The Vendicari Nature Reserve is one of Sicily‘s most beautiful undeveloped coastlines, and a great place to enjoy a beautiful coastal walk some time on the beach. There are several hiking trails and beaches to choose from in the nature reserve, so to help you plan your visit and get the most out of your time here, we put together this Beach and Hiking Guide for Vendicari’s Zingaro Nature Reserve. The reserve extends over an area of about 13 kilometres and includes a large lagoon, beaches, sand dunes, and salt pans, making it an important wetland area and a vital stopover for migratory birds. The reserve also featured ruins from ancient Greece, the remains of a Byzantine necropolis, and an old historic tuna fishery. The reserve is easy to visit as a day trip from nearby towns in southeastern Sicily, such as Siracusa and Noto.
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Vendicari Nature Reserve: Location & Map
Vendicari Nature Reserve (link to Google Maps) is located near Sicily’s southeastern tip, north of the beautiful coastal hamlet of Marzamemi and south of the Baroque town of Noto and the historic Siracusa (Syracuse).
The Vendicari Nature Reserve has 5 entrances/access points, each with its own small car park:
– South Entrance (Ingresso Cittadella – near San Lorenzo) – (Link to Google Maps)
– Central Entrance (Ingresso Vendicari) – (Link to Google Maps)
– Calamoshe Entrance (Ingresso Calamosche) – (Link to Google Maps)
– Marinella Entrance – (Link to Google Maps)
– Eloro Entrance (Ingresso Eloro – near Lido di Noto)
Which is the Best Vendicari Entrance to use?
The short answer is it really depends on what you want to see and do during your time in Vendicari Nature Reserve.
1) If you just want to hang out at the best beach, Calamosche (more on the beach further below), you can head directly to the Calamosche Entrance.
2) If you want to hike the entire length of the reserve, parking in the South Entrance makes most sense, from which you can make a straightforward out-and-back hike along the coast. The South Entrance is also ideally located to visit Byzantine archeological site and necropolis (Link to Google Maps).
3) Our favorite: the Central Entrance (Ingresso Vendicari). It allows you to hit most of the highlights of the reserve without having to walk its entire length, including its two best beaches (Vendicari and Calamosche), the salt marshes (where various migratory birds can be seen), Torre Sveva (the remnants of a medieval fortification) and the Tonnara di Vendicari (centuries-old tuna fishery processing plant).
The South Entrance can be connected on foot to the Central Entrance via Vendicari’s Green Trail, which runs for 5 km (10 km including return). The Central Entrance can be connected on foot to the Calamosche Entrance via Vendicari’s Orange Trail, which runs for 4.5 km (9 km including return). And finally, the Calamosche Entrance can be connected on foot to the Eloro Entrance via Vendicari’s Blue Trail, which runs for 3 km (6 km including return).
Below, we will focus on the sites and attractions of the Orange Trail.
How to get to Vendicari Nature Reserve
By Car: By far the easiest way to reach the nature reserve is by driving there.
Central Entrance (Ingresso Vendicari) – (Link to Google Maps)
From Noto: 12 km (22 minutes)
From Marzamemi: 15 km (25 minutes)
From Avola: 18 km (30 minutes)
From Siracusa: 40 km (40 minutes)
From Modica: 55 km (45 minutes)
From Catania: 100 km (1h15)
If you need to book a rental vehicle for your travels, we highly recommend using Discover Cars to get the best rates on your rental in Sicily.
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By Public Transit: It’s quite difficult to get to Vendicari Nature Reserve by public transit, and you will mostly be required to make several connections just to get close, so we don’t particularly recommend this approach.
If you don’t have your own car, your best bet is probably to take taxi cab from Noto.
Vendicari Nature Reserve – Ticket Price and Operating Hours
Entrance Fee
Entrance to the Vendicari Nature Reserve costs €3.50 per day pass per person (2025). Family passes are available for €7.00.
Parking costs an additional €5.00 per vehicle. Note that there have been reports of car break-ins in the Vendicari car parks, so please don’t leave any valuables in your vehicle.
Also note that dogs are not allowed to enter the Reserve.
Opening Hours
Vendicari Nature Reserve’s opening hours are 7:30 AM to 7 PM from April to October 31st
and 9:30 AM to 4 PM from November to March 31st.
Facilities
There are a few portable toilets on site, but they are few and far between.
While there are no food vendors within the nature reserve, there are several small restaurants located near some of the car parks, particularly near the main Central Entrance (Ingresso Vendicari).
There are no trash or recycling bins within the reserve, so please make sure you take everything back out with you.
What to Bring and What to Wear
– Though the trails aren’t particularly difficult, we still recommend wearing proper footwear due to their length and occasional uneven surfaces.
