Southern Stintino · Gulf of Asinara
Le Saline beach
Two kilometres of sand and pebbles, the wild alternative to La Pelosa
✽ 10 minutes by car from the villa
South of the Stintino centre, Le Saline is the beach few tourists know but many locals prefer to La Pelosa. Over two kilometres of shoreline alternating pale sand, white pebbles smoothed by the sea and stretches of finer sand, with crystal-clear water, shallow near the shore but quickly deeper, and an open view of Asinara and its coves. Behind, dunes, junipers and a low Mediterranean scrub dotted with the odd isolated villa. No rows of parasols, no bookings, no turnstiles: here you arrive, settle where you prefer and stay for the whole day.
A beach different from La Pelosa
Le Saline is the opposite of La Pelosa, and that's its strength. There is no regulated access — you come and go freely, at any time, on any day of the year. There are no restrictions on how long you can stay in the water or on gear. The sheer width of the shoreline means the beach is never really full, not even on August bank-holiday weekends: there's always a quiet stretch where you can lay down your towel. The name "Le Saline" comes from the ancient natural salt pans that covered these areas until the early 20th century, when salt extraction was abandoned. Today, only the name remains: in front opens the Stagno di Casaraccio, a protected wetland that hosts pink flamingos in the winter months.
Who Le Saline is for
Le Saline is the right beach for those who have already seen La Pelosa (or couldn't get a slot), those with dogs (allowed in the northern section), those who love windsurfing and kitesurfing — the Mistral wind comes in here more strongly and consistently, especially in the afternoon. It's great for families: small children do very well on the sandy areas near the shore, with no waves and no sudden drop-offs. It's not the choice if you're looking for typical equipped-beach services: the shoreline is largely free and there are no bars or showers along much of it. In the evening, it's the right place to catch sunset behind Asinara: the colours of the sky reflect on the white pebbles and the still-warm water.
Access, parking, tips
From Stintino, you reach it by car in about ten minutes along the SP34 heading south, towards Porto Torres: numerous dirt roads drop from the provincial road down to the beach, all signposted. Parking alongside the road, free outside August; in high season some areas become paid (€3–5 per day). There is a small beach bar-kiosk on the central beach (Kiosko Le Saline) open from June to September — serving sandwiches, ice cream, drinks and at lunchtime single-plate pasta and grilled fish dishes. Tips: bring a parasol (no natural shade), reef shoes for the pebble areas, plenty of water. Early in the morning and after 17:00 the wind drops and the beach is busier; in the middle of the afternoon the Mistral is at its strongest but the crowds thin out.