Experiences · By boat

Siracusa
from a different angle.

Fun and culture seen from the sea. We have selected the best local partners and arranged exclusive deals: group or private boat trips with a skipper, with rates reserved for our guests.

Boat trips

Ortigia, the sea caves and la Pillirina,
seen from the water.

Siracusa opens up from the water. Options range from the group trip — Ortigia and the sea caves in an hour — to a private charter with skipper all to yourselves, out as far as la Pillirina in the Plemmirio Nature Reserve.

Another way to see Siracusa!

Discover the tours
The sea caves of Ortigia seen from the boat Guest favourite
No. 01

Ortigia and the sea caves

The classic trip, the most popular: one hour among the colourful sea caves and Ortigia seen from the sea, with stops for photos and swimming.

  • About 1 hour
  • Group · collective
  • Italian · English
  • Pontile Umbertino · Ortigia

Why choose it

The tour everyone does — and it never disappoints. One hour among the sea caves of Ortigia, where the light filtering through the water sets corals, stalactites and sheer walls aglow in a kaleidoscope of colour: orange, turquoise, cobalt. The skipper knows every inlet, every hidden cave, every spot to stop and dive in. You leave from the Pontile Umbertino, follow the coast to the Castello Maniace, and return sailing past the Fonte Aretusa. This is the essential version — the right choice if you have a free afternoon or want a taste of the sea before deciding on a private trip.

Boat in front of the Castello Maniace Calm sea Sea caves of Ortigia The Lungomare di Ponente of Ortigia seen from the sea

The itinerary, stop by stop

  1. Pontile Umbertino (departure)

    Boarding in Ortigia: the skipper explains the route and on-board safety rules.

  2. Grotta del Corallo, degli Innamorati and delle Colombe

    The three most spectacular caves on the coast: the light filtering through the water and vault openings sets corals, stalactites and walls aglow in a kaleidoscope of blues and oranges.

  3. Forte Vigliena and Forte San Giovannello

    The two fortresses that once guarded the flanks of Ortigia, now only visible from the sea: stone towers rising sheer from the water.

  4. Castello Maniace (view from the sea)

    Frederick II's Swabian fortress on the tip of the island shows its true scale from the sea: massive, silent, almost medieval.

  5. Fonte Aretusa (view from the sea)

    The freshwater spring facing the Porto Grande, with papyrus visible from the boat and the baroque silhouette of Ortigia behind.

  6. Swimming stop

    A stop beneath the caves or in a sheltered spot for those who want to dive into the crystal-clear water.

Included

  • Skipper and guide on board
  • Photo stops at the caves
  • Swimming stop
  • Life jackets
  • Sun shade and shower on board

Not included

  • Food and drinks
  • Tips and personal expenses
Friends on the boat Guest favourite
No. 02

Half-day with lunch on board

Four hours at sea with a Sicilian lunch on board: caves, Castello Maniace, the Plemmirio Reserve, swimming stops and a table set on the water.

  • 4 hours · 11:00 – 15:00
  • Group · collective
  • Italian · English
  • Pontile Umbertino · Ortigia

Why choose it

Four hours that seem to go on forever. You leave the Pontile Umbertino towards the sea caves of Ortigia, then follow the coast south to the Plemmirio Nature Reserve — one of the richest seabeds in the Mediterranean. Along the way you stop several times to swim; then, in a sheltered bay, the ladder goes up and you sit around the on-board table. Sea antipasti, pasta, white and red Sicilian wine, fruit: a real lunch, not a packed box. The Leone boat — 12 metres, shaded area with a table, loungers and a sundeck — was made for this. You're back in port by 15:00.

The colourful sea caves of Ortigia Plemmirio The skipper on board during the tour Ortigia from the sea

The itinerary, stop by stop

  1. Departure from Pontile Umbertino (11:00)

    Boarding in Ortigia: setting sail towards the sea caves.

  2. Sea caves of Ortigia

    The Grotta del Corallo, degli Innamorati and delle Colombe: corals, stalactites and walls lit by filtered light.

  3. Forte Vigliena, Forte San Giovannello and Castello Maniace

    The coastal fortresses seen from the sea, all the way to Frederick II's Swabian tip.

  4. Plemmirio Nature Reserve

    Heading south along the coast into the Marine Protected Area: crystal-clear waters, posidonia seagrass and some of the cleanest sea in the Mediterranean.

