Day 4 · Mon 2 NovSu Gologone spring, across the island, Capo San Marco at sunset

Step by step

1. 08:45Drive

   Cala Gonone → Su Gologone spring

   26 km · 40 min

   SP26SS125SP38SP46

   1. Out of Cala Gonone on the SP26 through the tunnel, then right on the SS125 into Dorgali.
   2. In Dorgali turn left onto the SP38, signed Oliena / Nuoro, for 4.5 km, then left onto the SP46 towards Oliena for 7.6 km.
   3. At 40.28954, 9.46516 take the sharp left signed Sorgenti Su Gologone. It’s 2.6 km past the Hotel Su Gologone to the car park.

   PSu Gologone spring car park

   A big free car park at the gate. From here it’s a 5-minute walk, no cars.

   Cost: Free

   Navigate here ↗Pin40.28901, 9.49412

2. 09:301Stop

   Su Gologone spring

   Sardinia’s largest karst spring: a deep blue-green crack at the foot of the Supramonte cliffs. Divers have gone down over 100 m and still not found the bottom. Walk about 300 m through the eucalyptus park, past the little church of Nostra Signora della Pietà, to the pool under the cliff. Toilets at the entrance.

   ≈ 45 min€2 entry (may be out of date)November hours: check

   Opening hours are listed as daily 09:00–20:00, but the date of that information is unknown. If the gate is shut, phone one of the numbers below.

   

3. 10:15Drive

   Su Gologone → Cabras

   110 km · 2 h 15

   SP46SS129SS131 DCNSS131SS292

   1. Back to the SP46 and turn left into Oliena. At the roundabout go straight on, signed SP22 Nuoro, then left onto the SS129 into Nuoro.
   2. Through Nuoro follow Oristano / Sassari / Cagliari onto the SS131 DCN (Diramazione Centrale Nuorese). Stay on it for 50 km to where it joins the main SS131 near Abbasanta.
   3. Join the SS131 “Carlo Felice” southbound (towards Cagliari) for 24.5 km. Fuel: two Eni stations just after the junction (40.10937, 8.79296).
   4. Take the exit SS292 Oristano Nord / Siamaggiore. Through four roundabouts towards Oristano, then take the exit SP1 Cabras / Torregrande / San Giovanni di Sinis.
   5. After 2.3 km turn right onto the SP3 (Corso Italia) into Cabras.

   Speed checks

   No fixed speed cameras are mapped on this route, but mobile checks on the SS131 and the DCN are frequent. Limits change often: watch the signs.

4. 12:302Lunch

   Lunch in Cabras

   Cabras is famous for muggine (grey mullet) from its lagoon and for bottarga, the cured roe. Grate it over spaghetti or eat it sliced with oil. On a Monday, try:

   • Zia Belledda, Via Amsicora 43 · +39 351 251 1104 · fish and local dishes, lunch from 13:00, closed Tuesdays
   • Ristorante Leopardi, Via G. Leopardi 53 · +39 389 762 0863 · uses certified Cabras bottarga, but on weekdays dinner only (closed Thursdays)
   • Trattoria da Attilio, Corso Italia 34 · +39 348 818 0811 · Mon–Sat 12:45–14:45

   Il Caminetto and Sa Bell’e Crabasa are closed on Mondays. Phone ahead: off-season hours change.

5. 13:45Drive

   Cabras → Is Arutas

   15 km · 30 min

   SP1SP6SP7SP59

   1. Out of Cabras on Via Tharros (SP1). At the roundabout take the SP6, signed San Giovanni di Sinis / Tharros / Is Arutas, for 6 km.
   2. At the next roundabout take the SP7 towards Putzu Idu / Is Arutas / Mari Ermi for 1.6 km, then turn left onto the SP59 for 5.6 km to the beach.

   PIs Arutas main car park

   A concrete car park for 142 cars. The paid season ends on 2 Nov, so today you still pay. Pay in the ParkingMyCar app or at the machine.

   Cost: €4 up to 2 h

   Navigate here ↗Pin39.95316, 8.40314

6. 14:153Stop

   Is Arutas

   A beach made of polished quartz grains the size of rice, in white, pink and green. Taking any home is illegal and fined heavily, so photos only. Walk to both ends.

   Optional, if you’re ahead: Mari Ermi next door is wilder and its parking is already free (39.96937, 8.40044). Take the paved way (≈ 15 km, 30 min: SP59 → SP7 → Strada Comunale Mari Ermi), not the 3.5 km dirt track.

   45 min

   

7. 15:05Drive

   Is Arutas → San Giovanni di Sinis

   12 km · 25 min

   SP59SP7SP6

   1. SP59 back to the SP7, then at the roundabout the SP6, signed San Giovanni / Tharros, to the end of the road.

   PSan Giovanni di Sinis, Tharros car park

   The paved car park closest to Tharros. There are more just north (39.88235, 8.43900 and 39.88380, 8.43856). It’s paid until 2 Nov; from 20:00 it’s free.

   Cost: ≈ €3 up to 2 h, €5 up to 4 h

   Navigate here ↗Pin39.87972, 8.43940

8. 15:354Walk

   Capo San Marco: walk out to the cape for sunset

   A long, narrow cape with sea on both sides, the Punic-Roman city of Tharros on the east shore, two Spanish towers and a nuraghe on the high point. The sun sets straight into the open sea.

   The walk, step by step

   Distance≈ 5 km return

   Heightmax 56 m, gentle

   Time≈ 1 h 15 walking

   TerrainGravel track

   ShadeNone

   1. 15:35Walk south from the car park past the church of San Giovanni di Sinis, one of the oldest churches in Sardinia, and the little hamlet.
   2. 15:45At the Tharros entrance (closed on Mondays), keep right, outside the fence, on the gravel track along the west side of the site. You look down over the columns from the path.
   3. 15:55From 39.8714, 8.4395 a compacted gravel track (cars need a permit) runs about 1.6 km south over the cape. The Torre di Capo San Marco ruin is on the east side.
   4. 16:20Reach the high ground by the Nuraghe Baboi Cabitza (39.86313, 8.43591), about 2 km from the car. This is the sunset point: open sea to the west, Tharros and the Gulf of Oristano behind. The other viewpoint is at 39.86521, 8.43737.
   5. 16:30Optional: walk the last 300 m to the gate at 39.86024, 8.43451. The lighthouse beyond it is a Navy site, fenced and closed, but you can see it from the gate.
   6. 17:24Sunset. Wait 10 minutes for the afterglow.
   7. 17:35Head torches on and walk back the same way, 30–35 minutes. The cliffs have no railings, so stay on the track.
   8. 18:10Back at the car.

   ≈ 5 kmEasySunset 17:24

   

9. 18:15Drive

   San Giovanni di Sinis → Cabras

   13 km · 25 min

   SP6SP1

   1. Back up the SP6 and SP1 into Cabras. Check in.
10. 20:005Dinner

    Dinner in Cabras

    Zia Belledda (from 20:00) or Leopardi (from 19:45); both are open on Monday evenings. Groceries for tomorrow’s picnic: Vicino a te, Via Tharros 121 (daily 07:30–21:00, OSM hours).

If things change

Numbers and links