Snorkeling in Cinque Terre from La Spezia: Five villages by boat

You swim among fish accustomed to tourists at Il Canneto beach.

A full-day snorkeling boat tour from La Spezia visits all five Cinque Terre villages (Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia, Vernazzo and Monterosso) plus Portovenere and three sea-accessible beaches where you snorkel with included equipment. The boat carries breakfast, a full Ligurian lunch with wine and prosecco, and multiple swimming stops. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian or French.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Riomaggiore20m
2. Portovenere1h 15m · entry included

Boat tour visiting Cinque Terre villages

• Depart from La Spezia Porto Mirabello
• Admire San Pietro church and Portovenere Castle
• Swim at Le Rosse beach
• Swim and snorkel at Il Canneto beach
• Visit Riomaggiore village
• Visit Manarola village
• Visit Corniglia village
• Visit Vernazza village
• Visit Monterosso village
• Enjoy lunch on board with Ligurian dishes
• Swim and relax in a cove
• Last swim stop before return
• Return to La Spezia port

The experience

The boat leaves La Spezia Porto Mirabello and heads first to Portovenere, where you see the Church of San Pietro and the 15th-century castle from the water, then pass Grotta Byron before stopping 15 minutes at Le Rosse beach to swim among red rocks. At Il Canneto, the seabed draws fish used to snorkelers, and you get time to dive in and explore with the equipment already on board. The route then runs the length of the Cinque Terre marine reserve: a 45-minute passage past Riomaggiore, Manarola and Corniglia, with photo stops at each village perched on the cliffs.

You land at either Vernazzo or Monterosso depending on conditions the captain assesses that morning, giving you time to walk the village and eat at local restaurants. Lunch happens on board in a cove: bruschetta, pasta with pesto, buffalo mozzarella caprese, and dessert, with prosecco, wine, beer and soft drinks flowing throughout. Before the return to La Spezia, a final swim stop and a fruit and lemon platter round out the day. The boat has a bathroom and shower on board.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• breakfast of cakes and fresh fruit.
• Ligurian focaccia with pesto at swimming stops.
• lunch on board with bruschetta, pasta with pesto, buffalo mozzarella caprese and dessert.
• prosecco, wine, beer and soft drinks.
• fruit and lemon platter.
• bathroom and shower on board.
• live guide in English, Spanish, Italian or French.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 31 Oct

AgesAdult (18 to 69 years) · Senior (70 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4)

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “If you come on foot, you will arrive in front of a large white bridge, you will have to cross it, at the end of the bridge turn left, reach the sea, and you will see a petrol station for boats in front of the swimming…”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h 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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Blue Breeze

Is this one for you?The boat leaves from La Spezia Porto Mirabello, so you don't need a car or a train ticket to the villages. You board and the day unfolds on the water, with all five Cinque Terre stops, snorkeling, meals and drinks already arranged on deck.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4).

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 24h before the start.

Can I snorkel if I've never done it before?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included and the tour stops at beaches where you can enter the water at your own pace. Il Canneto is designed for swimmers of all levels because the fish are accustomed to tourists.

Do we actually land in the Cinque Terre villages?

You land in either Monterosso or Vernazzo: the captain chooses based on sea conditions and other factors that morning. You have time to walk the village and visit restaurants, though the tour is built around the boat and the water stops, not extended village exploration.

What's included in the meals?

Breakfast at the start includes cakes and fresh fruit. During swimming stops you taste Ligurian focaccia with pesto. Lunch on board is bruschetta, pasta with pesto, buffalo mozzarella caprese, and dessert. Drinks include prosecco, wine, beer and soft drinks. A fruit and lemon platter is served before returning.

How long is the full day?

The tour runs eight hours from La Spezia, with multiple swimming and snorkeling stops built in, plus the village visit and lunch on board.

What if I don't want to snorkel?

Snorkeling equipment is included, but you're never required to use it. You can swim at any stop or stay on the boat and watch the coastline and villages pass.

Is this tour running in March?

In March only, the Cinque Terre National Park remains closed, so the tour runs as a gulf tour to Riomaggiore with a landing in Portovenere instead of the full five-village route.