Capri boat tour from Sorrento: Grottoes and swim time

Three sea caves and a full afternoon on Capri, reached by private boat from the coast

A private boat tour departing Sorrento for a full day on Capri, with a live guide in English or Italian, visits the White, Green and Blue grottoes by water, includes three hours free time on the island itself, and a swimming stop at the Faraglioni. The tour runs seven hours total and includes hotel pickup, snacks, beer, soft drinks, prosecco and limoncello. The route adjusts for sea conditions to keep you safe.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. White Grotto30m
2. Green Grotto30m
3. Blue Grotto1h
4. Marina Piccola1h

Capri island boat tour and swim

• See White Grotto by boat
• Visit Green Grotto by boat
• Explore Blue Grotto by rowboat
• Admire Punta Carena Lighthouse
• Stop in Capri for free time
• Swim off the Faraglioni rocks

The experience

You leave from Sorrento by private boat and spend the morning touring Capri's sea caves before the island crowds arrive. The White Grotto, a pure white chamber carved 30 meters into the rock, once sheltered Roman boats and later hid islanders from seventeenth-century pirates: the walls still bear marks of those centuries. The Green Grotto takes its name from the emerald color the seawater turns when light reflects off the seabed through its openings. You can swim inside if the sea stays calm. The Blue Grotto, the most famous of the three, requires a transfer to a small rowboat to duck under a one-meter archway and enter a chamber that glows electric blue. The visit is guaranteed unless weather closes it.

After the grottoes you pass the Punta Carena Lighthouse, Italy's second-most powerful beacon, lit continuously since 1867. Then comes three hours free on the island itself: time to walk the main piazza, eat lunch, browse the shops, or simply sit. The boat collects you and heads to the Faraglioni, the three jagged rock stacks that define Capri's silhouette, where you stop to swim before the return to Sorrento. Throughout the day you have snacks, beer, soft drinks, prosecco and limoncello on board. The guide speaks English or Italian and adjusts the route if the sea roughens.

The tour runs seven hours door to door, including the journey from Sorrento. Hotel pickup with a free shuttle bus is included, though if your hotel sits outside the Sorrento Peninsula you can ask the operator for a transfer quote. The landing fee at Capri's port and entry to the Blue Grotto are separate charges. Fuel is not included in the tour price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup with free shuttle bus.
• snacks, beer, soft drinks, prosecco and limoncello throughout the day.
• three hours free time on Capri island.
• a swimming stop at the Faraglioni rocks.
• a live guide in English or Italian.

Options for this experience

4 options

Tour for up to 6 people, privateUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 09:00 and 10:00Duration: 7 hours; Gozzo Sorrentino 7.80; pickup is included

Private tour, 4 hours, for up to 6 passengersUp to 6 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 09:00Duration: 4 hours, no landing; pickup is included

4-hour private tour for 7 to 12 passengersUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 09:00Duration: 4 hours, you do not land on Capri; Boat 38; pickup is included

Private tour for 7 to 12 peopleUp to 12 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 09:00 and 10:00Duration: 7 hours; includes pickup

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 to SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 10:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight 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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Paid on site€ 368

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Mag Charter boat tours

Is this one for you?Pick this if your group wants to explore Capri's caves and swim without time pressure: the boat stays as long as you need on the island.

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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.

Can I swim during this tour from Sorrento?

Yes, you stop at the Faraglioni, the three rock stacks off Capri's coast, specifically to swim. You can also swim inside the Green Grotto if sea conditions allow, though the Blue Grotto visit is by rowboat only.

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

The Blue Grotto entrance is so low you lie down in a small rowboat while the sailor pulls you under a one-meter archway. Once inside, the chamber glows an intense electric blue from light reflecting off the seabed through the water. The visit is guaranteed unless bad weather closes the entrance.

How much free time do I get on the island of Capri itself?

You have three hours free on Capri to explore the main town, eat, shop or rest before the boat returns to collect you for the swim stop and the journey back to Sorrento.

What drinks and food are included on the boat?

Snacks, beer, soft drinks (coke and water), prosecco and limoncello are all included throughout the seven-hour tour. Lunch on the island is not included, though you have time to eat there during your free hours.

Does the tour leave if the weather is bad?

The route adjusts according to sea conditions to keep you safe, and the Blue Grotto visit is guaranteed unless weather closes it. If cancellation due to bad weather becomes necessary, you receive a full refund.

What size group is this tour, and how does pickup work?

The tour is private, meaning you book it for your group alone. Options range from up to six people to up to twelve people depending on which you choose. Hotel pickup with a free shuttle bus is included for hotels in the Sorrento Peninsula. Outside that area, ask the operator for a transfer quote.