Boat tour Palermo coast: Swim Mondello, cave, Addaura

Three coves, one boat, no planning the stops yourself

A boat tour along the Palermo coast departing from Mondello with a live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French, stopping to swim at the Queen's Cave, Addaura and Mondello Bay. You choose between a half-day morning run, a full-day voyage (about 7 hours, departing 10 am) that adds Capo Gallo and Isola delle Femmine, or an evening departure timed for sunset. Snorkelling equipment, brunch, bottled water, soft drinks and one alcoholic beverage per adult are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour along Palermo coast

• Depart at 10:00 am
• Swim in the cave of the queen
• Swim in the depths of Addaura
• Swim in Gulf of Mondello
• Visit marine area of Capo Gallo
• Visit Isola delle Femmine
• Taste typical Palermitan dishes
• Toast to sunset

The experience

The boat leaves Mondello and heads out along the coast, stopping first at the Queen's Cave a few minutes into the navigation. You swim inside it and see the seabed in the shallows. From there the route moves to Addaura, where the water deepens and the backdrop shifts: the landscape changes as you move along the gulf. The full-day tour adds two more marine areas: Capo Gallo and Isola delle Femmine, which means you spend the afternoon moving between four distinct stretches of water instead of three.

Snorkelling gear is on board and ready. Brunch arrives partway through, and you get bottled water, soft drinks and one alcoholic drink per person (beer, wine or spirits, for adults only). The crew handles the boat. A guide who speaks your language narrates the route and explains what you are looking at. The half-day tour runs about three hours. The full-day departure is 10 am and lasts roughly seven hours. A sunset option departs in the evening and times the return for dusk.

The water in the Gulf of Mondello is clear enough to see the seabed from the surface. Swimming happens at each stop. You decide how long to stay in. Infants can come along (they sit on an adult's lap), and the boat is comfortable enough that small children in a pram or stroller can make the trip. Public transport reaches the departure point. The tour is not suitable for anyone with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health or pregnancy.

What’s included

• Snorkelling equipment.
• brunch.
• bottled water and soft drinks.
• one alcoholic beverage per adult (beer, wine or spirits).
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian, French or another language.

Options for this experience

3 options

Mondello Sunset (exclusive)Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 18:30Sunset aperitif

Half Day (exclusive)Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 09:30 and 15:00

Full Day (exclusive)Guide in English, Spanish or Italian · 10:00

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 timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:30, 10:00, 15:00 and 18:30

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German and Italian

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German 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 3 days ago

Good to know

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

Operated by Sicily tour

Is this one for you?Pick the half-day morning tour if you want to swim and snorkel without eating up the whole day. Choose the full-day departure at 10 am when you have the afternoon free and want to see four separate marine zones instead of three. The sunset option works if you prefer to end the day on the water rather than start it there.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German 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's the difference between the half-day and full-day boat tour on the Palermo coast?

The half-day tour covers the Queen's Cave, Addaura and Mondello Bay in about three hours. The full-day tour adds Capo Gallo and Isola delle Femmine, departs at 10 am and runs roughly seven hours, giving you more of the coast and more time in the water at each stop.

Do I need to bring my own snorkelling gear?

No. Snorkelling equipment is included and provided on the boat, ready to use at each swimming stop.

What food and drinks come with the tour?

Brunch is included, along with bottled water, soft drinks (Coke, orange juice, fruit juice) and one alcoholic beverage per adult. Children and non-drinkers get unlimited water instead.

Can I bring young children or infants on this boat tour?

Yes. Infants sit on an adult's lap, and small children can travel in a pram or stroller. The boat is comfortable and the pace is leisurely, so families with young kids can join any of the three options.

How do I get to the boat departure point at Mondello?

Public transportation options are available nearby the departure point. You can reach Mondello by bus or car from central Palermo in about 20 minutes.