Lecce: Leuca Boat Tour & Cave Swimming 3 Hours
The Lighthouse & Seven Kilometers of Caves You Swim Into
You board a small boat with a local skipper and cruise seven kilometers of the Leuca coastline, passing a dozen named sea caves. Two swimming stops let you enter the caves by water, including Grotta dello spruzzo, where light plays across the rock. Drinks and snacks are on board, the group stays under ten people, and you're back on land by early afternoon.
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Boat tour exploring caves and swimming
- Board boat with local guide
- Cross Punta Meliso and lighthouse
- View caves and coves for 7 km
- Stop for swimming at cave of the splash
- Visit Grotta del terradico and nearby caves
- Pass Punta Ristola and see more caves
- Stop for swimming near a cave
- Return to Leuca
The experience
The boat pulls away from the dock at Santa Maria di Leuca and the coast opens up in front of you. Your skipper knows the water here. He points out Punta Meliso, the lighthouse, and then the first cave mouth appears in the limestone. You're not just looking at these caves from the water. The tour stops twice, and both times you're swimming into them. The boat holds a maximum of ten people, so it's never crowded, and there's a fridge on board with drinks and snacks already waiting.
The first stretch covers about seven kilometers of coastline, and the caves have names that sound like they belong to a map only locals read: Grotta dello spruzzo, the cave of the splash, where light filters through in a way that makes the water glow. Grotta del terradico, grotta dei gabbiani, verduselle, grotta della vora. Your skipper knows which ones are safe to enter, which ones have the best light, and where the water is clearest. You stop, you swim, you float in the cave and look up at the rock above you. Then back to the boat and on toward Punta Ristola.
After that point the coast turns toward Gallipoli, and the caves keep coming: grotta del fiume, grotta delle tre porte, grotta della stalla, grotta degli innamorati, grotta del drago. The second swimming stop happens near one of these, and by then you've seen enough of the Adriatic and Ionian coastlines meeting that you understand why people come back to this corner of Puglia. The whole thing takes three hours, and you're in the water for a good part of it.
What’s included
Your three-hour tour includes a guided boat journey with a local skipper, two swimming stops in sea caves along the Leuca coastline, and drinks and snacks on board. The boat holds a maximum of ten people.
Before you book
Operated by Piccola Nautica di Petese Renato
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Leuca caves without renting a boat yourself. The skipper knows which ones are safe to enter and where the light is best, which is what turns a scenic cruise into a swimming adventure.
Traveler reviews
Top questions
What's included in the tour?
Guided tour with a local skipper, two swimming stops, and drinks and snacks on board. Entry to the caves is part of the boat route.
How many people go on the boat?
Maximum of ten people per departure, so groups stay small.
How long is the tour?
Three hours total, including two swimming stops.
Can you swim in the caves?
Yes. The tour includes two stops where you can swim and enter the sea caves by water.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and specialized infant seats are available. The boat is accessible for all fitness levels.
What if I can't swim?
You can stay on the boat during the swimming stops, or ask your skipper about shallow-water options near the caves.
Is the boat wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The boat and all areas are wheelchair accessible.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a light jacket. Drinks are provided, but bring water if you prefer.