Capri Boat Tour with Swim Stops and Optional Blue Grotto Sorrento
- Duration7 hours
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
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Overview
Spend a day on the water with our Capri boat tour from Sorrento. You sail on a small shared boat along the Sorrento coast, circle Capri to see its sea caves and the Faraglioni rocks, stop for a swim and then enjoy free time on the island. The Blue Grotto stop depends on the sea and the queue. It suits couples, friends and families who want a relaxed day trip to Capri without ferry timetables, with optional pickup in the Sorrento area.
Highlights
- Small shared boat with a skipper and guide, up to 12 guests on the morning option
- Cruise along the Sorrento coast and across to Capri
- Sea caves and the Faraglioni rocks seen from the water
- Swim stop in clear water, with snorkelling masks provided
- Blue Grotto stop, weather and sea permitting (entrance paid separately)
- Free time on Capri to explore at your own pace
- Optional pickup and drop-off in the Sorrento area
Full Description
The Sorrento coast and the crossing to Capri
Our Capri boat tour from Sorrento starts on the water, which is the best way to see the cliffs the town is built on. Tall tufa cliffs, lemon terraces and hidden coves slide past as the boat leaves the marina and rounds the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula. Your skipper and guide point out landmarks and explain how the short crossing to Capri has linked the two shores since Roman times.
If you are wondering how to get to Capri from Sorrento, a small boat like this is a relaxed alternative to the crowded ferries: no harbour queue, space to sit on deck and stops that a scheduled ferry never makes. The crossing, with the coastal sightseeing, takes around an hour, so you reach the island in the soft morning light.
The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra)
The Blue Grotto is a sea cave on the north-west coast of Capri, roughly sixty metres long, with an entrance so low that visitors lie back in a small rowing boat to slip inside. Sunlight enters through an underwater opening and turns the water an electric blue, an effect that made the cave famous in the nineteenth century and still draws crowds today.
Many travellers ask whether the Blue Grotto is worth it. For most, yes: the colour is unlike anything else on the island, although the visit itself is short and depends on the sea. Blue Grotto tickets and the rowing boat are paid separately at the cave, and boats only go in when the waves allow, which is why the stop is timed for shorter queues.
Around Capri: the Faraglioni rocks, sea caves and swim stops
The circuit around the island is the heart of the trip. From the water you see the White Grotto and Green Grotto, a natural rock arch, the lighthouse at Punta Carena and the three Faraglioni, limestone stacks that rise more than a hundred metres out of the sea and have become the symbol of Capri. A Faraglioni boat trip gives you angles that walkers on the cliff paths never get.
The boat also anchors in a sheltered bay so you can swim and snorkel in clear water, with masks provided on the main option. Your guide shares the myths and history of the island, from the emperor Tiberius to the villas of the twentieth century, while the skipper keeps close enough to the cliffs for good photographs.
Free time on Capri: the town, Anacapri and Monte Solaro
After the cruise the boat lands you on Capri for free time, around four hours on the morning departure. That is enough to walk up to Capri town and its famous Piazzetta, wander the lanes lined with boutiques, visit the Gardens of Augustus for the classic view of the Faraglioni, or simply sit on a terrace above the harbour.
To see more, take the chairlift from Anacapri to the top of Monte Solaro, the island's highest point at about 590 metres, with views across the whole Bay of Naples. Guests often ask about the best time to visit Capri: late spring and early autumn combine warm sea with lighter crowds, and a morning departure gets you to the island before the big ferries arrive.
Itinerary
- Meet at the marina in SorrentoMeet your skipper (or be collected, if you added pickup) and board the small shared boat for the coastal cruise.
- Cruise along the Sorrento coastSail past cliffs, coves and the Marciano waterfall while your guide introduces the coast, about an hour including the crossing.
- Blue Grotto stopAbout 30 minutes to transfer to a rowing boat and enter the cave, if the sea allows and you buy the entrance.
- Sail around CapriPass the White Grotto, Green Grotto, the natural arch, the Faraglioni rocks and the Punta Carena lighthouse with commentary from your guide.
- Swim and snorkel stopAbout 30 minutes in clear water in a sheltered bay, masks provided.
- Free time on CapriAround four hours on the morning departure to explore Capri town, Anacapri or the viewpoints at your own pace.
- Return to SorrentoMeet back at the boat and sail back to the marina, about an hour.
What's included
- Boat tour around Capri
- Two swimming stops
- Blue Grotto stop only if the entry queue is under 30 minutes
- Free time on Capri
- Professional skipper and guide
- Use of snorkelling masks
Not included
- Blue Grotto entrance fee
- Capri landing tax and destination fee
- Optional pickup and drop-off (extra fee)
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Families with children — a child price for ages 2–8
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Anyone who wants to see it from the water
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.8/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
- You get seasick easily
Not suitable for
- Travellers who cannot manage stepping onto a small boat or into the rowing boat at the Blue Grotto
- Anyone very prone to seasickness on choppy days
Meeting point
The tour leaves from the marina in Sorrento, with morning departures usually between 08:00 and 10:00; the booking panel shows the start times available. Pickup and drop-off in the Sorrento area is an optional extra for the Sorrento options and is not part of the base booking, while the Positano option starts with pickup from set meeting points in Positano by car or van. After booking we confirm the exact meeting or pickup point and time.
Important information
- Bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, sunscreen and comfortable shoes for Capri.
- The Blue Grotto entrance fee and the Capri landing tax are paid separately on the day and are not included in the booking.
- The Blue Grotto stop depends on the sea, wind and queue; on the second option it happens only if the wait is under 30 minutes.
- The skipper may change the route or timing for safety when the weather or sea conditions require it.
- Optional pickup and drop-off is an extra service; tips for the crew are not included.
- A small waterproof bag helps to keep your phone and documents dry on board.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
How much does the Capri boat tour from Sorrento cost?
The price depends on the option you choose and the number of adults and children. The booking panel on this page shows the current price for each option, adult and child.
Is hotel pickup included?
Not in the base booking of the Sorrento options. Optional pickup and drop-off in the Sorrento area can be added as an extra service, and the Positano option includes pickup from set meeting points in Positano.
How long is the Capri boat tour?
The two Sorrento options last about seven hours, and the option with pickup from Positano lasts about eight hours. The booking panel shows the start times.
Is the Blue Grotto included?
The tour includes a Blue Grotto stop when weather and sea allow, but the entrance ticket and rowing boat are paid separately at the cave. On the second option the stop happens only if the entry queue is under 30 minutes.
Is the Blue Grotto worth visiting?
Yes for most visitors, thanks to the vivid blue light inside the cave. The visit is brief, so it works best as one highlight of a longer day around the island.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Yes, children are welcome on the shared boat, and the booking panel shows the age range that applies for child places. Children should wear a life jacket on board and be supervised at the swim stop.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear light clothes with swimwear underneath, and bring a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and comfortable shoes for the walk in Capri.
Can I book for today or tomorrow?
Yes, if places are still available. Choose your date in the booking panel and it shows live availability, although the tour always depends on the sea conditions.
What is the difference between the options?
The main option is a seven-hour morning tour with a swim stop and a Blue Grotto stop timed for shorter queues. The second adds a second swim stop but visits the grotto only if the queue is short, and the third is an eight-hour tour with pickup from Positano.
How do I get to Capri from Sorrento?
You can take a scheduled ferry, or join this small-boat tour, which combines the crossing with a cruise around the island, a swim stop and free time on Capri.
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