3-Hour Cinque Terre Boat Tour from Riomaggiore with Swim Stops

Three hours on a traditional gozzo boat, close enough to photograph each village from the water.

A 3-hour shared boat tour from Riomaggiore circles all five Cinque Terre villages aboard a traditional gozzo, with stops to swim in the Ligurian Sea and explore sea caves along the coastline. The boat holds a maximum of 12 guests. Your captain is a local, English-speaking professional. Life jackets and snorkeling equipment are provided, and the itinerary is flexible. You can choose to swim at each stop or get off the boat to walk around Vernazzo instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cinque Terre boat tour and swim stops

• Depart from Riomaggiore port
• View all five Cinque Terre villages
• Pause near villages for photos
• Spot dolphins alongside boat (if lucky)
• Discover cliffs and sea caves
• Swim in crystalline waters

The experience

The tour leaves Riomaggiore's port and works its way along the coast, pausing at each of the five villages so you can photograph them from angles only the water gives you. The boat is a traditional Ligurian gozzo, the kind locals have used for generations: small enough to slip close to the cliffs and into hidden sea caves, spacious enough that twelve passengers don't feel crowded. Your captain knows the area intimately and speaks English. The company has been running these tours for over thirteen years.

Swimming happens at secluded spots where the water is clear enough to use the snorkeling gear provided. You jump in when you want to. If you'd rather stay dry, you can ask to be dropped at Vernazzo instead and explore the village on foot before the boat picks you up again. The itinerary shifts based on conditions and what the group wants to do, so no two departures are quite the same. Dolphins occasionally appear alongside the boat, though that's never guaranteed.

Bring a swimsuit and a towel if you plan to get in the water. Food and drinks are welcome aboard. The boat departs from the Riomaggiore waterfront. If you're arriving by train, the station is a short walk from the port.

What’s included

• Life jackets.
• snorkeling equipment.
• English-speaking local captain.
• access to all five Cinque Terre villages by boat.
• swim stops in the Ligurian Sea and exploration of sea caves.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Italian10:00 and 13:00

Guide in English or ItalianAvailable from 15 May 2027

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 13:00Last departure this season: 2 Nov

Book up to2h before

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Cinqueterre dal Mare Tours

Is this one for you?The shared boat keeps the group small, just twelve passengers, so you get close views of the villages without the crowds of a larger tour. The flexible itinerary means you can swim or walk depending on what appeals to you that day.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can I swim at every stop, or do I have to choose?

Swimming is optional at each stop. You can jump in at one or all of them, or skip the water entirely and walk around Vernazzo instead. The boat's itinerary is flexible based on what the group wants to do.

What are the Ligurian gozzos, and why does the tour use them?

Gozzos are traditional wooden boats locals have used for fishing and transport along the Liguria coast for generations. They're small and nimble enough to get close to the villages and into sea caves, but spacious enough that a group of twelve stays comfortable.

Is there a time limit for swimming, or can I stay in the water as long as I want?

The tour is three hours total, with multiple swim stops built into that window. You can swim as long as you like at each stop, but the boat will move on to the next village when the group is ready.

What happens if I get seasick or don't feel comfortable in the water?

The boat is spacious and stable. If you don't want to swim, you can stay on board at each stop, or ask to be dropped at Vernazzo to explore the village on foot while the boat waits for you.

Do I need to know how to snorkel, or is the equipment just for looking at fish?

No experience is necessary. The snorkeling gear is provided, and the water at the swim stops is shallow enough for beginners. Many people use it just to look around underwater without diving deep.