Capri boat tour from Positano: Blue Grotto & caves

Sail past five sea caves and the Faraglioni, then swim in turquoise water between each one

A full-day boat tour from Positano circles Capri with a live guide, stopping at the Blue Grotto, Green Grotto, White Grotto and three smaller caves for swimming and snorkeling. The boat carries a maximum of twelve passengers. Brunch with local specialties, prosecco and limoncello are served on board. Snorkeling gear, towels and safety equipment are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Marina Grande5m
2. Blue Grotto1h
3. Green Grotto10m
4. Faraglioni30m

Capri island boat tour and grotto visits

• Depart from Marina Grande beach
• Visit Baths of Tiberius historic site
• Explore the Blue Grotto cave
• Admire the bay and Dolce & Gabbana villa
• Enter Grotta Iannarella Cave of the Heart
• Cross bay with calm waters
• See Punta Carena Lighthouse and sunset
• Discover the Cave of Saints
• Swim in the Green Grotto
• Relax at Punta Ventroso with aperitif
• Pass by Sirens Rock
• Visit Cave of the Sailors
• View the Faraglioni rock formations
• See Villa Malaparte cliffside villa
• Explore the White Grotto
• Admire the Red Cave
• Observe Villa Jovis cliff

The experience

The boat departs from Positano and sails eight hours around Capri, built around the sea caves and rock formations that line the island's coast. You'll enter the Blue Grotto first: the low, narrow entrance opens into an iridescent chamber where sunlight filters through the water and bounces off limestone walls. From there, the route moves through the Green Grotto (once called the Cave of the Turks), the White Grotto with its pure limestone interior, and three smaller caves: the Cave of Saints with stalactite formations, the Red Cave with deep crimson walls, and the Cave of the Sailors. Between each stop, you swim and snorkel in the open water. The skipper and steward stay on board and manage the pace.

The boat also passes the Faraglioni (five stacked rock formations that are Capri's most photographed landmark), and sails past Villa Malaparte, a 1930s minimalist villa perched on the cliffs. You'll see the Baths of Tiberius near Marina Grande, where Roman emperors once bathed, and the Punta Carena Lighthouse, the second most powerful in Italy, built in 1867. A break at Punta Ventroso includes brunch with local delicacies, prosecco, limoncello and fresh snacks served on deck. Floats and snorkeling equipment are provided. Bring a swimsuit and sunscreen.

The group stays small, twelve people maximum, and a live guide narrates in English or Italian. The boat has a bathroom on board. Note that the Blue Grotto can close unexpectedly due to long queues, unfavorable tides or local authority decisions. If it closes, the tour continues to the other caves and no refund is issued. Bad weather may also alter the itinerary or require rescheduling to another date.

What’s included

• Brunch with local delicacies.
• prosecco, limoncello, beer, soda and water.
• snorkeling equipment and floats.
• beach towels.
• safety equipment.
• bathroom on board.
• skipper and steward.
• assisted embarkation and disembarkation at private docks.

Options for this experience

3 options

Full day tourGuide in English or Italian · Available from 20 Apr 2027Departure points: Cetara Port, Italy; Maiori, SA, Italy; Porto Turistico Masuccio Salernitano, Piazza della Concordia, 84122 Salerno SA, Italy; Vietri sul Mare, SA, Italy

Full-day tours and excursionsGuide in English or Italian · 5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 10:30Length: 8 hours. Departure points: 80061 Massa Lubrense, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy; 80063 Piano di Sorrento, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy; 84010 Praiano, SA, Italy; Amalfi Port, Via Lungomare dei Cavalieri, 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy; Porto di Sorrento, Via Marina Piccola, 35, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy; Positano Spiaggia, Italy; Torre Annunziata, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy

From CapriGuide in English or Italian · 09:30, 10:00 and 10:30Lasts 7 hours. Departure point: Capri Marina Tourist Port, Darsena, Marina di Caterola, 80073 Capri NA, Italy

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and Friday5 departure times: the first at 08:30, the last at 10:30Last departure this season: 31 Oct

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (4 and older) · Under 4: can't be booked

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Charter Coast Luxury

Is this one for you?The eight-hour duration and small group of up to twelve suit travelers who want a full day on the water with multiple stops and time to swim, rather than a quick half-day hop. If you're sensitive to sea conditions, note that bad weather can alter the itinerary or move your date, and the Blue Grotto may close without refund due to tides or queues. Book this tour only if you're flexible on which caves you visit.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided 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.

What is the Blue Grotto actually like when you get inside?

The Blue Grotto is a sea cave with a low, narrow entrance that opens into a chamber where sunlight filters through the water below, creating an iridescent blue effect as light bounces off the limestone walls. The Romans venerated it as a sacred place, and it remains one of Capri's most visited natural wonders, though the experience depends on sea conditions and queue length on the day you visit.

Can you swim and snorkel during the tour, or do you only look from the boat?

You swim and snorkel at five dedicated stops throughout the day in the open water between the caves. Snorkeling equipment and floats are provided on board, and the skipper chooses calm spots where the water is safe for swimming.

What exactly is included in the brunch served on board?

Brunch includes local delicacies, prosecco, limoncello, fresh snacks and soft drinks (water, soda, beer, spritz). The meal is served during a break at Punta Ventroso, and you eat on deck while the boat is anchored.

How many people go on this tour, and do you get a guide the whole time?

The group is a maximum of twelve passengers, and a live guide in English or Italian stays with the boat throughout the eight hours, narrating the stops and the history of the sites you pass.

What happens if the Blue Grotto is closed on the day of your tour?

The Blue Grotto can close unexpectedly due to long queues, unfavorable tide conditions or decisions by local authorities. If it closes, the tour continues as planned to the other four caves (the Green Grotto, White Grotto, Cave of Saints and Red Cave), and no refund is issued. The entrance fee to the Blue Grotto (€18 per person) is sold separately on site if you do enter.