– Bring (or wear) a bathing suit if you want to swim in some of the beaches and coves (we highly recommend it). A towel would also be handy.
– Note that there is very little shade to be found, so applying sunscreen and/or wearing a hat is a good idea. Bringing LOTS of water (or some other form of hydration) with you is also a good idea, as there are no vendors within the reserve.
Hiking Packing List
All Trails subscription – This comes in really handy for areas with little or no cell reception, as the annual subscription allows you to download trail maps for offline use.
External Battery – If you are using your phone to track your progress along the trail or to help with navigation, you certainly don’t want your phone to die on you. That’s especially true in the unlikely event that you might get hurt or need assistance.
Hiking poles – These can be particularly useful in steep trails or muddy/boggy trail conditions.
Water Filter Bottle – The Life Straw bottle is an advanced water bottle with a filter that not only improves water taste but more importantly filters out bacteria and parasites, chemicals and microplastics.
Headlamp – very practical and a smart choice if you plan to start your hike before sunrise or finish it after sunset.
About Vendicari Nature Reserve and its History
The same year (1981) that Sicily’s first nature reserve was established, Zingaro Nature Reserve, plans were already in the works to create another natural reserve at Vendicari’s location. However, after several administrative delays, the reserve wasn’t officially established until 1984, and wasn’t opened to the public until 1989.
In addition to the reserve’s pristine natural beauty, Vendicari has a very rich history and archaeological heritage spanning several millennia. Near the northern end of the reserve lie some old stone quarries dating back to the 5th century BC, which were used to construct various temples and monuments in the ancient Greek city of Eloro.
The southern end of the reserve is home to a Byzantine complex that includes a church and a necropolis, dating from the 6th century AD.
Near the center of the reserve lies the Sveva Tower, dating from the 15th century, which was a fortification built to report and repel attacks from Saracen pirates. The tower was still in use until the 19th century. A short hop from the tower is the Tonnara of Vendicari (old tuna fishery), which was built in the 18th century, but ceased operations during the Second World War (and never resumed afterwards).
Today, the reserve includes a lagoons and salt pans, beaches and sand dunes, making it an important wetland area and a vital stopover for migratory birds. It is estimated that more than 180 species of birds visit the reserve each year, including pink flamingos.
Vendicari Nature Reserve – The Hiking Trails
The nature has one long trail that runs through it from north to south, hugging the coastline at many points. But since the full length of the trail is over 12 km and few would want to hike 24 km (including the return), the reserve divided the trail into sections: the Green Trail (southern portion – 5 km), the Orange Trail (middle portion – 4.5 km), and the Blue Trail (northern section – 3km).
Our favorite, which is also the most popular, is the Orange Trail, so we will focus on this section of Vendicari below.
The Orange Trail – Details
Distance: 9.2 km (including return)
Route Type: Out and Back
Elevation gain: 15 m (cumulative elevation gain: 60 m)
Start point: Car park
All Trails rating: (4.5, 137 ratings (2025))
Duration: Most people complete the trail in about 1h45 – 2h (not including beach stops)
Not an AllTrails member yet? We highly recommend signing up for either their free or paid membership plans. The free plan allows you to find new trails and plan routes but it can only be used while hiking if you have access to mobile data. The paid membership plan (AllTrails+) allows you to download trail maps for offline use and provides live progress updates and off-route notifications.
If you are still uncertain – you should know that the All Trails mobile application was voted the 2023 iPhone App of the Year by Apple.
Other Orange Trail Details
– Canine companions: Dogs are NOT permitted.
– Summit: The highest point of the trail is at 15 m above sea level
– Trail environment: Short coastal vegetation, shrublands, marshes, all of which offer very little opportunity for shade.
– Number of viewpoints: Infinite… you essentially have unobstructed views of the coastline the entire trail.
– Trail Surface / Technical trail: The trail is well-marked, well-maintained, and very easy to navigate.
– Average trail slope grade: 1% (on average, the trail is almost perfectly flat).
–Trail difficulty level: Easy
(based on our personal assessment, taking into account the trail length, slope grade and trail surface – 5-point difficulty scale: Very easy, Easy, Moderate, Moderately Challenging, Challenging)
The Orange Trail – The Scenery
Here we will let the pictures do most of the talking. Vendicari is just such a beautiful coastal paradise, with a rocky coast surrounded by turquoise waters on one side, and a wetland area filled with brackish marshes on the other side and various shrubs and cacti in between. You’ll also notice a wide variety of succulent plants and cacti along the trail.
