Elba · Rio Marina East coast 42.793943 N · 10.429791 E
Spiaggia
di Ortano
Shingle · free parking · supermarket on the way
Logged on the ground · 13 July 2026
Getting there and parking
- Day ticket €0 Free. A field, no machine, no barrier.
- Spaces 20–30 Usually far fewer cars are there. You'll always find a space.
- Walk to the beach 8 min About 480 m, shaded, past the holiday village. A short flight of steps at the end.
- Walk back 3 / 10 Uncritical. Nothing like the steep access paths on the south coast.
Yes, you're allowed through here
The path runs past the TH Ortano holiday village and looks private. It isn't: access to the beach is public. Most people drive on because they don't know that — one reason it stays so empty here.
Car park: 42.795514, 10.42431 — Località Ortano, 57038 Rio Marina. The approach is an ordinary road, no hairpins, no pinch points.
The beach
- Ground Mid-dark shingle. Not the postcard beach — and probably the reason hardly anyone comes. Right at the water's edge, though, there's a sand strip about five metres wide that makes getting in easy.
- Water Clear. Shallow entry across the sand strip. There's room even in July — the holiday village guests stay at the pools.
8 am1 pm8 pm
The reverse of many south-coast beaches: here the shade only arrives in the afternoon. Come in the morning and you'll need your own parasol.
Wind
Wind rule: still open
Where we've checked a wind rule across several weather patterns, we log it. Ortano sits on the east coast — different rules apply there than on the south coast, and the short fetch to the east suggests it comes off milder here anyway. So far we've only seen the beach in one weather pattern.
- All directions: not yet assessed
A visible gap beats a guessed figure.
The feature: paddle 20 metres to the right
Without a SUP or a lilo you'll see none of this. Paddle 20 metres to the right out of the bay and the rocky coast opens up.
Sheltered along the rocks, in about ten minutes: one or two more small coves, then a spit that runs underwater to an offshore island. You land there on a sandy beach.
Snorkelling, swimming, climbing. Plenty of shade. One to three caves. That is the real Ortano — and the reason to pack the board.
Coastal walk to Rio Marina
- One way ≈ 1 h Starts right at the beach and follows the coast around the rocks.
- Ascent 30–40 m Uphill first, then easy going with one or two ups and downs.
Sturdy shoes and enough water. In Rio Marina the harbour bars are waiting, then you walk back. The best way to break up a full beach day — you're not lying on the same shingle for eight hours.
Shop instead of paying beach prices
InCoop Ortano Mare
Right on the way to the beach. A proper supermarket at normal supermarket prices: fruit, drinks, snacks, beach kit too. Cold drinks cost a fraction of what beach bars on the island charge.
- Monday to Sunday08:00 – 13:30
- 13:30 – 16:00closed
- Monday to Sunday16:00 – 20:00
Shop before 1.30 pm. After that the Coop is shut until 4 — exactly when the thirst hits on the beach. Miss the siesta and you'll pay bar prices.
Pictures
Beach, the path from the car park, the paddle route to the island and the coastal walk to Rio Marina. To follow.
Our verdict
[verdict to follow]
… you expect fine sand. The beach is shingle, mid-dark.
… you come without a SUP or a lilo. Then you miss the best of it.
… you turn up in the morning without a parasol. Shade only comes after 1 pm.
Where to stay
Ortano works as a base camp: beach, paddle trip, coastal path and supermarket all sit side by side. Stay several days and you'll barely need the car.
Rio Marina is an hour away on foot; Rio nell'Elba, up the hill, a few minutes by car.