The 6 best Boat Tours of the Zinzulusa Caves

Daily excursion departing from Vieste aboard a Turkish yacht with skipper, aperitif and lunch on board.

The excursion will depart from the port of Vieste and, depending on weather conditions and the captain's decisions, you will travel along the Gargano coastline to discover the most beautiful caves and beaches in the area.

During the day you will make stops where you will have the opportunity to swim in the sea among the crystal clear Apulian waters.

What's special about this boat is that it features, on board, a kitchen where fresh dishes made from local products will be prepared. In fact, you will be served an aperitif and a multi-course lunch including wine and water. Other drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic, may be purchased on board.

It is possible, by advance request only, to have a vegetarian or gluten-free menu.

For the more curious, the staff can offer explanations and cultural nods related to the traditions of the area.

Also included in the price are insurance and membership in the organizing association.

Finally, there will also be the opportunity to purchase, on board, the autographed book, "The Emotions, the keystone," whose author, Elisabetta Monaco, will be on board with you during the outing as the owner of the boat.

The group boat excursion to Vieste Sea Caves will take you to discover the beautiful Gargano coastline.

The group tour departs from Vieste with two daily trips to Baia delle Zagare. You will visit the most striking bays and beaches, some not accessible from the main road. Descriptions of points of interest are provided in Italian and English during navigation. A stop of about 40 minutes is planned at the Bay of Seagulls.

This exclusive tour is taken aboard an inflatable boat with a skipper included who will guide you along the Gargano coastline. Embark on this excursion and experience an adventure in Vieste's Sea Caves in excellent company.

Maximum capacity: 120 people for the group tour, 15 people for the private tour.

Embark on a boat adventure among crystal clear waters and breathtaking scenery in the Gargano. This experience can take place in three different modes:

Dawn Breakfast (max. 6 people).

A sunrise sea trip will give you a truly unique experience as the sun rises on the horizon. Aboard the Albachiara, you will explore the coast, stop for a refreshing swim and enjoy a rich breakfast accompanied by freshly brewed coffee.

Aperitivo Al Tramonto (max. 9 people)

You will embark on a boat excursion as the sun sets, enveloped by the waters and lights of twilight. You will be treated to a delicious apericena with drinks on board.

Day At Sea (max. 9 people)

Experience the excitement by boat among crystal clear waters, fantastic coves and breathtaking views. On board the Albachiara you will visit the entire coastline with various swim stops accompanied by an aperip lunch, prosecco and seasonal fruit.

Choose the tour you prefer and get ready to experience a unique moment on the Gargano coast while swimming among its coves. Depending on weather conditions and skipper's decisions, stops may be subject to change.

Discover the caves of the Gargano with a skippered boat excursion and included aperitif.

Departing from the port of Vieste, you will pass by the islet of S. Eufemia and the peninsula of San Francesco to the Pizzomunno monolith, which owes its name to the legend of the fisherman Pizzomunno and his beloved mermaid Cristalda.

You will then skirt Scialara beach and Portonuovo beach to arrive at the San Felice Arch, where the entrance to the Campana piccola cave is visible, and the Testa del Gargano.

Along the crossing, you can admire high white cliffs overhanging the sea with gorse, cysts and pine trees jutting out over the blue waters and picturesque beaches such as San Felice Bay, Campi Bay, Porto Greco Bay, Pugnochiuso Bay, Pergola Bay, Vignanotica Bay and Zagare Bay.

You will also have the opportunity to dive into the sea, thanks to some stops at the most striking points of this trip.

Finally, before returning, you will enjoy an excellent aperitif of local products, offered by the boat's staff.

Throughout the trip, you will be accompanied by a skipper who will be able to tell you delicious anecdotes about this particular area of Puglia.

Discover the southern coast of the Gargano on board an exclusive boat accompanied by a skipper.

Departing from the port of Vieste, you will sail south to visit all the most beautiful bays and caves on the coast.

Among the caves featured, you will be able to visit the Rainbow Cave, the Dolphin Cave, the Small Bell Cave, the Small Pierced Cave and the Purgatory Cave.

During the outing, you can make multiple stops for swimming in the sea at the most beautiful spots along the coast, in agreement with the skipper.

The boat is equipped with a large sundeck with cushions, telescopic awning, ladder, anchor and on-board equipment.

You can choose from 3 outings:

• Morning excursion with departure at 9:00 a.m. and return for 1:00 p.m.
• Afternoon excursion with departure at 2:00 pm and return for 6:00 pm
• Day excursion with departure at 9:00 a.m. and return for 6:00 p.m.