The Orange Trail – The Historic and Natural Sights
1) The salt marshes
Vendicari encompasses one of the last coastal wetlands of south-eastern Sicily, one that many migratory birds use as a first or last stop, before or after crossing the Mediterranean. During the winter and spring, you are likely to see Royal Swans, Wild Geese and Mallards. In the summer, Gray Herons, Little Egrets, Terns and large flocks of Gulls make their way here. Finally, at the beginning of autumn, Flamingos are regulars here.
2) Torre Sveva
The tower was originally built as a fortification against Saracen and Barbary pirates. It is believed to have been constructed in the 15th century, but the exact date of completion remains unknown, and it was last restored in 2007. Regarding the original structure, estimates state that it is roughly half the size that it was originally. Military activity continued officially at the Sveva Tower until 1867, when the Italian government declared it among the military buildings to be dismissed.
3) Tonnara di Vendicari
This tuna fishery has very ancient origins, as evidenced by engravings and rock paintings, which date back to prehistoric times. It was one of the many tonnare scattered along the Sicilian coast, where fishermen used a complex system of nets and boats to catch tunas that migrated through the area every spring and summer. The fish were then processed and preserved in the tonnara, a large building that housed salting and drying facilities, warehouses, workshops, and the living quarters for fishermen and their families. This current tuna fishery complex dates from the early 17th century, and fishing operations stopped following WWII.
The Orange Trail – The Beaches
The orange trails allows you to pass by two of the best Vendicari beaches.
1) Vendicari Beach: This is the first beach you will cross, just before reaching the Tonnara di Vendicari (tuna fishery). It’s not the best beach for swimming due to the large quantities of algae and seaweed, but it’s a great place to relax, sunbathe, and enjoy the scenery.
2) Calamosche Beach: This marks the turning point for the return leg of the Orange Trail. The beach occupies a small strip of sand surrounded by two rocky promontories. It was awarded by the Blue Guide as the most beautiful beach in Italy in 2005. Although the beach is quite scenic and picturesque, one negative is that it can get quite crowded as it’s the most popular beach of the reserve.
Vendicari Nature Reserve – Other Things to See
If you venture beyond the Orange trail, here are some of the sights you might come across:
– Marianelli Beach (Blue Trail)
– San Lorenzo Beach (Green Trail)
– Eloro Beach (Blue Trail)
– Byzantine complex and a necropolis (Green Trail)
Is the Vendicari Nature Reserve Worth it?
Most definitely! We had a blast exploring the Vendicari Nature Reserve. It is a very scenic coastal trail with lots of different things to visit along the way. The main drawback is that the beaches can get crowded in high season, and the amount of seaweed that washes up near the beach can make swimming slightly less enjoyable than in other areas around Sicily. But we knew that going in, so we were mostly interested in walking the coastal trail and enjoying the beautiful scenery. If you staying in Siracusa, you can easily combine a visit to Vendicari with a visit to Noto, one of southeastern Sicily’s UNESCO-listed baroque cities.
If you are looking for other great hiking opportunities while in Sicily, be sure to check out our guides for the Zingaro Nature Reserve and the Etna Park.
How Long Do You Need at the Vendicari Nature Reserve
To fully appreciate how beautiful Vendicari Nature Reserve is and to see everything that the Orange trail has to offer, we recommend spending at least 2-3 hours. Add extra time if you’d like to spend some time on one of the beaches.
Best Time to Visit the Vendicari Nature Reserve
Best Time of the Year
Overall, the best time to visit is anywhere between March through October. You can definitely visit Vendicari outside these months, but the weather is much more unpredictable, and the sea might be too cold to comfortably swim in.
Spring: (March-May): Typically has great weather with cooler temperatures and very few crowds at the beaches. The sea might be a bit chilly.
Peak Summer (June – August): If possible, we would avoid these months. It gets really hot, and the beaches can get overcrowded, particularly in August. If you plan on visiting during these months, try to visit as early as possible during the day and avoid weekends.
Early Fall (September-October): Generally warmer than in the spring, but with similarly fewer crowds. The sea is comfortably warm and great for swimming.
Regardless of when you visit, weekends tend to be more crowded as many local Sicilians come to spend some time at the beaches.
Best Time of Day
The best time to visit is definitely in the early morning when it’s cooler and when there a far fewer other visitors (ideally starting arriving somewhere between 9 am and 10 am). It can get very hot here in the reserve by midday, and there is no shade along the trails to hide from the sun.
You’ll probably be able to find some shade in some of the deeper coves by midday, but you will still be very exposed to the sun on the trails until the late afternoon.
Things to Do Near the Vendicari Nature Reserve
Visit Marzamemi
A small but historic fishing village in southeast Sicily. It’s quite easy to be charmed by this scenic seaside village, and you just might want to linger longer than you had planned. Everything is so colorful and beautifully decorated here, and you’ll find several great spots to grab a bite to eat or enjoy a drink. You’ll also find several artisan shops and pleasant alleyways to wander through.
