Cinque Terre boat tour: swim and taste local wine

Two and a half hours on the water: sail past five villages, swim in the sea, taste Ligurian focaccia and wine

A boat tour departing from Riomaggiore marina that sails the Cinque Terre coastline, pausing at each village for photos and local history before anchoring for a swim in open water. The tour includes a snorkel mask, local white wine or water, and Ligurian focaccia; a live guide speaks English, Spanish or Italian. Duration is 2.5 hours.

The Experience

You meet at Riomaggiore marina and board a boat that hugs the coast, moving slowly enough to photograph each of the five villages from the water. The guide pauses at Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazza and Monterosso, pointing out the terraced vineyards and stone houses while explaining what each place is known for. The boat stays close enough that you can see the detail—the laundry lines, the restaurant tables, the way the villages stack into the cliffs—without the noise and crowds of walking through them on foot.

Midway through, the boat anchors in open water and you jump in with a snorkel mask. The water is clear enough to see down, and the swim breaks up the boat time without requiring any skill or gear beyond what is provided. Back on board, you dry off under the awning while the crew passes around glasses of local white wine (or water) and fresh focaccia from Liguria. The return to Riomaggiore takes the same route, so you see the villages again from a different angle as the light shifts.

What’s included

• Boat, fuel and awning.
• snorkel mask.
• local white wine or water.
• focaccia from Liguria.
• bottle of water.
• live guide in English, Spanish or Italian.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Stella boat tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you're based in Cinque Terre villages or arriving by train—the boat launches from Riomaggiore marina, so you reach the water on foot without needing a car.

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Top questions

What exactly do I see from the boat as it passes each village?

The boat sails close enough to photograph the architecture, terraced vineyards and waterfront of all five Cinque Terre villages—Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazzo and Monterosso—while the guide shares local history and details about each one from the water.

Is the swimming part mandatory, or can I stay on the boat?

The tour includes a swimming stop with a snorkel mask provided, but you choose whether to enter the water; staying on board under the awning is an option if you prefer.

What's included in the wine and food part?

The tour provides a few glasses of local white wine or water and focaccia from Liguria, served on board after the swim.

Do I need to bring a swimsuit and towel?

Yes, bring your own swimsuit and towel; the tour supplies the snorkel mask and provides water to rinse off, but towels are not included.

How do I get to Riomaggiore marina if I don't have a car?

Riomaggiore is on the Cinque Terre train line; regional trains connect it to La Spezia and other towns in the region, and the marina is a short walk from the station.