Boat Tours Salento

Boat excursions in Salento: itineraries from Gallipoli, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Porto Cesareo

Among the wonderful locations in Salento, there are some from which the most beautiful boat excursions depart. From Gallipoli, Otranto, Santa Maria di Leuca and Porto Cesareo sail and motor boats, dinghies and yachts sail daily, leading to the discovery of glimpses and hidden corners that constitute true pearls of the Salento peninsula.

Boat trips from Gallipoli head mainly to theisland of Sant’Andrea, a small island on the Ionian Sea where some wild rabbits have found habitats. The route usually continues, then, to other wonderful places such as Baia Verde or Punta Pizzo Bay, a wild and unspoiled area south of Gallipoli.

From Santa Maria di Leuca sail and motor boats set sail to discover Salento’s most famous caves and Cala Guardiola, which is difficult to access by land and therefore still unspoiled. From Santa Maria di Leuca you can also easily reach the Bay of San Gregorio where you can admire one of the most beautiful sunsets in Italy. Being the southernmost point of the heel, Santa Maria di Leuca lends itself well as a starting point for visiting both the Ionian and Adriatic coasts so as not to miss the many wonders scattered along the Salento coastline.

Boat trips departing from Otranto allow people to discover the Adriatic coast of Salento by visiting bays, coves and numerous sea caves that can only be reached by sea.

Boat excursions to the caves of Salento

Salento is marked by a coastline in which stretches of fine white sand alternate with niches and cliffs full of mysterious caves, characterized by ancient myths and legends. All of them overlook a clear sea, the color of which fades from green to blue to azure, and within them, sunlight penetrating through the cracks creates fascinating plays of light. It is impossible to resist the temptation to dive off the boat to delve into the caves.

Boat excursions to the Salento caves take you to some of the most famous caverns such as Grotta Fiume where fresh water gushes out or the Lovers’ Cave where the shallow, sandy bottom allows you to walk through the water. Grotta Zinzulusa is among the most famous caves near Otranto, and inside you can see the “zinzuli,” stalactites and stalagmites that resemble the tatters of a threadbare garment.

Among the most peculiar legends that characterize the Salento caves is that of the Mesciu Scianni Cave, where it is said that a gentleman named Maestro Gianni went inside to retrieve stones with which he composed stupendous mosaics.

Boat excursions in Salento: information on prices and costs

Boat excursions in Salento have different prices depending on the boat used and the length of time at sea.

The cheapest are the boat tours that last a couple of hours and carry up to 40 people. The figure for this type of excursion is around 25€ per person.

A full-day sailing tour , on the other hand, costs €90 per person and includes lunch with typical products and drinks.

Private boat tours in Salento, an original idea to celebrate a special event

Boats can be a perfect location to celebrate graduations, birthdays or bachelor and bachelorette parties. Private tours in Salento make the boat fully available, and the cost is no longer calculated per person, but per group.

To celebrate an anniversary with a loved one or even just indulge in a few hours of relaxation with a few close friends, one can choose dinner at anchor in Punta Ristola aboard a sailboat or a sunset aperitif accompanied by good music. More festive groups, up to 10 people, can opt instead for a day on the yacht and have fun during the tour with music, bathing and good food, for a real VIP day.