Corsica: A review

Stunningly beautiful, Corsica is a small island off the south-east coast of France. Here is a review of Corsica, and why you should go there.

The moment you land in Corsica (if you took the plane) you will notice how remarkably quiet the airports are. There are four in total, each on different sides of the island. I went to the one in Figari, which is on the south coast. The queues at the airport when I was there where non-existent, and all in all it took us 30 minutes to get from the entrance of the airport to the entrance of the plane.

As soon as you take a step out of the plane, you will notice the warm climate embracing you (a nice change from British weather!), and a perfectly cool breeze.

When I went to Corsica, it was a two-hour drive to the place I was camping at. When I arrived there, I was awestruck. It was a beautifully tucked away part of the forest, with a pile of boulders when climbed upon revealed a spectacular view of the Corsican forest. The toilet at the campsite was just a simple whole in the ground, and the showers just a hosepipe but it was fine for my needs. I was camping with my cousins, and in the morning when the sun was shining through the trees and into our tent, we would hear bells as livestock was herded past the campsite. I cannot think of a nicer way to wake up in the morning – and it was a very welcome change from my normal mundane alarm clock. It wasn’t a big campsite – in fact, there was only enough space for me and my cousins.

In the morning, we would go to the beach, about a half an hour drive away and go swimming to some rocks about ten meters out and start some cliff jumping. The water was incredibly clear and was also the perfect temperature. The highest cliff we jumped off was about eight meters above the water level.

For lunch, we would sit on the sand and eat a simple baguette with some cheese and salami, before going hiking up the Corsican mountains. The views from the top were stunning, and I felt perfectly at peace, at one with the countryside.

Afterwards, we would return back to camp, and my youngest cousin and brother made a pretend bar out of a fallen tree and a tree stump, where they would serve up some lime cordial as we would sit and chat.

One of my favorite days was when we visited this stream about an hour from the campsite. Once we reached it by car, it was a further half-hour hike to the bit of the stream that was deep enough to jump in. Although the stream wasn’t as warm as the sea, it was just as clear. It was immensely picturesque, and we did some cliff jumping before sunbathing on the smooth, warm rocks. This place was one of my favorite that I have ever been to, and which is why I strongly recommend traveling to Corsica at least once in your life. People say that being in nature is also very good for your mental health, and I can say myself that I rarely feel as calm as I did that day, surrounded by the wilderness.

However, my favorite thing about camping in Corsica was the evening. I will never forget climbing up the boulders with my cousins, laughing as we watched the sun set, only to reveal a immense black blanket envelope the sky, speckled with hundreds of shining, twinkling stars. It was beauty beyond compare, and one of the happiest moments of the holiday, and my life.

For one of the last days I was at Corsica, I visited one of the local villages, Carbini, and was again amazed. The bright colourful markets were fantastic, and had gorgeous smells ranging from escargot (snails, normally fried in butter and garlic) to a fantastic variety of fromage (cheese). I wandered down the cobbled streets, each one looking the same but also different in small ways. The history in villages like these are fascinating, and I would strongly recommend visiting a museum to discover more about the culture.

It is for these reasons above that I urge you to visit Corsica and see the stunning landscapes and water for yourself. If I had the opportunity, I would definitely go again. Accurately referred to as L’Île de Beauté (the Isle of Beauty), it still retains some of its Italian heritage despite being under French rule for 200 years.

Thank you if you read this far, and I really do hope you travel to Corsica one day!