Portofino snorkeling: private sunset boat tour with aperitif

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/12

Duration2h

GroupPrivate

LanguagesEN · IT

Mobile ticketAccepted

Snorkel at sunset while the villages light up around you.

A private boat tour of the Portofino Marine Reserve that departs from Portofino, Paraggi or nearby towns and takes you to three stops — Paraggi, Portofino village and the bay of San Fruttuoso — where you swim and snorkel as the sun sets. The tour runs two hours, includes snorkeling gear and towels, and ends with an Italian aperitivo platter and champagne or cocktails served onboard. A skipper fluent in English and Italian guides the route.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset boat tour in Portofino Gulf

Start tour in Rapallo or Santa Margherita
Pass by Medieval Castle of Rapallo
Pass by San Michele bay
Pass by Bay of Paraggi and Castle
Stop for swim or snorkel in Paraggi Bay
Enter Portofino Village for photos and stroll
Pass by Portofino Lighthouse
Pass by San Fruttuoso Bay
Visit 10th Century Benedictine Abbey in San Fruttuoso
See 7-meter underwater statue in San Fruttuoso Bay
Enjoy Italian aperitivo with drinks onboard
End tour at dusk with village lights

The Experience

The boat leaves from Portofino, Paraggi or Santa Margherita — you choose the starting point — and heads into the gulf at a pace that lets you take in the coastline without rushing. You'll pass the Medieval Castle of Rapallo and the 15th-century fortress at Paraggi before stopping to swim and snorkel in the bay. The water is clear enough to see what's below, and the boat carries all the gear you need.

Portofino village comes next: the famous Piazzetta and the iconic lighthouse are yours to photograph or explore on foot if you want to step ashore. Then the route continues to San Fruttuoso, where a 10th-century Benedictine abbey sits on the water's edge and a seven-meter bronze statue rests on the bay floor — both visible from the boat and reachable by snorkel. You'll have time to drift in the water and take in the history without any schedule pressing you.

As the light shifts to orange and pink, the nearby villages begin to light up for the evening. That's when the aperitivo comes out — a platter of freshly made local products, a bottle of Ferrari Trento champagne, and a choice of Aperol Spritz, beer or soft drinks. The skipper speaks English and Italian, so questions about what you're seeing get answered as you go. Towels and a restroom are onboard, and the boat carries everything you need to stay comfortable for the full two hours.

What’s included

Private boat with skipper fluent in English and Italian.
snorkeling equipment and towels.
Italian aperitivo platter with local products.
Ferrari Trento champagne or choice of Aperol Spritz, beer, water and soft drinks.
bottled water throughout the tour.
onboard restroom.
fuel surcharge.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by VENTI BOAT CHARTER

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want the Portofino coastline without a crowd — the boat is private, so the pace and the stops are yours, and the aperitivo timing means you're on the water as the light changes instead of watching it from a restaurant table on shore.