Cerboli e Palmaiola
19 February 2019
Punta Ala
19 February 2019
Distance 14mn (75 min)
Minimum inflatable recommended Capelli Tempest 530
Full day rental minimum time
Fuel station
The municipality of Rio Marina overlooks the Piombino canal, opposite the Tuscan coast, and is the mining center of the Elba Island par excellence. For millennia its economy has been linked exclusively to the extraction and transport of ferrous material and only recently, with the closure of the mines, has tourism been undertaken. Nevertheless, it is still possible to enjoy and admire the remains of this flourishing past.
The life of the small village, framed by a hilly landscape with the typical reddish shades of iron, is mainly concentrated in the area of the marina which, dominated by the Torre degli Appiani or dell’Orologio, protects the town’s beach characterized by the brilliant chromatic effects produced by the sand black of hematite. It was considered a duty to preserve and enhance both the mining reality and the hard work of the miners who made this place history and the visit to the Mining Park becomes a necessary passage for those arriving in Rio Marina: the Mineral Museum, in the historic center of the town, is the first stop, followed by guided excursions, on foot or with the nice train, through the main mining areas of the area.
The village of Cavo, the coastal stretch closest to the mainland, is part of the municipality. Although small, the center is welcoming, well served and has a long sandy shore, a mixture of sand with white gravel, which extends over the entire Gulf of the country. Like Rio Marina, Cavo is a port of departure and arrival for maritime transport to Piombino, the only alternative to Portoferraio.
This side is very quiet and characterized by several small coves, almost to Cavo, the last port we meet before starting to cross the northwest corner in the direction of Portoferraio
Rio marina and cable are an excellent restart zone to return to tip ala in case of north-west winds as it allows us to return with winds enough to the shoulders, passing first from the small islands Palmaiola and Cerboli.
