Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif in Portofino: Swim in crystal clear waters

Swim in Paraggi, drink wine off Portofino, watch the sun disappear into the sea.

A 90-minute boat tour departing from Portofino takes you past Santa Margherita Ligure and into Paraggi bay, where you can swim in clear water before anchoring near Portofino's harbor for an aperitif of local wine and appetizers as the sun sets. The captain navigates hidden coves and chooses the anchorage away from boat traffic so the moment stays quiet. A live guide in English or Italian is on board. Safety equipment, music, and a sunbathing solarium are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sunset boat tour with aperitif

• Board the boat at starting point
• Head towards Paraggi bay
• Swim among colorful fish (optional)
• Admire Portofino village from sea
• Enjoy local wine and appetizers
• Relax with music outside the bay
• Return passing Margherita Ligure at sunset

The experience

You board at the starting point and head toward Paraggi bay, where the coast opens up without the crowds of the main harbor. The water here stays protected from pollution and the seabed is visible: colorful and dense with rare plants. If you want to swim, the captain stops and you slip into the water surrounded by fish. If you'd rather stay on board, the shading awning keeps the sun off while you watch. Either way, the navigation is slow enough that you see what's actually there instead of a blur.

Once you leave Paraggi, the boat settles outside Portofino's bay: close enough to see the village and its promontory clearly, far enough from the ferry traffic to feel anchored rather than parked. The captain opens a bottle of local wine (or a soft drink if you're under 18), sets out local appetizers, and the moment holds. Music plays at your pace, not at the boat's schedule. This is the center of the tour: you're not moving, not sightseeing from a distance, just sitting with the place and a glass in your hand while the light changes.

When the aperitif ends, the boat turns back toward the arrival point, passing Santa Margherita Ligure as the sun sets behind you. The whole trip runs 90 minutes, which is long enough to feel unhurried and short enough to fit into an afternoon or evening you didn't think you had time for.

What’s included

• Safety equipment and music on board.
• a shading roll-bar awning and sunbathing solarium.
• a glass of local wine (or soft drink for those under 18) with local appetizers served at anchor near Portofino.
• all fees and taxes.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 16:00Last departure this season: 15 Nov

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 12

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 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Orange Wave

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon or evening and want to sit still on the water instead of rushing between landmarks. The 90 minutes is short enough to squeeze into a packed day, but long enough that you're not watching the clock. Small groups work best here. The boat holds space for friends to stay together without feeling crowded, and the quiet anchorage near Portofino is built for conversation and the moment itself, not for narration.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 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.

Can I swim during the Portofino sunset boat tour?

Yes, the captain stops at Paraggi bay, where the water is clear and you can jump in if you want to. It's optional. You can stay on board under the awning instead. Safety equipment is provided.

What exactly do I get to drink and eat on this tour?

A glass of local wine (or a soft drink if you're under 18) and local appetizers, served while the boat is anchored near Portofino. The wine is good enough that it's the reason people book this tour, not an afterthought.

What time does the sunset boat tour leave, and how long does it take?

The tour runs 90 minutes total. It departs from Portofino and times the return so you see the sun setting from the water on the way back.

What's included in the ticket price?

Safety equipment, music on board, the sunbathing solarium with shading awning, the wine or soft drink, local appetizers, and all fees and taxes. Nothing extra to pay once you're on the boat.

Is Paraggi bay really as clear as people say?

Paraggi is protected from pollution and surrounded by uncontaminated nature, so yes: the water stays clear and the seabed is visible with colorful fish and rare plants. It's the reason the captain stops there to let people swim.