4 Cave Snorkeling and Swimming in Italy Worth the Descent

1.Polignano a Mare: Boat Trip, Swim & Cave with Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 1,300 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $35Our pick

Spend 1.5 hours aboard Dorino’s small boat along Polignano a Mare’s coast. Your guide points out Grotta Palazzese, Grotta Ardito, Cala Paguro, Lama Monachile, and other caves, then stops for a swim before serving Prosecco and Apulian taralli. English, Italian, and French are available, with groups limited to 10.

“Caves and tour of the coastline was fabulous from the water. Great value for the money.”

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2.Capri Boat Tour from Sorrento: Swim, Grottos & Light Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,201 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $143Top rated

Travel from Sorrento to Capri in a small group of up to 12, with an English-speaking skipper, grotto stops, swimming, snacks, drinks, and a Caprese sandwich. You will cruise past Bagni della Regina Giovanna, the Faraglioni, Villa Malaparte, and Punta Carena, then have 3 to 4 hours to explore Capri independently.

“We had the most amazing time on the cruise to Capri island. Our tour operator, Antonio and skipper were brilliant. Nothing was too much trouble. It was my daughter’s 16th Birthday and they made her feel so special. Really really brilliant experience, would highly recommend this tour.”

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3.Boat Tour with Captain Mirko, Snorkeling & Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 746 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $35

Set out from Riva della Posta for a 90-minute cruise around Ortigia with Captain Mirko or another local captain. You’ll see Maniace Castle, Aretusa Fountain, the Grand Harbor, sea caves, and the Umbertino Bridge, then stop for swimming and snorkeling. English and Italian tours run from April 15 to November 15.

“We really enjoyed the trip. Captain was experienced and nice guy!”

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4.Siracusa: Ortigia Boat Tour with Marine Grotto & Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 726 reviews · 2 hours · from $47

Cruise around Ortigia with an Italian, English, or Spanish-speaking skipper. You will pass under Umbertino Bridge, see Castello Maniace and Arethusa Spring, visit sea caves, stop for swimming and snorkeling, and enjoy seasonal fruit with prosecco. Guides such as Salvo, Gaetano, Stephen, and Michelangelo are known for adding music, humor, and local color.

“I did this boat trip last year for the first time last year and returned to Ortigia a year later with a friend and it was still just as fantastic! The boat ride has the right amount of people, the skipper was fun and engaging. He served fruit and prosecco and we stopped at two locations to dive into the water. He provided snorkeling masks and even floating noodles if we wanted them. To do this two years in a row and it still be just as amazing and entertaining is a testament to this great company. This time we even went under the world’s lowest bridge and had to…”

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