km (≈ 20 minutes by car on the SS125): the home port of the Marine Protected Area, directly opposite Tavolara. From here leave the island shuttle (about a 20-minute crossing) and two-hour trips with a swim at the Molara pools.
Shuttle times and tickets for Tavolara (from Porto San Paolo)
In high season outbound runs leave roughly every half hour from 9:00 to 13:30; returns from the island are at 13:00, 15:30, 16:30, 17:30 and 18:30 (times guaranteed from mid-July to the end of August, with variations the rest of the year). Crossing: about 20 minutes. Tickets at the port.
Boarding point: Porto San Paolo harbour. Before planning your day, check the updated timetable on tavolaratraghetti.it.
3) From Olbia, about half an hour by car: our base. Small-group speedboat from the <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Marina+di+Olbia+Via+Piovene+8" target="_blank" rel="noopener" style="color:#1b7fd4;font-weight:700">Marina di Olbia (MOYS, via Piovene 8)</a>, flexible route along the whole protected area and swim stops where the rules allow. The difference from the motorship is freedom: few guests, route adapted to sea and wind.
What a day on the water costs here
Shared excursions in the area run roughly from 30 to 70 euros per person, depending on length and boat; private charters start from several hundred euros. Our tours from Olbia, with prices always live from the price list:
| Tavolara & Molara islands tour | €70 per person | Book now Details › | |
| Dolphin watching | €70 per person | Book now Details › |
The park rules that actually concern you
Three things to know before boarding: you land only on Tavolara (Spalmatore di Terra); Molara and Molarotto are admired from the water, without setting foot on them; the fully protected zones are strictly off-limits, and anchoring and stops are regulated. We explain them properly in our <a href="/en/blog/tour-tavolara-molara-da-olbia/" style="color:#1b7fd4;font-weight:700">Tavolara & Molara tour guide</a>.
When to come
June and September are the secret: warm water, half the crowds. In July and August book a few days ahead, whichever departure you choose. Mornings are almost always calmer: if the Molara pools are your priority, pick the earliest trips.
Quick answers
Can you reach Tavolara without an organised tour? Yes: shuttle from Porto San Paolo, a 20-minute crossing, and the island is yours until whichever return you prefer.
Does it work with kids? Very well: short crossings, shallow water at Spalmatore and a trail with panels about local plants and animals. Children are welcome on the motorships and on our tours.
Do I need to book? In high season yes, for everything: motorships, the shuttle on peak days and speedboats. Off season a few hours ahead is enough.
Seats on our tours can be booked online in a minute from the Sardinia page or the table above: your card is only authorised until the skipper confirms.
Facts checked on 1 August 2026. Shuttle times and fares can change: tavolaratraghetti.it is the reference for the shuttle, the Tavolara – Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area for the park.