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Punta Salinas

Publié le 14 August 2015 | Sardinia, Italy

A fine hike, especially for the incredible view from the summit of Punta Salinas, which literally overlooks Cala Goloritzè and dominates the entire coastline from the Gulf of Orosei to Cala Gonone. However, the trek itself is not unforgettable, all the more so as the orientation to get there is not always obvious, with episodic and random markings. The end of the route crosses and straddles a small section of the Selvaggio Blu, the great Gulf of Orosei trek that joins Pedra Longa to Cala Gonone. In any case, it's the best option for discovering the area and accessing Cala Goloritzé through the front door.

Technical summary

Access to the place

From the Baunei center, take the winding road up to the plateau (multiple signs for Golgo and Su Porteddu). Once on the plateau, follow the road almost to the end. Before the San Pietro church and the start of the track, turn right towards Golgo and Su Porteddu. At the end of the 1km track, you'll find the Su Porteddu bar, where you can park (and camp, for that matter, for 8 euros per person).

Map & topo

Itinerary description

Hiking to the start 2′

From the bar, exit and turn right. After a few dozen metres, you'll see a large signpost indicating the route and the start on the left under the woods.

Course

If the start is the same as the classic hike from Cala Goloritzè to the pass, the rest of the route is less easy to follow through the scrubland, all the more so as the markings made of red dots and cairns, and blue dots at the end, are confused and episodic. No other difficulties, except perhaps the steep descent from Punta Salinas to the Cala.

Part 1

Climb up to the pass on the busy path leading to the cala, and after the central plateau, before tilting completely towards the sea, there's a small path leading up to the right with a cairn and a red dot further on.

Part 2

Cross due south along the moderately marked path. Go past a shepherd's hut and climb to the right to continue crossing, staying high (there are many paths in the scrubland, take the highest one). You pass through undergrowth and at the end there's a sort of cul de sac with a rocky barrier that's impassable in any case.

Take the stony path up to the left to cross the ridge (plenty of cairns). On the other side is a farm with animals. Descend steeply to the right, below the farmhouse, to join a wide track heading east.

Further down, you can make out the start of the Punta. Pass an enclosed grazing area and further down fork right onto a secondary track (red dot at the base of a tree).

Part 3: Punta Salinas

Continue along the track, then turn left onto a tiny path under shrubs with red dots or cairns. Follow it without too much difficulty, staying on the ridge to finally reach the end of Punta Salinas. Magnificent views.

Back

Go back and at a small pass before the final section, find a path that winds eastwards down a scree slope. Not sure if it's the right one, but if you go down this way, you'll reach a gully at the bottom and a wider path which, going down to the right, joins the main path to Cala Goloritzè.

Here you have 2 options: either go straight up, or go down to the Cala for a swim, but save energy and water for the rather exhausting climb back up(See Cala Goloritze hike).