Taormina Boat Tour with Snorkelling from Giardini Naxos

Giardini Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily

The tour starts on the seafront of Giardini Naxos, the long sandy bay at the foot of Taormina. This is where Greek colonists from Chalcis on the island of Euboea landed in the eighth century BC and founded Naxos, the first Greek city in Sicily; the street of the meeting point, Via Calcide Eubea, still carries the name of the city they came from. The remains of the ancient town can be seen in the archaeological park on the Schisò headland.

Today Giardini Naxos is a lively beach resort with a seafront promenade, hotels and restaurants, and it is the easiest base for a Taormina boat trip. If you are staying in Taormina, how to get to Giardini Naxos is simple: it is a short bus or taxi ride down the hill. Arrive 15 minutes before departure to check in.

Capo Taormina and the cliffs below the town

Leaving the bay, the boat heads north along the coast, and Taormina appears high above on its terrace of rock, with the Greek theatre and the old town clinging to the hillside. From the water you understand why travellers have called this coast one of the most beautiful in the Mediterranean: steep cliffs, green slopes and on clear days the cone of Mount Etna behind.

Around Capo Taormina the guide points out the rock formations and small grottoes carved by the waves, where the water shifts from deep blue to turquoise. Depending on the sea, the boat may approach the caves along the headland of Capo Sant'Andrea, including the cave locals call the Blue Grotto for the colour of its water.

Isola Bella, the Pearl of the Ionian Sea

The highlight of the route is Isola Bella, a tiny island joined to the beach by a narrow strip of pebbles that appears and disappears with the waves. Covered in Mediterranean plants and once the private garden of an English traveller, it has been a protected nature reserve since the late 1990s and is one of the most photographed places in Sicily.

Seen from the boat, the island and the bay of Mazzarò form a perfect picture, with the cable car climbing up to Taormina behind them. Is Isola Bella worth visiting? Yes, and seeing it from the sea avoids the crowds on the pebble beach in summer. The best time to visit Isola Bella is from June to September for swimming, or May and October for quieter water.

Snorkelling in the clear water of the Taormina coast

In a sheltered cove the boat stops and the guide hands out snorkel masks so you can explore the seabed. The rocks are covered with sea urchins and small seaweeds, and you can spot colourful fish such as damselfish and wrasse darting around the boulders. Non-swimmers can stay on board and watch from the deck while the others swim.

The water here is famous for its clarity, especially in the morning when the sea is calm. After the swim, fresh fruit and drinks are served while the boat cruises slowly back along the coast with music playing, and about two hours after departure you return to the seafront of Giardini Naxos. Remember to bring your own towel, as towels are not provided.