Taormina: Isola Bella & Blue Grotto Boat Tour with Swim Stops

What the sea looks like when you can only reach it by boat

You board a small boat in Giardini Naxos and spend four to five hours along Taormina's coast, swimming at Isola Bella nature reserve and hidden coves accessible only by sea. The tour includes Prosecco and almond paste between swims, with optional snorkel rental. You return to the same dock by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour along Taormina coast

• Depart from Giardini Naxos
• Sail along Taormina coastline
• Pass Mazzarò beach and cable car
• View Ancient Theater of Taormina
• Admire cliffs and sandy coves
• Stop at Isola Bella nature reserve
• Swim and snorkel in clear waters
• Return to departure point

The experience

There's something about rounding a headland and suddenly seeing a cove you couldn't get to from land: the water changes color, the cliffs lean in differently, and you realize why people come back to this part of Sicily. The boat leaves from Giardini Naxos and heads toward Taormina's coast, where the real geography starts to show itself. You're not watching the town from a distance. You're underneath it, looking up at the cliffs and the ancient theater perched somewhere above, and the scale of it hits different from the water.

Isola Bella is the anchor of the day: a tiny island connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand, now a nature reserve managed by the University of Catania. The boat circles it close enough to see the small house built into the rocks, the rare plants, the way the island sits in the water like something that shouldn't exist but does. You'll stop to swim and snorkel here, and the water is clear enough that you see the bottom without trying. If you want a mask and snorkel, it's 10 euros extra per person. Otherwise you're swimming in whatever you brought. The crew hands around Prosecco and almond paste (the sweet kind that tastes like Sicily tastes), while you're still drying off, which is the kind of detail that makes a boat tour feel less like checking a box and more like someone thought about what happens between stops.

The hidden coves come next, the ones the description keeps mentioning but doesn't name because they're the kind of place you only know about if you've been on the water. Another swim stop, more time in the water, and then the boat heads back along the coast past Mazzarò beach and the cable car station that drops people straight from the town center down to the sand. The whole thing runs about four to five hours depending on how long you linger in the water. It's not a rushed day: the boat moves at the pace of people who want to swim twice and aren't pretending otherwise.

Bring a towel, sunscreen, and something to wear in the water if you care about that. Infants sit on a lap. Kids are fine. If you have heart trouble, this probably isn't the one: the boat moves and the sea has its own rhythm. Everyone else fits. Book through Giardini Naxos, which is where the boat actually leaves from, even though Taormina gets top billing in the name.

What’s included

• Your tour includes the boat journey along Taormina's coast, two swim stops at Isola Bella nature reserve and hidden coves, Prosecco, and a traditional Italian almond paste sweet.
• Snorkel equipment rental is available for 10 euros per person.
• The boat departs from Giardini Naxos and returns to the same dock.

Options for this experience

3 options

Blue Grotto and Lovers' Cave boat tripGuide in English, Italian or Romanian · 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00A boat trip past Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto with a swim stop and aperitif of prosecco and almond paste.

Snorkeling stop at Isola BellaGuide in English, Italian or Romanian · 10:00, 12:00 and 14:00Snorkel near Isola Bella to spot starfish, colorful fish, octopuses and sea urchins, with snorkeling gear provided.

Dolphin search with sunset returnGuide in English, Italian or Romanian · 16:00Sail out in search of dolphins if weather allows, then return past Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto at sunset, with rosticceria and prosecco.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 to 90 years) · Child (3 to 5 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 36

Live guideEnglish, Italian and Romanian

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “The port is located at the end of Via Schisò. As a landmark restaurant Angelina. Inside the port there is the gray wall with the inscription Naxos in Sicily the first Greek colony.”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

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

Operated by Kristal Boat

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see Taormina's coastline from the water and swim in clear coves without arranging your own boat: the fixed stops and timing mean you're not deciding where to go or how long to stay. The tour runs four to five hours, which is what fits two proper swim stops and the ride back into one morning or afternoon.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Italian and Romanian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 5 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 24h before the start.

Where does the boat leave from?

Giardini Naxos, the coastal town below Taormina. The cable car connects Taormina's center to Mazzarò beach, where you can also access the water.

How long is the tour?

Around four to five hours, depending on how long you spend swimming at each stop.

What's included in the price?

The boat tour, two swim stops, Prosecco, and almond paste. Snorkel rental is 10 euros per person extra.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Not included in the base price. Mask and snorkel rental costs 10 euros per person.

What is Isola Bella?

A small island off Taormina's coast, now a nature reserve managed by the University of Catania. It's connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of sand and was added to the UNESCO Tentative List in 2006.

What should I bring?

A towel, sunscreen, and swimwear. If you want to snorkel, bring or rent a mask and snorkel. The boat provides Prosecco and a sweet snack between swims.

Is this tour suitable for non-swimmers?

The tour includes swim stops, but you can stay on the boat if you prefer. Check with the operator about their policy on non-swimmers.