Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lands. Add a sea kayak or surfboard, and a secret sandy cove perhap s - reached only from
the sea - and you have the real picture: the Tuscan coast and its offshore islands are the
source of great outdoor action.
Diving & Snorkelling
The island of
Elba
is among Italy's top year-round diving spots (although you'll shiver
without a semidry wetsuit between November and May): if you're into wrecks, you can
plunge into blue waters at Pomonte, where the
Elvisco
cargo boat sits on the seabed 12m
deep, or gawp through a mask at the German WWII plane
Junker 52,
wrecked at a more
challenging depth of 38m near Portoferraio.
Otherwise, aquatic flora and fauna is protected and dramatic. Diving facilities are gen-
erally of a high standard and several diving schools on the island rent all the gear and or-
ganise guides, courses and so on. Less intrepid water lovers can snorkel.
Back on the mainland, you can also dive along the
Etruscan Coast
and further south in
Porto Ercole on
Monte Argentario
.
Kayaking & Canoeing
Hot sultry summer afternoons are best spent lapping up the slow, natural rhythm of
Tuscan travel in a sea kayak or canoe - from beach to beach along
Elba's
magnificent
cove-clad coast (bring provisions along given it will just be you, kayak, sand, sea and one
or two monumental wind-sculpted rocks) or past sand dunes in the
Parco Regionale della
Maremma
(where there's a fabulous guided canoe trail).
Sailing & Surfing
The coves of the Tuscan archipelagos and around
Monte Argentario
are superb for sail-
ing, as well as windsurfing, kite surfing and sea kayaking. Rent equipment and receive in-
struction at all the major resorts.
Viareggio
holds several annual sailing regattas.
White-Water Rafting
A handful of outfits in the spa town of
Bagni di Lucca
in northwestern Tuscany organise
white-water rafting expeditions on the Lima River.