  5. Swimming stops

    Several stops in sheltered spots: time to swim, explore and relax in the water.

  6. Lunch on board

    The table set with sea antipasti, a pasta dish, water, Sicilian white and red wine, fresh fruit. A real lunch, served on board the Leone boat.

  7. Return to Pontile Umbertino (15:00)

    Back in Ortigia with the whole afternoon ahead.

Included

  • Skipper on board
  • Lunch on board: sea antipasti and first course
  • Water, Sicilian white and red wine, drinks
  • Fresh fruit
  • Multiple swimming stops
  • Life jackets
  • Shaded area with table and loungers
  • Shower and boarding ladder

Not included

  • Extra alcoholic drinks
  • Tips and personal expenses
Sunset afternoon with aperitivo on the boat Guest favourite
No. 03

Sunset afternoon with aperitivo

Three hours at sea at the golden hour: the caves, the Castello Maniace at sunset, swimming stops and an enhanced aperitivo of Sicilian specialties.

  • 3 hours · 17:00 – 20:00
  • Group · collective
  • Italian · English
  • Pontile Umbertino · Ortigia

Why choose it

Three hours at sea at the best time of day. You set off at 17:00 when the light is starting to warm up, pass through the sea caves and sail along Ortigia to the Castello Maniace — from the sea, against the sunset light, it's one of the most memorable views Siracusa has to offer. Along the way you stop to swim; then, just as the sun sinks over the water, the aperitivo arrives: Sicilian local specialties, something to drink, the sky changing colour. You're back at 20:00, just as the restaurants are starting to fill up.

Friends at sunset with aperitivo on the boat Plemmirio, calm sea Crystal-clear water A toast at sunset

The itinerary, stop by stop

  1. Departure from Pontile Umbertino (17:00)

    Setting sail in the late afternoon, when the light is beginning to warm.

  2. Sea caves of Ortigia

    The Grotta del Corallo, degli Innamorati and delle Colombe: at this hour the late-day light creates orange reflections on the walls.

  3. Forte Vigliena and Forte San Giovannello

    The coastal fortresses seen from the sea, as the light drops over the landscape.

  4. Castello Maniace at sunset

    Frederick II's Swabian fortress on the tip of Ortigia, with the sun setting behind it: one of the most photographed views in Siracusa.

  5. Swimming stops

    One or more stops in sheltered spots to swim in the still-warm afternoon sea.

  6. Enhanced aperitivo on board

    Sicilian local specialties, water and drinks as the sky changes colour and you sail back to port.

  7. Return to Pontile Umbertino (20:00)

    Back ashore with the sunset just finished and dinner still to come.

Included

  • Skipper on board
  • Enhanced aperitivo with Sicilian specialties
  • Water and drinks
  • Swimming stops
  • Life jackets
  • Shaded area with table and loungers
  • Shower and boarding ladder

Not included

  • Extra alcoholic drinks
  • Tips and personal expenses
Private boat with skipper along the sea caves of Ortigia
No. 04

Private charter with skipper

The same route as the group trip, all to yourselves: private boat, dedicated skipper, pace and stops entirely at your choice. With upgrade to enhanced aperitivo.

  • 1h 30 · private boat
  • Private with skipper
  • Italian · English
  • Pontile Umbertino · Ortigia

Why choose it

The same route as the group trip, but all to yourselves: private boat, dedicated skipper, and above all — time. With no other passengers you can linger as long as you like in the caves, swim in spots the group never reaches, ask for a photo with the whole island behind you. It's the right choice for two wanting something special, for families with children, or simply if you'd rather not share the sea with strangers. The welcome drink is included; an upgrade with enhanced aperitivo of local specialties is also available.

The colourful sea caves of Ortigia Castello Maniace Calm sea Crystal-clear water at la Pillirina in the Plemmirio

The itinerary, stop by stop

  1. Pontile Umbertino (departure)

    Private boarding: the skipper agrees the route and pace with the group.

  2. Grotta del Corallo, degli Innamorati and delle Colombe

    Light, corals, stalactites: the three most spectacular caves, with the option to linger longer at favourite spots.

  3. Forte Vigliena and Forte San Giovannello

    The coastal fortresses with a view over the open sea.

  4. Castello Maniace (view from the sea)

    Frederick II's Swabian fortress, with the Porto Grande behind it.

