Portofino San Fruttuoso Boat Tour: Swim Christ of Abyss

Snorkel above a submerged statue in a marine protected bay.

A private boat tour along the Liguria coast departing from Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, or Rapallo, with a live English or Italian-speaking guide. You'll sail past the pastel village of Portofino from the water, pass the lighthouse marking the gulf's edge, and stop for 20 minutes in San Fruttuoso Bay to snorkel above the Christ of the Abyss, a statue on the seabed. The tour runs three to four hours depending on your preferences for swimming and sightseeing, and includes snorkeling equipment, towels, focaccia, water, and alcoholic beverages.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour along Tigullio coast

• Sail in gulf of Santa Margherita
• Visit Portofino bay and village
• Circumnavigate promontory with lighthouse
• Enter San Fruttuoso Bay and swim
• Tour coast towards gulf of Rapallo

The experience

The boat moves slowly along the coast so your guide can point out the landscape shaped by both nature and human settlement: the colored houses of Santa Margherita, the hotels and green hills backing the shore, the details that make this stretch of the Tigullio distinctive. You'll enter Portofino's bay to see the village from the water, and if you want to step ashore for a walk through the streets or to shop, the boat can drop you there. Otherwise you stay aboard and take in the view from the sea.

The route then rounds the promontory with its lighthouse and enters the marine protected area toward San Fruttuoso. The stop here lasts about 20 minutes: you'll have snorkeling masks and equipment ready, and the chance to swim above the Christ of the Abyss, a statue placed on the seabed below. You'll see the abbey of San Fruttuoso from the water as well. If time and your group's pace allow, the boat continues along the coast toward Rapallo's gulf, where you can admire the palm-lined promenade and Belle Epoque buildings from the water.

Focaccia Ligure, bottled water, towels, and a changing cabin are included. Alcoholic beverages are served to guests 18 and over. The tour departs only in good sea conditions: rough seas or adverse forecasts mean cancellation and full refund. You can choose a three-hour tour, a full-day option with more time to relax, and which departure point suits your location: Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, or Rapallo.

What’s included

• Snorkeling masks and equipment.
• towels and changing cabin.
• focaccia Ligure.
• bottled water.
• alcoholic beverages for guests 18 and over.
• shower facilities.
• live guide in English or Italian.
• fuel surcharge.

Options for this experience

6 options

Tour 3hUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 8 departure times: the first at 10:00, the last at 14:00Duration: 3 hours, a private 3-hour tour that includes a guide and fuel consumption. Fresh water and aperitif: fresh water, snacks, and an aperitif with Ligurian focaccia and Ligurian wine. Rapallo, Santa Margherita, Portofino and San Fruttuoso: along the coast, with entry into the bay of Portofino and the bay of San Fruttuoso, without disembarking or stopping on land. White gozzo Truca 7 m: the boat has a changing cabin, shower, stereo or Bluetooth speaker, refrigerator, and a small toilet. Also on board: snorkeling equipment and float tubes, plus all safety equipment required by law

Tour leaving from PortofinoUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 09:30, 10:30 and 12:00Duration: 4 hours. Food and drink: fresh water, snacks, and an aperitif with Ligurian focaccia and Ligurian wine. White gozzo Truca 7 m: the boat has a changing cabin, shower, stereo or Bluetooth speaker, refrigerator, and a small toilet. Also on board: snorkeling equipment and float tubes, as well as all the safety equipment required by law. Starting point: Molo Umberto I, 10, 16034 Portofino GE, Italy

Departure point: Santa Margherita LigureUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 6 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 12:00Duration: 4 hours, a private 4-hour tour that includes a guide and fuel consumption. Food and drink: fresh water, snacks, and an aperitif with Ligurian focaccia and Ligurian wine. White gozzo Truca 7 m: the boat has a changing cabin, shower, stereo or Bluetooth speaker, refrigerator, and a small toilet. Also on board: snorkeling equipment and floating noodles, plus all safety equipment required by law. Starting point: Molo Maloncello, 16038, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy

See 3 more options

Tour beginning in RapalloUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · 09:30 and 10:00Duration: 4 hours, including a 4-hour private tour with guide and fuel consumption. Food and drink: fresh water, snacks, and an aperitif with Ligurian focaccia and Ligurian wine. White gozzo Truca 7 m: the boat has a changing cabin, shower, stereo or Bluetooth speaker, refrigerator, and a small toilet. Also on board: snorkeling equipment and float tubes, plus all safety equipment required by law. Starting point: Molo Duca degli Abruzzi, 16035 Rapallo GE, Italy

Autumn/Winter toursUp to 5 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · Available from 1 Dec · 11:00, 11:30 and 12:00Duration: 3 hours. Fresh water and aperitif. Portofino and San Fruttuoso: along the entire coast, with entry into the bay of Portofino and the bay of San Fruttuoso. White gozzo Truca 7 m: the boat has a fresh water shower, stereo or Bluetooth speaker, refrigerator, and a small toilet. Excellent weather forecast: tours in winter and cold periods will be confirmed only on beautiful sunny days. Starting points: Molo Maloncello, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy; Molo Maloncello, 16038, 16038 Santa Margherita Ligure GE, Italy

Full-day tour with time to relaxUp to 4 per booking · Guide in English or Italian · Available from 1 Jun 2027Swimming, relaxing and sunbathing. Duration: 7 hours. This all-inclusive full-day guided tour is customizable and includes fuel consumption. Aperitif, fresh water, wine: fresh water, snacks, and an aperitif with Ligurian focaccia and Ligurian wine. White gozzo Truca 7 m: the boat has a changing cabin, shower, stereo or Bluetooth speaker, refrigerator, and a small toilet. Also on board: snorkeling equipment and floating noodles, plus all the safety features required by law

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 14:00

Book up to4h before

GroupPrivate

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. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by White Boat Tour Tigullio Portofino

Is this one for you?Choose the three-hour tour if you want the main sights (Portofino, the lighthouse, and San Fruttuoso's snorkeling stop) in a single morning or afternoon. Pick the full-day option or a departure from Rapallo if you'd rather set a slower pace and spend more time swimming or exploring the coast.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide 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.

What's the Christ of the Abyss and how close do you actually get to it?

The Christ of the Abyss is a bronze statue submerged on the seabed in San Fruttuoso Bay. You'll snorkel above it during the 20-minute stop there, using provided masks and snorkels to see it underwater. The depth and visibility depend on sea conditions on the day.

Can I get off the boat to walk around Portofino village?

Yes, you can disembark in Portofino's bay for a short stroll along the piers or to shop if you want to. The boat will pick you up again, so you don't need to arrange separate transport back.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs three to four hours depending on how much time you spend swimming, snorkeling, and taking in the views. You can also book a full-day option if you want a slower pace and more time to relax.

What's included in the price?

Snorkeling equipment, towels, a changing cabin, focaccia Ligure, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages (for guests 18 and over) are all included. Fuel surcharge is also covered.

Where does the boat depart from?

You can choose your starting point: Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, or Rapallo. Each option covers the same route along the coast and stops.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour departs only in good sea conditions. If rough seas or adverse weather forecasts make it unsafe, the tour is cancelled and you receive a full refund.