The 9 best Boat Tours to Portofino and Rapallo

Embark on a 2-hour Cinque Terre sunset boat tour with aperitif, departing from Riomaggiore.

Sunset is the somewhat more romantic time to go on a boat tour to the 5 Terre and enjoy a delicious aperitif. When the sea is calm, at this time of day you can see and, if lucky, touch the dolphins that are in the Cinque Terre nature reserve.

During the tour, which takes about two hours, local appetizers will be served and some local wines, which are produced in the nearby areas.

Classic boat mini-cruise to the Cinque Terre departing from Riomaggiore. You sail by boat to reach and discover all the 5 most iconic and famous villages in Liguria.

You will stop in front of each of the Cinque Terre: Manarola, then Corniglia, Vernazza and finally Monterosso.

During the boat ride there will also be time to stop in front of a cove for a dip, in a beautiful lair with a small waterfall over the sea. At the end of the tour, you will return by boat to Riomaggiore or Manarola.

On the 3-hour boat tour, you can make a one-hour stop in Vernazza to take a walk around the town and learn about the local reality.

This group boat excursion takes you to discover the Cinque Terre from the sea.

This experience allows you to admire of breathtaking views and swim in places that can only be reached by boat.

You can choose from several options

Morning and afternoon tour

This experience starts from Montenero, then continues to Riomaggiore. Afterwards, you can see the picturesque Manarola with its typical terraces and vineyards, and then see Corniglia from the sea and the enchanting Vernazza.

The last planned stop is Monterosso, but before returning to Riomaggiore a swimming stop at the wild Guvano beach is planned. 

Sunset Tour

This experience allows you to admire the Cinque Terre at sunset while sipping local wine and savoring Ligurian focaccia.

You will have the opportunity to observe Riomaggiore from the sea while sipping your first glass of white wine. You will then proceed north and admire the "Via dell'Via dell'amore", Manarola, Corniglia and the Guvano beach.

You will then continue to Vernazza, where you will stop in the small harbor to take some photos of the village from the sea. Before returning, you can admire Monterosso in the distance.

Portovenere and Islands

Leaving Riomaggiore, you will proceed southeast where you can admire a wild coastline where cliffs, Mediterranean scrub and several beaches alternate.

Passing Ferrale you will pass by Campiglia beach and then continue to Portovenere which will welcome you with the view of the mighty castle facing the sea and the renowned bay known as Grotta Byron.

After a swimming stop you can visit the medieval town of Portovenere with the church of San Pietro and the castle.

Back on board, you will skirt Palmaria Island and Tino Island, then head for La Spezia.

This private boat excursion takes you to discover the Cinque Terre from the sea. You can admire of breathtaking views and swim in places only reachable by boat.

This experience is perfect for spending a fun and relaxing day with friends or family, for groups of up to 12 people.

You can sail the Gulf of La Spezia, Lerici, Portovenere and Palmaria Island on an exclusive gozzo.

Swimming stops are scheduled: the skipper will take you to coves and beaches away from the crowds.

You can choose from several tours with different durations: from 2 to 8 hours, departing in the morning and afternoon. There is also the possibility to choose the sunset tour, lasting 2 hours.

In case of bad weather, the facility may cancel or change the itinerary and its duration.

Explore the Cinque Terre on a boat that will take you along the Ligurian coastline and take you through the most beautiful beaches in Liguria, from Manarola to Monterosso.

Leaving from Manarola, the group boat excursion lasts 3 hours.

During the cruise, available in the morning or afternoon, you will visit Riomaggiore, Monterosso and Corniglia to the Golfo dei Poeti, near La Spezia.

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

The boat can carry up to 12 people on board.

The Cinque Terre shared boat tour departing from Riomaggiore is a unique opportunity to get to know the Cinque Terre from a new perspective, namely from the sea.

This experience is perfect for spending a day full of relaxation and fun with friends or family.

You can choose from 3 different tours.

Morning Tour

After departing from Riomaggiore, you can admire the typical Cinque Terre vineyards clinging to the cliffs from the sea.

You will have the opportunity to take your first swim and snorkel, swimming in the beautiful crystal clear waters of the Cinque Terre.

You will be treated to a delicious traditional Ligurian breakfast, with focaccia, fruit juices and water.

The tour will continue to the Cinque Terre, passing through all the wonderful villages, where the history and traditions of the place will be shared with you.

Masks, snorkels and life jackets are included.

Afternoon tour

Departure is scheduled from Riomaggiore. During this experience you can dive into the waters of Cinque Terre National Park by snorkeling with masks and snorkels.

The tour will continue towards the Cinque Terre and will allow you to admire from the sea all these wonderful villages.

You will be able to take photos, listen to music and spend unforgettable moments in the company while sipping the offered wine. 

Masks, snorkels and life jackets are included.

Sunset Tour

This experience allows you to admire the Cinque Terre at sunset, when they are tinged with striking colors.

Departure is scheduled from Riomaggiore, the southernmost town in the Cinque Terre. You will then slowly travel along the coast until you reach Monterosso, the northernmost town.

