Boat Tour of 3 Islands & Portovenere: 2.5 Hours

Medieval abbey ruins, WWII tunnels and a tower from the Maritime Republics, all visible from the water

A 2.5-hour boat tour from Portovenere circles three islands -- Palmaria, Tino and Tinetto -- with a live guide in English or Italian, then leaves you free time in the village itself. You'll pass a Roman villa, see the Tino lighthouse and anti-aircraft tunnels carved into rock, walk past the Etruscan temple remains on Tinetto, and enter a sea cave where Byron once swam. The tour includes life jackets, leather seats and a t-top awning; you spend roughly 75 minutes on the water and the rest ashore or in Portovenere's shops, restaurants and beaches.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour of islands and Portovenere

• Relax on floating lounge before tour
• Arrive at picturesque fishing village
• See colorful Gulf of Poets village from sea
• View remains of sea tower from Maritime Republics
• Admire wild nature of Palmaria Island
• Explore Tino lighthouse and WWII tunnels
• See ancient Etruscan temple on Tinetto Island
• Enter natural sea architecture linked to Byron
• Free time in Portovenere for sightseeing or swimming
• Finish tour on floating lounge at Morin Promenade

The Experience

The boat leaves from the Morin Promenade with a guide who speaks English or Italian. You'll start on the water in a floating lounge with shaded seating and life jackets, then move through the islands one by one. Palmaria comes first -- rocky beaches, cliffs and hidden caves visible from the boat. Tino follows, where you'll see the lighthouse, the remains of WWII anti-aircraft tunnels dug into the rock, and the ruins of a medieval abbey. Tinetto, the smallest, holds an ancient Etruscan temple and a statue of Stella Maris that sailors used to navigate around the Secca del Diavolo.

A sea cave sits between Tino and Tinetto, the one where legend says Byron used to dive to swim to Shelley in Lerici -- you'll enter it by water. After the islands, the boat brings you to Portovenere itself, the gateway to Cinque Terre. You can stay on board and swim in the crystalline water, or step ashore. If you go into town, the Caruggio is a narrow Ligurian alley lined with shops, the church of San Pietro sits on a rocky point overlooking the sea, and restaurants serve lunch without rush. The tour ends back at the Morin Promenade.

What’s included

• Life jackets.
• comfortable leather seats with a t-top awning for shade.
• stereo system.
• a live guide in English or Italian.
• roughly 75 minutes on the water and free time in Portovenere to swim, shop or eat.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by HOPHOP BOAT

Is this one for you?The tour runs 2.5 hours total with most of that time on the water or in Portovenere's village center, so it suits a half-day plan without long walking or early starts. If you want to see the islands' ruins and caves from the water without arranging your own boat, this fixed route and guide handle the navigation.

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Top questions

What's actually on the three islands we pass?

Palmaria has rocky beaches, cliffs and sea caves. Tino holds a lighthouse, WWII anti-aircraft tunnels carved into the rock, and the ruins of a medieval abbey. Tinetto preserves an ancient Etruscan temple and a statue of Stella Maris, used historically to warn sailors of the Secca del Diavolo reef.

How much time do I spend in Portovenere itself?

The tour is 2.5 hours total, with roughly 75 minutes on the water circling the islands. The rest is free time in Portovenere, where you can swim from the boat, walk the village streets, shop in the Caruggio, visit the church of San Pietro, or eat at a restaurant.

Is food included on this tour?

Food and drinks are not included. You can bring your own or buy lunch in Portovenere's restaurants during your free time ashore.

What's the sea cave story about Byron?

A sea cave between Tino and Tinetto is where legend says Byron used to dive to swim to Shelley, who lived in nearby Lerici. The boat enters the cave by water so you can see it firsthand.