Portovenere & Three Islands boat tour from La Spezia

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Duration4h

GroupUp to 12

LanguagesEN · IT

Mobile ticketAccepted

Four hours along the Gulf of Poets: villages, islands, and a swim in water you can see through

A 4-hour boat tour from La Spezia that sails the Ligurian coast to Portovenere and three islands, with 1 to 1.5 hours to explore the UNESCO site on foot. The boat stops at Cala dell'Ammiraglio, a cove reachable only by sea, where you swim in clear water; on the return, limoncello and focaccia with pesto are served on board. A professional skipper and an assistant guide the tour in English or Italian, and the group stays small.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour of Ligurian coast and islands

Arrive 10 minutes before departure
Sail along Gulf of Poets, view Marola
Admire Cadimare from the sea
See Fezzano coastal village
Observe mussel and oyster farms at Le Grazie
Explore Portovenere and landmarks for 1-1.5 hours
Sail to Cala dell’Ammiraglio for swimming
Pass Torre Scola, Tellaro, Fiascherino, and La Caletta
Enjoy limoncello on return journey
Return to initial meeting point

The Experience

The boat leaves Porto Mirabello in La Spezia at a set time, and the first stretch is gentle—you're sailing the Gulf of Poets, watching the coast unfold from the water. Marola, Cadimare, and Fezzano pass by in sequence, each one a small working village with the kind of color and detail you miss from the road. Le Grazie shows you the mussel and oyster farms that feed the region's tables, and then the route opens toward Portovenere, the UNESCO World Heritage site that anchors the morning.

You get 1 to 1.5 hours in Portovenere itself—time enough to walk the caruggi (the narrow streets that wind through the old town), climb to the Church of San Pietro on its rocky point, or visit the Doria Castle if the pace suits you. The boat waits. After that, the tour sails to Cala dell'Ammiraglio, a small bay with no road access, only water. This is where you swim. The water is clear enough that you see the bottom, and there's time to float and cool off before the return journey begins. On the way back, the boat passes Torre Scola, Tellaro, and Fiascherino—each one worth a photograph—and then you're served focaccia filled with pesto and stracchino cheese, along with a glass of limoncello. The skipper points out the old shipyards and warships as you sail back into La Spezia.

The group is small by design, which means the boat doesn't feel crowded and the skipper can adjust the pace if conditions allow. Bottled water and soda are on board throughout. A fuel surcharge of €10 per person is payable in cash when you board—it's not in the ticket price. If you want to snorkel at Cala dell'Ammiraglio, bring your own gear or buy a mask and tube before boarding (€15 and €9).

What’s included

A professional skipper and on-board assistant.
bottled water and soda throughout the tour.
focaccia filled with pesto and stracchino cheese served on the return.
limoncello offered on board.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by You Know!

Is this one for you?The 4-hour duration leaves room for a morning or afternoon in La Spezia before or after—it's not a full-day commitment—but it's long enough to spend real time in Portovenere and swim at a cove most visitors never reach. Book this if you want the coast and the islands without renting a car or arranging your own boat.