The group catamaran trip from Torre Vado to Santa Maria di Leuca is a unique opportunity to discover the most striking caves in Salento.

It departs from the Torre Vado marina in the morning or afternoon. During the excursion, you will visit the caves of the Ionian Sea, including the "Mannute Complex."

The tour continues all the way to Santa Maria di Leuca and the Heel of Italy, which can be admired directly from the sea.

During the tour there are two short stops of about 25 minutes to take a swim in the crystal clear water.

An aperitif with a drink and fruit is included in the price, but bar service is available on the boat for any other needs.

Boat excursion starting from Santa Maria di Leuca to discover the caves on both sides, Ionian and Adriatic.

For this excursion you have a choice of 3 options

Daytime tour

During this outing you will be accompanied to discover the caves on the coast. Thanks to the presence of an experienced skipper, you will learn the history of the caves and various interesting facts about the area.

On board the boat you will also find, snorkeling equipment and thanks to this you will be able to venture inside the caves and enjoy the spectacle of these seabeds during the 2 dedicated stops.

This tour leaves at 10:00 am or 2:00 pm and lasts about 3 hours.

Sunset Tour

This excursion is perfect for those who want to enjoy the sunset from the sea. It departs for 5:00 pm from the port of Santa Maria di Leuca and heads to both coasts, Ionian and Adriatic.

During this excursion you will be offered an aperitif of local products to be consumed on board during the sunset.

In addition, you can make a stop to swim in the sea, at the captain's discretion.

Private tour

This tour will give you the opportunity to have the entire boat exclusively, always accompanied by a skipper who will be dedicated to you and your needs.

Again, you can choose from 3 departure times: 10:00 am, 2:00 pm or 5:00 pm to enjoy the sea at the time you prefer.

The navigation will take place on both sides, Ionian and Adriatic, and will allow you to visit the most beautiful caves and stop at the best spots to dive into the water and observe marine fodnals thanks to the snorkeling equipment on board.

Sunset boat excursion with an aperitif on board along the Salento coast departing from Torre Vado.

The boat, carries a maximum of 12 people, complete with cushions and awning for shelter from the sun.

Departing from the port of Torre Vado, you will visit some of the most characteristic spots at sunset:

• San Gregorio from the sea.
• Ionian Slope which includes: cave of the dragon, cave of the lovers, cave of the stable, cave of the crib, cave of the giants, cave of the three doors, caves of the river, cave of mesciu scianni and cave of the devil.
• Torre Marcheddu and Torre dell’uomo morto.
• Punta Ristola, the southernmost point of the heel of Italy.
• Santa Maria di Leuca from the sea (Bagnarole, Villas of the’800’,monumental waterfall, Sanctuary and the Lighthouse of Santa Maria di Leuca).
• Punta Meliso, meeting point between the Ionian Sea and the Adriatic Sea.
• Adriatic side that includes: Fiumara inlet, cave of the Indians, cave of the seagulls, caves verduselle, cove orto cupo, cave of the Soffio,cave of the vora, cave of the mannute.

The whole tour explained è commented by the crew. Three bathroom stops, with fin masks for those who want to snorkel and life jackets.

To finish, an aperitif will be served on board at sunset based on local products, namely: fresh mozzarella, baked goods, Prosecco, peach tè and water.

In September and October it will be possible to fish for tuna on board the boat, with equipment provided by the facility.

Sailing boat excursion with skipper to discover the Salento caves of Santa Maria di Leuca with aperitif on board.

Half-day or full-day excursions are available:

Half-day

Departing from the port of Santa Maria di Leuca by 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m., you will begin with sailing where you can take part in the maneuvers and help the captain at the helm. In fact, this experience has a sporting matrix so that even the inexperienced can have fun.

Once out to sea you will sail both on the Adriatic side, to the town of Novaglie, and on the Ionian side, to the town of San Gregorio. On both sides you will be able to stop near the most striking caves and bays in the area.

Full day

During the day excursion, you will have the opportunity to spend about 7 hours on board. The captain will choose the best itinerary for the day based on the weather and sea conditions.

On board, a lunch will be served, usually spaghetti or pasta cooked directly on board, fruit and coffee. Drinks included.

During some stops it will be possible to swim in the sea and reach the caves by swimming or SUP (present on board the boat).

In addition, regardless of the tour you choose, you will be offered an aperitif of typical local products.

Sunset sailing excursion along the coast of Santa Maria di Leuca.