You will take breathtaking photos of each village while sipping a glass of prosecco or soft drink and enjoying a focaccia.

There is no better way to experience the magic of the Cinque Terre than by boat and, if you are lucky, you might even see dolphins!

The boat tour to Portofino, San Fruttuoso and Camogli is a classic and comprehensive boat tour of the Portofino Natural Park area.

The starting point of the boat excursion is in Rapallo, but a pickup in Portofino or Santa Margherita Ligure can also be arranged, agreeing this after booking.

Spending half a day by boat or a full day in the Portofino area, you can enjoy all the best that the area has to offer: sea, sun, beautiful views, local food, wine, and a pristine natural environment like few others in Italy.

The boat tour in the Gulf of Portofino is a private excursion that departs from the marina in Santa Margherita Ligure with a skipper.

The boat trip will last half a day, in the morning or afternoon, or a full day. You will have the opportunity to sail to the fantastic coastlines of Portofino and Camogli.

On board you will find snorkeling equipment.

During the mini-cruise there will be an opportunity to swim offshore in the beautiful crystal clear waters, so don't forget to bring a towel and swimsuit.

Throughout the day on board, prosecco and accompanying flatbreads will also be served.

Bark in a comfortable motorboat and visit Giglio Island, Giannutri and the most hidden coves and islets of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Leaving from Castiglione della Pescaia, the tour will last about 8 hours and 30 minutes and will be structured as it follows:

Giglio and Giannutri

•    Embarkation starting at 8 a.m.; at 8:30 a.m. we set sail! (check in by 8.10 am)
•    Sailing along the coast of Maremma and Parco dell’Uccellina to Talamone and afterwards along the north coast dell’Argentario.
•    Just before 11 a.m. disembarking at Giglio. You will be able to visit at liberty or with Toscana Trekking guides, booking visits with them during navigation
•    At approximately 2 p.m. we set sail for Giannutri.
•    At about 2.45 pm arrival in Giannutri, where it will be possible to take more guided tours or engage in bathing.
•    At 4 p.m. we set sail from Giannutri to return to Castiglione (7:30 p.m.), after a brief technical stop at Giglio.

The tour stops may vary depending on weather conditions and skipper's decisions.

It is required to pay in cash, before departure, the Municipal Disembarkation Fee for Giglio Island of 3.00€ per person and the Giannutri Island Access Fee of 2.50€ per person.

The half-day boat trip to Cala Violina departing from Scarlino is a perfect tour to explore the famous Maremma cove.

You can choose from 3 different tours.

Morning

The morning tour starts at the port of Scarlino at 9:30 am. The first stop will be Cala Violina. Here it will be possible to have a breakfast consisting of typical Tuscan products. It will then continue to Cala Martina and Cala Civetta. This tour is suitable for people of all ages, especially children, thanks to the always calm waters that offer maximum serenity and safety.

Afternoon

The afternoon tour starts at the port of Scarlino at 4 pm. The first stop will be Cala Violina, where you will anchor for a swim stop. Next, you will visit the other coves along the park's stretch of coastline, including Cala Martina and Cala Civetta. You will be offered an aperitif composed exclusively of Tuscan products: a quality white wine, excellent cold cuts, focaccia and fresh fruit. Especially in the afternoon, the itinerary may change depending on sea weather conditions.

Sunset

The sunset tour starts at the port of Scarlino at 6 pm. The first stop will be Cala Violina, where you will anchor around 18:00 for a swim stop. You will then proceed to the other coves, including Cala Martina and Cala Civetta. Finally, you will be offered an aperitif consisting of typical Tuscan products to enjoy during the sunset.

The sunset tour lasts three hours, while the morning tour and the afternoon tour last four hours.

The private boat excursion to Cala Violina is an experience suitable for both those who want to relax and the more adventurous.

As the first destination of the tour you can choose the beach of Cala Violina or the one you prefer from Scarlino to the Sparviero islet. In any case, the skipper will be ready to advise you on the best destination also depending on the day.

Once you have chosen your destination, you will depart from the port and move along the coast, taking a short tour of the rocky beaches and coves, including Cala Terre Rosse, Cala Martina, and Cala Civette.

When you arrive at your destination, you will drop anchor as close to shore as possible, so you can see the seabed and give the more athletic people a chance to swim to the beach. A ring life jacket will be provided to make the crossing safely (or a pink flamingo!).

On board you will have masks to do some snorkeling, beautiful experience especially at the Sparrowhawk and the rocky little beaches. You can choose from 2 tours:

Tour with lunch

With the morning tour, an onboard lunch of rice or cold pasta, Tuscan crush, fruit, water, beer and wine is included.

Tour with aperitif

With the afternoon tour an aperitif of white wine, beer or prosecco accompanied with some pizza, schiaccia Toscana and fruit is included. If you prefer something more sophisticated, however, you will have the option of choosing wine and champagne from a menu provided by a renowned local winery, which you can even accompany with oysters.