Private Emerald Grotto and Amalfi Coast Boat Tour from Positano

Positano from the sea

Positano rises almost vertically from the water, its pink, peach and white houses stacked on the slopes of the Lattari Mountains around the church with the green-and-yellow majolica dome. In the Middle Ages it was a busy harbour tied to the Maritime Republic of Amalfi; after a long quiet period it became, in the twentieth century, one of the best-loved resorts on the Mediterranean. From a boat you see the whole amphitheatre at once, a view you never get from its steep lanes and stairways.

Your private boat tour leaves from the harbour beside Spiaggia Grande, the main beach, so you do not need a car. How to get to Positano? Naples airport is about an hour and a half away by road, and seasonal ferries link the town with Sorrento, Amalfi, Salerno and Capri. The best time to visit Positano is May, June and September, when the sea is warm and the lanes are calmer than in August.

Praiano and the fjord of Furore

Heading east, the boat follows a coast of limestone cliffs, old watchtowers and tiny beaches that can only be reached from the sea. Praiano, spread along the ridge of Capo Sottile, is quieter than its famous neighbour and known for its long sunsets and the cove of Marina di Praia, wedged between rock walls lined with fishermen's boathouses. The stone towers on the headlands were built centuries ago to watch for pirate raids.

A little further on is the fjord of Furore, a narrow gorge where a mountain stream has cut deep into the cliff, crossed high above by the coast road bridge, with a pebble beach and old fishermen's cottages at the bottom. Seen at water level from a private boat it feels like a hidden harbour, and your skipper can slow down or hold position for photos. This stretch is one of the most dramatic parts of any Amalfi Coast boat tour.

The Emerald Grotto at Conca dei Marini

The Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo) lies in the cliffs of Conca dei Marini, between Praiano and Amalfi, and was found by a local fisherman in 1932. Sunlight enters through an underwater opening and lights the cave from below in a deep emerald green. Stalactites and stalagmites rise around the walls; the sea has risen since they formed, so some now stand under the surface. Local boatmen row visitors around the cave in small boats, and a ceramic scene placed on the seabed in the 1950s glows through the water.

The visit inside takes about fifteen to twenty minutes, and the entry ticket is paid on site. Emerald Grotto opening hours follow the season and the sea: the cave usually opens from morning to mid-afternoon and may close when waves are high. Is the Emerald Grotto worth visiting? For the colour of the light and the short row inside, most travellers say yes, especially around midday when the sun is high.

Swimming and snorkelling in hidden coves

Between the sights your skipper anchors in a sheltered bay so you can swim and snorkel in some of the clearest water of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Masks are on board, and the rocky seabed under the cliffs attracts small fish, sea urchins and starfish. The exact spots depend on the wind and the sea that day; the crew know which coves are calmest and least crowded at each hour.

Beach towels, bottled water, soft drinks and dry snacks are included, so you can move between the deck and the sea without worrying about supplies. Lunch is not included: many guests bring a packed lunch, or ask us before the day and we will suggest options. The water is warmest from July to early October, while June and late September offer warm sea with fewer boats around.

Conca dei Marini and the cliffs towards Amalfi

Conca dei Marini is a small village of sailors' houses, white domes and terraced lemon groves above a tiny harbour, guarded by the old tower on Capo di Conca. Its people were once seafarers who traded across the Mediterranean; today it is one of the quietest places on the coast, with houses scattered along the cliff among the lemon terraces and steep stairways down to the water.

From here Amalfi is close, and depending on the time left and the sea, your skipper can cruise a little further along the cliffs before turning back towards Positano. That is the real advantage of a private Amalfi Coast boat tour from Positano: the route is planned around your group, with time for one more swim, a slow pass under the rocks or a final photo of Positano as you return in the late afternoon.