Departing from the port of Santa Maria di Leuca, you will head out to sea driven by the wind and follow an itinerary decided by the captain that will take you to visit some of the caves on the coast. You will be able to sail to either the Adriatic or Ionian sides depending on the wind and weather conditions of the individual day.

During the excursion, there will be an opportunity, with the help of the staff to learn the first rudiments of sailing. Taking part in on-board maneuvers and steering with the assistance of the skipper.

In addition, you will be offered an aperitif on board consisting of typical local products.

The excursion lasts about 3 hours and you will have the choice of:

• Shared excursion with other participants
• Private excursion with the whole boat exclusively

The departure time is approximate and varies depending on the time of year when the excursion takes place.

If the outing will take place in the off-season months, we recommend appropriate clothing for the weather.

Excursion aboard a 9-meter gozzo to explore the coast around Santa Maria di Leuca.

This very special boat is equipped with cushions, sun awning and stern sundeck.

You will depart from the Santa Maria di Leuca marina and venture to both the Ionian and Adriatic sides. This tour will focus on the best caves on the coast that will be narrated to you by the skipper who is always on board to answer all your curiosities

In addition, there will be 2 stops for swimming in the sea among the crystal clear waters of this paradise on earth. It is recommended that you bring snorkeling equipment to enjoy the view among the rocks.

Before returning to the port, you will be offered an aperitif of typical Salento products to be consumed on board the gozzo.

You will be able to choose from 2 options with the same itinerary:

• Tour shared with other participants
• Tour with the whole boat exclusively

Embark on a mini-cruise in Salento aboard a boat that will let you explore the Salento coastline and watch the sunset over the old town of Gallipoli.

The excursion includes a route from Gallipoli to the Island of Sant'Andrea, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy an aperitif on board at sunset with typical Apulian products, chips and peanuts.

The mini-cruise is organized on a shared basis and lasts 3 hours. Depending on weather conditions and skipper's decisions, the stops may vary.

Three boats are available, each carrying up to 11 people on board.

For the Salento boat excursion from Gallipoli with aperitif you will have a choice of 3 different tours, all lasting about 3 hours.

South Versant Tour - Punta Pizzo

You will explore the Island of Sant'Andrea, a unique island in Salento reachable only by sea, beloved by snorkeling lovers. Punta Pizzo is another must-see place, with golden beaches and crystal clear waters, perfect for children to play safely.

North Coast Tour - Porto Selvaggio

You will explore the northern coastline of Gallipoli, passing by the famous split mountain, the Quattro Colonne, Santa Maria al Bagno and Santa Caterina, until you reach the picturesque Torre Uluzzo Bay. Porto Selvaggio Park is renowned for its distinctive landscape, with high cliffs overlooking the sea, bays and coves.

Sunset Tour

During this sunset tour, the fleet gathers near the island, offering a spectacle of the fiery red sun slowly disappearing behind the sea, mingling with the sky. During the excursion, you will be treated to an aperitif of Salento appetizers accompanied by a drink.

Depending on weather conditions and the skipper's decisions, the stops may change.

Discover St. Andrew's Island starting from Gallipoli with a boat excursion.

For this experience you will have a choice of:

• Morning excursion
• Afternoon excursion

For each of these excursions, the itinerary includes:

• departure from the port of Gallipoli
• Island of St. Andrew and swim stop to swim surrounded by fish
• Punta Pizzo bay with a stop to swim in the blue waters of this natural oasis
• return skirting Punta Suina with typical aperitif served on board

During the morning excursion, the boat staff will serve you both an aperitif and a typical fish dish.

During the excursion you will be guided by a skipper who can satisfy all your curiosity about the place.

On the boat there is snorkeling equipment, to admire the seabed, and a sunshade awning to relax in the shade if necessary.

The use of sunscreen, not on board, is recommended to protect yourself from the sun.

If you are on vacation in Gallipoli and want to explore its ancient walls by cruising along the Salento coast, get ready for a boat excursion that will introduce you to all the hidden beauties of the city while you enjoy an aperitif on board based on typical products.

During the navigation you will skirt the Spiaggia della Purità beach, in the old town center, and the Island of Sant'Andrea, where an offshore stop will be scheduled. Here you will be offered an aperitif on board accompanied by music to experience the excursion in total tranquility.

You will also be able to capture the best moments of the experience in the waters of Gallipoli with a GoPro provided by the crew.

The excursion is organized on a shared basis and has a duration of 3 hours. Depending on weather conditions and skipper's decisions, the stops may change.

Three boats are available, each carrying up to 11 people on board.