The path leading to the beach of Trois Pointes from the Pertusato area is far from a developed coastal promenade. There is a lack of stable signage, passage over private lands subject to temporary agreements, and uneven limestone terrain: access presents real constraints that most travel guides do not detail beyond a vague “bring good shoes.”
Technical profile of the trail to the beach of Trois Pointes
The main route starts from the Saint-Roch chapel in Bonifacio and follows the rugged coastline towards Capo Pertusato. The path is completely devoid of shade throughout the entire route, which requires it to be traversed early in the morning or late in the day during the summer season.
The ground alternates between smooth limestone slabs, sections of root maquis, and rocky passages where the foot never rests flat. There are no handrails, no guardrails, no cut steps. The final descent to the cove requires negotiating a steep drop on raw rock.
For those familiar with the beach of 3 points in Bonifacio, the return often constitutes the most demanding part: the ascent in the heat, with no water source or shaded resting area, turns a coastal stroll into a real physical effort.
Real accessibility: children, PRM, and unsuitable shoes
This trail is not accessible by wheelchair or with a stroller. No PRM facilities exist along the route, nor at the beach itself. The terrain effectively excludes people with reduced mobility.
For children, the question varies depending on age. A child carried in a backpack can pass without difficulty if the carrier is comfortable on rough terrain. However, a walking child under six years old may tire well before reaching the cove, making the return problematic.
What the type of shoes concretely changes
Open sandals, flip-flops, and city shoes are a classic trap on this trail. The limestone rock, polished by wind and spray, becomes slippery as soon as it is wet. The roots of the maquis surface in some sections and catch on thin soles.
We recommend at least low hiking shoes with a rugged sole. Trail shoes also do the job. Closed shoes with a smooth sole (like urban sneakers) are insufficient on the descent to the cove, where the slope requires reliable grip.
- Low or mid hiking shoes with Vibram or equivalent rugged sole: the safest choice for the round trip
- Trail shoes with lugs: acceptable if the sole is in good condition, less protective in case of ankle twisting on rock
- Closed hiking sandals (like Keen): acceptable for experienced walkers on the upper section, risky on the final descent
- Flip-flops, open-toed shoes, beach shoes: to be categorically avoided, even for “just going down to see”
Car access and parking towards Pertusato
From Bonifacio, the D58 towards Piantarella and then the turn onto the D260 towards Pertusato shorten the walking distance. The drivable road ends well before the beach, but it avoids the first section of the coastal trail.
Parking at the end of the D260 is limited and unmonitored. In July-August, spaces become scarce by mid-morning. No signage dedicated to the beach of Trois Pointes appears on the road: the signs indicate the Pertusato lighthouse, and it is this landmark that must be followed.
GPS and navigation apps: common pitfalls
Navigation apps regularly confuse the area with a nearby military sector. The name “beach of 3 points” does not always appear on official maps, where it sometimes appears under a secondary name. We observe that the best method is to aim for the Pertusato lighthouse as the GPS arrival point, then follow the coastal trail southwest.
On-site facilities and necessary autonomy
The beach of Trois Pointes has no infrastructure. No trash cans, no showers, no lifeguard station, no water point, no equipment rental. The place is wild in the strictest sense of the term.
This total lack of facilities has a direct consequence on preparation:
- Enough drinking water for the round trip (the heat on the unshaded trail significantly increases consumption)
- Complete sun protection: cream, hat, sunglasses. The glare on the white limestone and the water surface is intense
- Waterproof bag if you are carrying a phone or documents, as the descent to the cove exposes equipment to salt spray and falls
No reliable mobile network on the lower section of the trail or at the beach itself. In case of injury or malaise, alerting depends on the presence of other hikers on the path.
Time slots and passage agreements
Some sections of the trail cross private lands. Temporary agreements with local shepherds condition passage at certain time slots, which vary from season to season. Signage evolves according to changes in the PLU and decisions by the owners. There is no reliable centralized source to verify these time slots before departure: inquiring at the Bonifacio tourist office remains the safest method.
The beach of Trois Pointes rewards those who accept its access conditions as they are. Neither developed, nor permanently marked, nor suitable for all audiences, it remains a raw coastal site where the visitor’s level of preparation entirely determines the quality of the experience.
