Baia della Pelara: How to Reach Ischia’s Secret Beach

The island of Ischia, off Italy’s west coast, has plenty of beaches to enjoy.  However, if it’s unspoilt beauty with minimal fellow beachgoers that you’re after, you might struggle.  Most beaches here are organised and popular.  If you’re seeking an excellent exception though, you’ll want to take a walk to the Baia della Pelara. 

This tiny beach is only accessible by boat or via a walk through woods and a steep descent.  It’s perfect if you’re up for a bit of an adventure, are reasonably fit and don’t mind sunbathing on rocks instead of a sandy stretch.  This guide will cover how to get to the bay by foot from Panza and what to expect when you get there.  It includes photos of key points to help you find your way.

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Time Required to Walk to Baia della Pelara 

The walk to Baia della Pelara takes around 35 minutes in each direction and starts in the village of Panza, on the south coast of Ischia. 

How to Get to Panza

The CS or #1 buses will take you to Panza from other towns on the island, such as Ischia Porto, Lacco Ameno and Forio. 

Single bus tickets cost €1.50 and need to be bought in advance from a bar or supermarket.  Validate your ticket on the bus by putting it in the machine and waiting for a green light and a beep.  It’s occasionally possible to get a ticket from the driver but this is very hit and miss so I recommend getting tickets before getting on the bus.

Distance

This walk is a very achievable distance of approximately 2km, which makes it a great way to stretch the legs and discover a secret beach, all in one afternoon. Although it’s not a particularly long walk, the final section to get right down onto the Baia della Pelara requires scrambling over loose rock. I suggest making sure you’ve got a good pair of trainers on. I’ve got Nike Juniper trail shoes which are lightweight and great for extra grip on loose surfaces.

The sign posted walk actually ends just before the descent to the bay, so the decision about whether or not to continue down onto the beach is taken at your own risk. You can enjoy the gorgeous scenery and tranquillity just as much from above the bay as down below.

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Details of the Walk to Baia della Pelara

Before you set off, stock up on food and drink at the Carrefour supermarket in the centre of the village of Panza, on Piazza San Leonardo. Once you’re loaded up, head to Bar Lina and you’ll see the sign for Sorgeto, pointing you down Via Maddona Della Grazie.  

First Section of the Walk to Baia della Pelara

Follow the road downhill, past the barbers and the musical instrument shop.  Turn left at the next sign for Sorgeto, again going downhill on Via Casa Polito. Keep going straight on, past the sign for St Angelo (don’t turn left here). 

Now look out for the signs to Sentiero Baia della Pelara and Monte de Panza.  They’ll be on your right in about a couple of minutes. 

Follow the signs down the road. At this point, you’ll have stopped following the route to Sorgeto.  Continue on along a dirt track road, past some olive trees.  

Second Section of the Walk

Next, you’ll arrive where the route splits into Sentiero Monte de Panza and the route to Baia della Pelara.  Follow the blue arrow down the stone stairs.  Here you’ll find a rope to help guide you and stop you slipping over, as the soil is loose underfoot.  However, beware that the rope is missing at various points.  Trail shoes will come in handy here.

The next part is an enjoyable walk through tall bamboo canes and fruit trees.  After this, you’ll reach a shaded wooded area. 

This carries on for about five minutes before you arrive at one of the trickier parts of the route.  There is a pathway but it’s quite overgrown with ferns, to the extent that you might wonder if you’re still in the right place.  If you can at least make out a bit of a clearing through the ferns and you pass under the tree branches in the photo below then you’re going in the right direction.   

The Last Section

Follow the pathway for several minutes until it opens up into a spectacular view of the sea, between the cliffs.  The greenery and shrubs growing all around add to the gorgeous vista.

Head around the corner, on the loose path, which again, has a rope to help.  Follow this roped path carefully.  Some of the wooden step ends are not secure.  They run out after a short while and then it’s a case of following the worn pathway and ending up scrambling across rocks. 

How far you go is up to you.  It is possible to go all the way to the sea and spend time basking on the rocks and exploring the rock pools.  However, the official walk ends just before the cliff edge.

If you do go down to the beach below, the water is a beautiful blue colour but the rocks are slippery so take water shoes.  There are no amenities, this is a wild bay, so if you plan to spend time here, do make sure you’ve stocked up on supplies and take lots of water with you. 

• Find out all about other beaches on Ischia.
• Discover the top 10 things to do on Ischia.
• Head to Minori, Italy next, to discover the stunning Amalfi Coast.

Have you visited the Baia della Pelara? Did you get there by boat or do the walk? Let me know in the comments below.