Corsica In Winter: The Best Season To Stay On The Island
It is common to think that Corsica in winter has no appeal. We associate this French island with the typical idyllic summer holidays : sun, white sand beaches, good temperatures and a young atmosphere that invites you to go out for a drink. And, actually, it is an accurate appreciation of the island, but you should know that there are other ways of looking at it.
It also has many attractions at other times of the year. Corsica in winter is a unique travel destination for lovers of skiing and other snow sports. In addition, despite not being able to take a bath due to the lower temperatures, the cold will not prevent you from enjoying the best landscapes on the island.
This French island, although relatively small, looks like a continent unto itself. It has all kinds of places, very different from each other. In addition to those paradisiacal beaches, it has lush forests, several cosmopolitan cities and a few peaks that allow you to practice skiing with views of the Mediterranean Sea.
When to travel to Corsica in winter?
Corsica has a temperate climate in winter, although the cold increases in the central peaks. The snow covers the mountain peaks and makes it possible to practice skiing in various parts of the island, located in the Mediterranean Sea, between France and Italy and to the north of the island of Sardinia.
Winter lasts between December and April. During these months, it is normal to find snow at the highest points of the island. Regarding temperatures, in Ajaccio, the capital, there are lows of between 4 and 7º C and maximums that go from 13 to 17º C. In the city of Bastia, the minimums are slightly higher, since they oscillate between 6 and the 9º C.
Skiing in Corsica
Despite being an island, Corsica has high-level ski resorts. Proof of this is the number of people who travel to the island during the winter months to practice this sport. Many users prefer to get here than to go, for example, to the French Alps.
There are three main ski resorts that you can enjoy in Corsica in winter. The best known is that of Val d’Ese, near Ajaccio. It is the one that most athletes go and, therefore, it has the best services. It has three ski lifts, a restaurant and an aid station. It has five tracks of varied difficulties, so both experts and novices can go.
The other two ski resorts on the island are Ghinosi and Le Vergio. Both have seven slopes (in Le Vergio there is a black one), with several ski lifts and restaurants. During the winter months it is normal to see thousands of people pass through these seasons each week.
Although it may seem strange, Corsica is an island where the mountainous system predominates, and the abundance of snow in winter favors this success in sports such as skiing or snowboarding . On some slopes it is possible to ski while you see the Mediterranean Sea in the background. Who wouldn’t like to have an experience like this?
Other things you can do
Even if you don’t like snow sports, you can go to Corsica in winter. There are other activities that you can do, such as touring the nature reserves and discovering very different landscapes. You will enjoy the great snow-capped mountains, the deep pine forests, the cliffs that receive the waves with force or the dream beaches.
There are many tourists who rent a vehicle and travel the island from end to end. They stop at each of these places and thus have a fantastic experience of Corsica in winter. You can enjoy the natural areas by hiking, cycling through them or even, in some places, on horseback.
If you want to take your adrenaline one step further, you can practice adventure activities that you are sure to love. It is about canyoning, rafting and other water activities such as kayaking. In addition, you can enjoy the best views of the island by skydiving, something you will never forget.
