Private Boat Tour Portofino: Golfo Paradiso & Tigullio

Drift through exclusive bays, sip Ligurian wines, and snorkel ancient coastal waters.

A private boat tour along the coast near Portofino takes you to San Fruttuoso Abbey, Camogli, and secluded bays where you can swim and snorkel. The boat holds your group alone, your captain narrates the coast's history and fishing traditions, and the day includes snorkeling equipment, local wine, water and snacks. You choose between a half-day (4 hours) or a full day (7 hours) on the water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Coastal boat tour and village visits

• Sail along the Ligurian coast
• Visit Portofino seaside village
• Explore San Fruttuoso Abbey
• Discover Punta Chiappa and fishing tradition
• Stop at colorful seaside village
• Visit charming Ligurian village
• Relax in San Michele di Pagana village

The Experience

The boat leaves when you're ready, heading out past Portofino's pastel waterfront toward the Abbey of San Fruttuoso — a 1000-year-old monastery that sits on the shore and is reachable only by sea or hiking trail. Your captain tells the story of the coast as you pass Camogli, once the hub of a major fishing operation, where the traditional tonnara nets still drop to 400 meters offshore. The water is clear enough to see why people come here to swim; you stop in bays where the boat anchors and snorkeling gear is ready.

The route moves through villages with names that carry their own weight — San Michele di Pagana, where Guy de Maupassant once wrote about finding quiet corners on the Riviera, and Rapallo, known for its colorful seafront buildings. Each stop is chosen for what makes it worth the detour: the fishing museum at Camogli, the Abbey's stone walls rising from the water, the small beaches tucked into the Portofino Park where nobody arrives by car. Your captain knows which bays stay calm and which ones are worth the extra distance.

The boat is yours alone for the day, which means the pace is yours too — longer at the places that catch your eye, straight through the ones that don't. Local wine, bottled water and snacks come aboard; the fuel cost is built into the price. A half-day tour runs four hours if you want the highlights without the full commitment; the full seven-hour day reaches the furthest bays and gives you time to actually sit in the water instead of just passing it.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• local wine and soft drinks.
• bottled water and snacks.
• your own private boat and captain for the day.
• narration of the coast's history and fishing traditions.
• fuel cost included in the rate.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Luxury Charter Portofino

Is this one for you?Book the half-day tour if you want the main sights — Portofino, San Fruttuoso and Camogli — without a full commitment to the water. The full-day version suits anyone who wants to linger in the bays, swim longer and reach the quieter villages that take extra time to reach by boat.

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Top questions

What is the Abbey of San Fruttuoso like when you get there by boat?

San Fruttuoso is a monastery dating back to 1000 AD, restored and open to the public by the FAI, sitting directly on the shore surrounded by nature. The Abbey is reachable only by sea or through hiking paths from the Portofino Park, so arriving by boat puts you at the entrance without the walk.

Can you actually swim and snorkel during the tour, or is it just sailing?

You stop in clear bays where the boat anchors and you can swim and snorkel. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you don't bring your own.

What's the difference between the half-day and full-day tour?

The half-day tour runs 4 hours and covers the main highlights near Portofino. The full-day tour is 7 hours and reaches the furthest bays and villages, giving you more time to swim and explore each stop.

What does the captain actually do during the tour?

Your captain narrates the coast's history and tells stories about the fishing traditions and ancient peoples of the Ligurian Riviera as you sail.

Is lunch included, or do I need to bring food?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Snacks, local wine, water and soft drinks come aboard, but you'll need to arrange a meal separately or eat at one of the waterfront restaurants in the villages you visit.