France raised its travel advisory to Level 3 for Corsica due to active wildfires. The alert covers the southern departments of Corse-du-Sud and Haute-Corse. Officials closed 12 hiking trails and several coastal campsites through July 20.
Evacuations affected 1,400 residents near Porto-Vecchio on July 3. Two commercial flights were diverted from Figari airport yesterday. The French interior ministry deployed 800 firefighters and water-bombing aircraft.
Background context shows Corsica experienced 47 fires in June alone. Dry conditions and 38-degree heat continue through mid-July. Similar Level 3 alerts were issued for the region in 2022 and 2024.
Tourist bookings for July dropped 22 percent according to local hotel associations. Ferry operators from Marseille report 15 percent cancellations. The EU civil protection mechanism sent two additional Canadair planes.
What this means for you
Postpone hikes in the affected southern zones until July 21. Rebook hotels north of Calvi where no restrictions apply. Keep travel insurance documents accessible for possible cancellations.
Monitor the French interior ministry website for daily trail updates. Avoid rental cars in restricted zones to prevent roadblocks. Carry extra water and a charged phone with offline maps.
Conditions may improve after expected rain on July 18. Check airline policies for flexible changes before July 10.