Ischia Island Boat Tour with Local Lunch and Swimming

Ischia, the green island of the Bay of Naples

Ischia is the largest island in the Bay of Naples, a volcanic island crowned by Monte Epomeo, 789 metres high, and famous since Roman times for its thermal springs. Lush pine woods, citrus gardens and chestnut groves cover its slopes, which is why Italians call it the Green Island. It is less crowded and more relaxed than Capri, with long beaches, spa gardens and small harbours where fishing boats still bring in the catch.

An Ischia boat tour is the best way to understand the island's shape: many of its most beautiful coves can only be reached by sea. From the water you see the layers of tuff and lava in the cliffs, the steam vents near some beaches and the villages perched on the hills. Ischia is about an hour by ferry from Naples, so travellers often ask how to get to Ischia: fast boats leave from Naples and Pozzuoli several times a day.

Forio and the Church of the Soccorso

Forio is the largest town on Ischia's west coast and the starting point of this tour. Its seafront is dominated by the Church of Santa Maria del Soccorso, a dazzling white sanctuary standing on a rocky promontory above the sea, its staircase decorated with majolica tiles. Inside, ex-voto models of ships recall the sailors who prayed here for safe return. The town's round watchtowers were built to warn of pirate raids in the sixteenth century.

Forio is famous for spectacular sunsets and for its lively centre of shops and cafes, so it is worth arriving early or staying after the tour. As the boat leaves the harbour you get the classic view of the Soccorso church against the cliffs. Nearby, terraced thermal gardens and the beach of Citara stretch south along the coast toward Punta Imperatore.

The Grotta dell'Amore and the swimming bays

The Grotta dell'Amore, the Cave of Love, is a sea cave carved into Ischia's cliffs where light filters through the water and turns it shades of turquoise. Small boats can slip inside on calm days, and the guide shares the local legends about the cave and its name. Around it the coast is a succession of rocky headlands and secluded bays that cannot be reached by road.

The skipper chooses the swim stops according to wind and sea, always looking for sheltered, transparent water. Here you can dive from the boat, snorkel over rocks and seagrass or simply float in the sun. Bring your own mask if you like, and do not forget reef-safe sunscreen. These swims are the heart of the day and the reason many people say this is the best way to see Ischia.

Sant'Angelo, Punta Imperatore and the south coast

South of Forio the coast rises to Punta Imperatore, a dramatic cape with a lighthouse high above the sea, then curves east toward Sant'Angelo, a car-free fishing village built on a small isthmus joining a rocky islet to the island. Its pastel houses, little harbour and cafes make it one of the most charming spots on Ischia. Further east, the long beach of the Maronti stretches below the cliffs, where volcanic steam warms the sand.

Depending on conditions, the boat follows this coastline so you can admire these landmarks from the sea, with stories from the guide about the island's volcanic origins and fishing traditions. Lunch is served during the day: two courses of local dishes, followed by fruit, dessert and coffee. If you have dietary needs, tell us when you book so we can let the crew know in advance.