Visit the Archaeological area of Cava d’Ispica
Cava d’Ispica is a nature reserve and archaeological site located in-between the towns of Modica and Ispica. Located within a verdant valley, here you’ll find an impressive number of caves that were long used as Neolithic burial sites, but were later transformed into cave dwellings in the Middle Ages.
Visit Ragusa
Our favourite of Sicily’s southern baroque towns was Ragusa, with its lovely pedestrian central street and impressive cathedral. The views of Ragusa Ibla (the old town) when climbing up the stairs to Ragusa Superiore (the new town) are just spectacular! Perhaps even more impressive, the town is home to eighteen UNESCO World Heritage monuments.
For more information, check out our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Ragusa.
Visit Modica
More baroque beauty combined with a delicious local chocolate scene. Here, the Baroque is not all condensed into a small area like it is in Ragusa, it is spread out across a tangle of beautiful sloping streets and stairways.
For more information, check out our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Modica.
Visit Noto
Designated ‘Capital of Baroque Art’ by the Council of Europe, Noto is the most famous town of the Val di Noto. The art historian Cesare Brandi referred to Noto as the ‘garden of stone’. Here you will find a dazzling succession of palaces and churches.
For more information, check out our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Noto.
Visit Siracusa
Inhabited for over 3,000 years and renowned for its Greek heritage, it is a UNESCO landmark for its “remarkable testimony of the Mediterranean cultures over the centuries”. It is a fascinating town with a beautiful historical center and is packed with things to see and do, including numerous historical sites from the Greek and Roman time periods.
For more information, check out our guide on the Best Things to See and Do in Siracuca.
Where to Stay Near the Vendicari Nature Reserve
In our opinion, the best place to stay is in Siracusa, which is a great base from which to explore several other attractions in southeastern Sicily. All of the following are some of the best mid-range hotel accommodations within the city:
In Ortigia (Siracusa Old Town):
Lanterne Magiche Ortigia Suites
If you are visiting Sicily by car, it’s essential to know that Siracusa’s old town (Ortigia) is a ZTL zone, with vehicle traffic restricted to certain non-peak hours. This means that you must park in the large car park (Talete car park) located at the entrance at all other times. Most hotels in Ortigia don’t have their own car parks either.
We generally recommend that those road tripping around Sicily consider finding a hotel just outside the old town, where several hotels offer free parking, or at the very least, less expensive and more convenient parking than on Ortigia. Also, staying just outside Ortigia will put you in a more central location in Siracusa between the old town and the many attractions that are found outside Ortigia, including Siracusa’s Neapolis Archaeological Park and the San Giovanni Catacombs.
Hotels just outside Ortigia (within walking distance):
Photography Gear
If you like our photography, you might be interested in some of the gear we use to shoot our travel and hiking destinations.
Camera Body – Nikon Z 6ii Fx-series Mirrorless Body
Main Lens – NIKON 24-120mm F/4G ED VR AF-S
Zoom Lens – Sigma 745-306 150-600mm f/5-6.3
Polarizing filters – Urth Circular Polarizing (CPL)
Camera Tripod – K&F Concept 64-inch Camera Tripod
Mini-tripod – Lammcou Flexible Camera Tripod
Camera/hiking backpack – Vanguard Alta Rise 48 Backpack
Universal Travel Adapter – VYLEE Universal International Power Travel Plug
Other Travel Essentials
Travel Insurance
SafetyWing is a travel insurance company that offers comprehensive coverage for travellers. Includes Medical Insurance and Travel Insurance. Primarily geared towards long-term travellers, digital nomads, and expats.
e-Sim cards
Airalo is the world’s first and largest eSIM store with eSIM plans for 200+ countries and regions worldwide. With Airalo eSIMs, travellers can get connected the moment they land at their destination and avoid nasty data roaming charges
eSIMS are a sustainable alternative to single-use SIM cards – they are 100% digital, require less energy to produce and be re-used rather than disposed of.
Car Rentals
Discover Cars is our go-to website for car rentals. We almost always find our preferred rate there.
Transfer from Airport
Welcome Pickups is our favourite private transfer service, which you can pre-book at a fixed price. Currently available in 220 cities all over the world (mostly in Europe, but with several major cities in Asia, the Middle East and the US).
Kiwitaxi is another private transfer service – we haven’t tried it yet, but it’s currently available in a few more countries (102 as of 2024).
Hotels and Accommodations (coming soon)
Photography Prints
If you found this blog useful, you can help support our blog by purchasing low-cost digital prints. Printed physical prints are also available for purchase.
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Well, that wraps it up! We hope you enjoyed our travel guide on Sicily’s Zingaro Nature Reserve and that it will prove useful for planning your trip.
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