Castro boat tour: Caves and swimming in Puglia

Swim inside caves instead of just looking at them from the shore

A boat tour departing from Castro's port explores the Salento coast's sea caves (Innamorati, Gemelle, Palombara, Azzurra, Zinzulusa and Romanelli) with a guide explaining each one and swimming stops built in. You pick between a 1-hour run to the local caves and Castro Marina Bay, a 2-hour route extending to Porto Miggiano and Santa Cesarea Terme with snorkeling, or a 3-hour journey to Luvara Bay where you can rest and have an aperitif on board. Snorkeling equipment is included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour of Salento coast caves

• Meet at Castro port info point
• Board the boat for excursion
• Visit Blue Caves and Palombara
• Explore Cave of Zinzulusa
• Discover Romanelli Cave
• Swim stop at Baia di Miggiano
• Admire Santa Cesarea Terme coastline

The experience

The boat leaves from Castro's port, where you board and the guide begins pointing out the caves as you travel. The route stays close to the cliffs, moving past the Blue Caves and Palombara first (two formations the guide will explain in detail), then to Zinzulusa, a terrestrial cave that opens to the sea and ranks among Puglia's most significant. Romanelli Cave comes next, a coastal formation with historical weight and natural character that the guide walks you through. On the 1-hour option, you stop for a swim in Castro Marina Bay and return.

The 2-hour tour extends past Castro to Baia di Miggiano, a natural bay near Santa Cesarea Terme where you get a second bathing stop. Santa Cesarea Terme itself (a thermal resort built into dramatic cliffs) comes into view during the run, and snorkeling gear is yours to use at any of the stops. The 3-hour option adds Luvara Bay, a quieter anchorage where the boat slows down, giving you time to swim, relax and take an aperitif on board before heading back. A live guide speaks English and Italian throughout.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• a live guide in English or Italian.
• swimming stops at Castro Marina Bay (1-hour option), Baia di Miggiano (2-hour option), or Luvara Bay with an aperitif on board (3-hour option).

Options for this experience

3 options

Excursion 1 hourGuide in English or Italian · 10 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:00Duration: 1 hour. A one-hour tour that takes you to Palombara, Grotta Azzurra, Grotta Zinzolusa and Grotta Romanelli, with a bathing stop.

Castro: Escurusone, 2 hoursGuide in English or Italian · 5 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 18:00Duration: 2 hours. The two-hour outing includes two bathroom stops. Two-hour tour: includes a visit to the Castro caves, a swim stop in Santa Cesaria, and a visit to the coast of Santa Cesaria.

Castro: 3-hour excursionGuide in English or Italian · 10:00 and 15:00Duration: 3 hours. The three-hour tour includes two bath stops and an aperitif. Aperitif: a small aperitif is included in the price. 3-hour tour: visits the Castro caves and the coast of Santa Cesarea, with a bathing stop, the La Luvara inlet, a second stop, and an aperitif.

You pick the guide language when booking.

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

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day10 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (under 11)

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 today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Noleggio Fortunato

Is this one for you?Pick the 1-hour tour if you want to see the famous caves and swim without a long commitment; choose 2 hours to add snorkeling and a second bathing stop at a natural bay; go 3 hours if you want the slowest pace and time to relax with a drink on board at Luvara Bay.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 11).

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 are the sea caves like that we'll see on the Castro boat tour?

Zinzulusa is one of the most important caves in Puglia, a terrestrial formation that opens to the sea; Romanelli Cave is a picturesque coastal cave with historical and natural significance; the Blue Caves and Palombara are two fascinating formations the guide explains as you pass. Each has its own character, and the guide points out the details that make them worth the trip.

Can I swim and snorkel on every option, or just some of them?

All three options include swimming stops. The 1-hour tour stops in Castro Marina Bay; the 2-hour adds a second stop at Baia di Miggiano near Santa Cesarea Terme with snorkeling included; the 3-hour finishes at Luvara Bay. Snorkeling equipment is provided on every tour.

How much time do we actually spend in the water versus on the boat?

The 1-hour tour is mostly travel to the caves with one swim stop; the 2-hour splits time between cruising the coast and two bathing breaks; the 3-hour gives you the most water time, especially at Luvara Bay, where the boat stays longer and you can have an aperitif on board.

What's the difference between Santa Cesarea Terme and the other stops?

Santa Cesarea Terme is a coastal resort town famous for its thermal waters and dramatic cliffs, visible from the boat on the 2-hour and 3-hour tours. It's not a cave but a landscape stop where you see the architecture and the sea together. Baia di Miggiano, a natural bay near it, is where you actually swim on those longer options.