Sicily · SEA CAVE TOURS IN SYRACUSE
The good sea cave tours in Syracuse go early in a Sicilian summer and the great ones go earlier. Below: the 15 to book first, what each includes and how they differ.
Spend two hours circling Ortigia with an English, Italian, or Spanish-speaking skipper. See Maniace Castle and Arethusa Spring, enter sea caves, swim and snorkel, and enjoy seasonal fruit, juice, and Prosecco aboard a comfortable boat.
“Great couple of hours spent going around the bay seeing caves and stopping for a 20 minute swim. Fresh fruit and Prosecco and a nice little boat. We had a lovely time.”
Meet your English or Italian-speaking skipper outside A Surgiva for a 1.5-hour ride around Ortigia and Siracusa’s coast. Expect ancient walls, Fonte Aretusa, Castello Maniace, sea caves, music, and a swim stop. Antonio, Antonino, and Chris have guided many outings.
“Wonderful guide - very funny and played fantastic music. A bit of history without it being the focus of the trip. Lovely, fun experience!”
Spend two hours circling Ortigia with a local skipper, visiting sea caves, Maniace Castle, Arethusa Spring, and Plemmirio’s Pillirina cove. Swim and snorkel from the boat, with masks, fresh water, shade, and Italian or English guidance. Captains such as Francesco and Alessandro may use a translator app.
“The boat tour was great and we loved the opportunity for a swim in the warm Mediterranean waters!”
You’ll cruise from Via Malta around Ortigia with an Italian or English-speaking guide, passing sea caves, the heart-shaped cave, Castello Maniace, Fonte Aretusa, and Porta Marina. The hour includes a short swim stop, onboard safety gear, a freshwater shower, and a glass of Prosecco.
“The hour long trip was perfect! We delayed our trip by one day on the advice of the trip provider because of the high sea. That meant we were able to access two of the sea caves which were amazing and not to be missed! Nice touch to have the Prosecco during the trip too. So lovely to see Ortigia from the sea.”
Cruise Siracusa’s coast and Ortigia aboard Crystal Boat, a fully transparent boat with a shaded awning. English or Italian-speaking skippers such as Antonino and Stefano guide you past sea caves, coves, and the seabed, with time for a swim and an underwater photo.
“it was fun and on time . and get to stop for few minutes to swim too”
Spend two hours by boat around Ortigia, the Arethusa Spring, Castello Maniace, and the Plemmirio coast. Your Italian skipper handles the route while recorded English commentary explains the sights. Expect karst caves, cold prosecco, and a swim near Pillirina Grotto. Bring your own snorkel tube.
“Fantastic! Everything was perfect from tour company, to captain, to beautiful Mediterranean Sea! Highly recognized company!”
Meet at Dolphin Excursion and Rental beneath the big blue flag for a one-hour cruise around Ortigia. An English- or Italian-speaking captain points out Maniace Castle, Arethusa Spring, coastal forts, sculptures, and sea caves before a swimming and snorkeling stop.
“It was a great trip, we loved every moment of it!”
Circle Ortygia with an Italian and English-speaking skipper, then enter Syracuse’s sea caves, including the Ear of Dionysius and Lovers’ Grotto. You’ll see castles, walls, and Fonte Aretusa from the water, with time for a swim when weather allows. Salvo, Beppe, and Stefano have led recent trips.
“We left on time with a small group so there was lots of space to move around the boat for comfort and to take photos. Our English speaking skipper (Salvo) was super friendly and had lots of info. about the environment to share with us. The swim was wonderful.”
Spend 2.5 hours aboard a small boat from Ortigia with an English or Italian-speaking skipper. See Castello Maniace, Fonte Aretusa, coastal caves, and swim in clear water before a generous Sicilian aperitif and Prosecco at sunset. Guides such as David, Chris, Antonio, and Stefano are praised for warm hosting and local stories.
“This was the best boat trip we experienced on our two week tour of Sicily! David spoke good English and told stories while pairing the music he played perfectly with the sunset. This is the trip to take! Don’t miss it. Well worth it!”
Sail around Ortigia, pass Syracuse’s sea caves and the Pillirina area, and stop for a swim in clear water. The skipper may add music, stories, or even a brief turn at the wheel. Prosecco and fruit are served, but bring your own snorkel: masks may be available, tubes are not.
“Boat was not comfortable and quite old. Driver did not speak English. We didn’t have snorkeling equipment except what looked like child’s masks which you could not see out of. There was one bottle of Prosecco for 12 people and no water. We were told to meet very far from the boat only to have to circle back. We got lost and were 15 minutes late. Not worth the money. The boat driver didn’t tell us anything about what we were seeing along the coast or the caves.”
Spend 2.5 hours along Syracuse’s coast with a local skipper, visiting Ortigia, Pillirina Bay, and sea caves. Swim in clear water, see Castello Maniace and Fonte Aretusa from the boat, and enjoy a generous Sicilian picnic with prosecco or wine.
“My friend and I had an amazing time on this boat trip, we were lucky enough to be the only 2 which made it really special! Beautiful views of the coast, caves and turquoise blue water, we got 2 swim stops and snorkelling masks were provided. Lovely host who ensured to explain everything and was very polite, we got provided with plenty of food ; fruit, arancini, pizza, panini and cannolis. We really enjoyed our time and would recommend this trip!”
Spend one hour circling Ortigia Island by boat, passing under Umbertino Bridge, Arethusa Spring, the Duomo, and Maniace Castle. Stop for a 10-minute swim, then visit the Capuchin, Coral, Big, and heart-shaped Love caves. English and Italian guides, skipper, and music are included.
“Molto piacevole, peccato che un’ora sia veramente poca”
Spend 2.5 hours on a small boat along Ortigia and the Syracuse coast, with swimming stops, snorkeling masks, Pillirina Bay, sea caves, fruit, prosecco, and an English or Italian skipper. Sunset trips can feel private, but earlier departures allow more swim time.
“We booked the night before and had a private tour during sunset because nobody else booked that slot. The guide asked for our wishes and adapted the tour accordingly. It was quite nice. We had plenty of fruit, drinks and prosecco available. Seeing Ortigia at night was also a wonderful experience. We can recommend the tour. But if you want to swim more then an earlier time than 6pm is better because it gets kinda cold once it’s dark.”
You get a private two-hour cruise around Ortigia with an English- or Italian-speaking captain, stops for swimming and snorkeling, sea caves, fresh water, spare masks, shade, music, and prosecco. The route includes Maniace Castle, Fonte Aretusa, Spanish walls, Pillirina Cave, and the Umbertine Bridge.
Set out from Via Eritrea 2 for a relaxed boat ride around Ortigia and Syracuse. Your skipper takes you to sea caves, Pillirina, Cala Rossa, and Arethusa Spring, with two snorkeling stops, seasonal fruit, prosecco, water, juice, and music on board. Italian and English are spoken.
Pick a coast, a volcano or a kitchen.