  5. Fonte Aretusa (view from the sea)

    The spring with the papyrus and the baroque silhouette of Ortigia.

  6. Swimming stop

    One or more stops chosen by the skipper (and you) in the clearest water beneath the caves.

Included

  • Dedicated skipper for the full duration
  • Private boat, just you on board
  • Photo stops at the caves
  • Swimming stop
  • Life jackets
  • Shower on board
  • Welcome drink: water, prosecco, white or red wine

Not included

  • Food (not included in the base upgrade)
  • Tips and personal expenses
La Pillirina in the Plemmirio Nature Reserve, crystal-clear water
No. 05

Private trip to la Pillirina

The longest private tour: sea caves, Castello Maniace and then the route south to la Pillirina, in the heart of the Plemmirio Nature Reserve.

  • 2h 10 · private boat
  • Private with skipper
  • Italian · English
  • Pontile Umbertino · Ortigia

Why choose it

The long private tour, for those who want to see it all. After the sea caves and the silhouette of Ortigia, the route heads south along the Plemmirio coast: one of the most beautiful and least crowded stretches of sea in Sicily. You reach la Pillirina — a Spanish tower on a rocky promontory, surrounded by water that changes colour with depth — and that's where the boat stops. The water is crystal clear, the seabed is shallow and full of life, and there's not another tourist in sight. Like the standard private, an upgrade with enhanced aperitivo is also available here.

The colourful sea caves of Ortigia Boat at sunset in front of the Castello Maniace Sailing at sunset A couple during the tour

The itinerary, stop by stop

  1. Pontile Umbertino (departure)

    Private boarding: the skipper outlines the route and agrees stops and pace.

  2. Sea caves of Ortigia

    The Grotta del Corallo, degli Innamorati and delle Colombe, with stops at leisure.

  3. Forte Vigliena and Forte San Giovannello

    The coastal fortresses of Ortigia seen from the sea.

  4. Castello Maniace

    Frederick II's Swabian fortress on the tip of the island.

  5. Plemmirio Nature Reserve

    Leaving Ortigia behind and heading south into the Marine Protected Area: posidonia seagrass, transparent water, silence.

  6. La Pillirina

    A Spanish tower on a rocky promontory, surrounded by shallow, crystal-clear water: the locals' favourite spot. The boat anchors here for swimming.

  7. Swimming stops

    Two or more stops along the route — including on the way back — at the best spots.

Included

  • Dedicated skipper for the full duration
  • Private boat, just you on board
  • Entry to the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area included
  • Swimming stops at Ortigia and la Pillirina
  • Life jackets
  • Shower and boarding ladder
  • Welcome drink: water, prosecco, white or red wine

Not included

  • Food (not included in the base upgrade)
  • Tips and personal expenses
The sea seen from above
Siracusa, from the sea

For a change of perspective,
Siracusa from the sea.

Live the poetry: the colours of the sea, of the sunset, of the caves, the way Ortigia stands out against the late-afternoon sky.

Good to know

Before you book

  • On request and subject to availability of the supplier. You will find all the booking details for each tour right inside our web app!
  • The group tours (No. 01, 02 and 03) depart at fixed times from the Pontile Umbertino in Ortigia. Private tours are arranged to suit you: skipper and time are flexible. In both cases you arrange the details directly with the service provider.
  • Group prices are per person. Private tours are priced per whole boat, regardless of the number of passengers (up to 8): the more of you there are, the less you pay per head.
  • Weather and sea conditions. The supplier may cancel or reschedule a trip in case of rough seas or strong winds. In that case, a new date is agreed or the tour is cancelled.
  • For dates, availability and confirmation, use our web app to contact the service provider: they will reply quickly.
Guided tour through the alleys of Ortigia
Another experience

Prefer to discover it on foot?

Ortigia, the Neapolis Archaeological Park and baroque Noto, told by an authorized tour guide, in Italian or English.

See the guided tours
A perk for our guests

The best rates go to guests staying with us.

The discounted rates you see here are reserved for guests who book their stay directly with us. Book on our site and you also unlock the PhotoGuest web app: from there you can organise your experiences and find the spots we actually frequent — not the usual generic suggestions. Already a guest? Arrange your boat trip from the web app or ask us directly.

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Already a guest? Arrange your boat trip from the web app or get in touch.

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