Polignano a Mare: Boat Caves & Swimming Tour from Bari

The caves of Polignano a Mare, reached by water instead of the road

You board a licensed 7-meter boat at Cala Ponte and cruise the Polignano a Mare coastline with an expert local navigator. The trip includes multiple stops for swimming and snorkeling in hidden coves, plus close views of the sea caves carved into the cliffs. The whole experience takes around 2–3 hours, and you choose how long to stay at each stop.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour along Polignano coast

• Depart from Cala Ponte port
• Navigate along the coast
• Visit sea caves and hidden coves
• Swim, snorkel, or sunbathe
• Return to Cala Ponte port

The experience

The boat sits at the dock in Cala Ponte, the new tourist port in Polignano a Mare, engine already running. You step aboard a modern 7-meter boat with a licensed navigator who knows every inlet and rock formation along this stretch of coast. The engine turns over and you're moving away from the harbor, the limestone cliffs rising up ahead, white and sharp against the water. This is how you see the caves, from the angle they were carved by, not from a viewpoint on land.

The boat trip follows the coastline, stopping at the small hidden coves where the water is clear enough to see the bottom. Your navigator knows which ones are good for swimming, which ones stay in shadow, which ones have the best snorkeling. You can jump in whenever you want during the stops. The boat waits, the crew watches, and you float in water so blue it doesn't look real until you're in it. There's no schedule, no group moving faster than you're ready for. If you want to stay longer at one cove, you stay. The caves themselves open up as you approach them, dark mouths in the cliff face, some big enough to motor into, others you can only see from a distance.

The whole trip takes a couple of hours, maybe a bit more depending on where you stop and how long you swim. It's the kind of tour where the navigator's knowledge is the real thing: Sofia's team knows the area well enough to take you past the crowded spots and into the smaller coves that don't show up on the usual itineraries. You're not rushed through a list of sights. You're moving at the pace of the water and the light. Infants can come along if they sit on an adult's lap, and strollers work fine at the dock before you board.

What’s included

• Your boat trip includes the modern 7-meter boat with a licensed navigator, stops at multiple hidden coves and sea caves along the Polignano a Mare coast, and time to swim and snorkel at each stop.
• The crew provides local knowledge of the best spots and safe entry points.
• Public transportation is available nearby if you need to reach Cala Ponte.

Before you book

Lasts 1h 50m, runs every day at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00, from € 40 per person, with a live guide in English and Italian, in groups of up to 10 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (21 to 65 years) · Senior (66 and older) · Youth (9 to 20 years) · Child (3 to 8 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 10

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Escursioni Sofia

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see the Polignano a Mare caves from the water without arranging your own boat or navigating the coast yourself: the licensed crew and their knowledge of the hidden coves is what makes the difference between a generic boat ride and knowing where to actually go.

Traveler reviews

4.81★★★★★★★★★★

466 verified traveler reviews

5 ★411

4 ★37

3 ★9

2 ★2

1 ★7

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (9 to 20 years); Child (3 to 8 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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.

Where does the boat depart from?

Cala Ponte, the new tourist port in Polignano a Mare.

How long is the boat trip?

Approximately 2–3 hours, depending on how long you spend at each swimming stop.

Can you swim during the tour?

Yes. The boat stops at hidden coves and small beaches where you can swim and snorkel.

What size is the boat?

A modern 7-meter boat with a 115–150 horsepower engine, licensed for pleasure boat navigation.

Do I need swimming experience?

No. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and you choose whether and how long to swim at each stop.

Is the navigator a local?

Yes. The crew are expert navigators and local connoisseurs of the Polignano a Mare coast.

What if the weather is bad?

Check with the operator before your tour date. Sea conditions can affect departure.