Look, between the hiked up prices, crowds, and commercialized beaches, I’ll be the first to admit that I think the Amalfi Coast is one of the more overrated places in Italy. In saying that, it’s definitely worth a visit and also well worth visiting the nearby island of Capri. For me, I knew I didn’t want to spend the day walking around the island in the heat of the day so I looked into boat tours. Today I want to share my experience and answers to whether a private boat tour of Capri is worth it or not.
Is A Private Boat Tour Of Capri Worth It When Visiting The Amalfi Coast?
Disclaimer
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What should you bring with you?
- Swimsuit
- Lightweight towel
- Sunscreen
- Cash for tips
- Cash for entrance to the Blue Grotto (this is an optional add on)
- Camera – a waterproof one is a good option especially if you plan to jump in the water. This is my favorite with this selfie stick.
- A waterproof pouch for your valuables can be handy as well (not just for the tour but for all your beach adventures)
How to get to Capri from Positano
We took a ferry from Positano to Capri.
There were ferries running throughout the day from a range of vendors and it was easy to get tickets from their booths. The tickets were about €20 each way.
The ferries arrive in Capri near the area where the private and shared boat tours depart which is convenient.
Some tours include the option of a transfer to Capri from the Amalfi Coast, so that is another option. It will most likely be more expensive than the ferry, but might be another option for you.
Which private boat tour to choose
There are a number of companies running private tours of Capri.
I chose to book with Capri Relax on a half-day tour by motorboat.
It cost about €350 for about 4 hours. The good thing is that you pay for the boat, not per person. So if you have a couple of friends and split the total, it’s a reasonable price for what you get.
There are other options for longer and more expensive tours or cheaper half-day tours on a Gozzo boat, so you have a lot of choices.
The main thing is to book in advance because they are popular.
What to expect on the boat tour
Once you step onto your private boat, you’ve got a luxurious, private tour of Capri’s coast.
You can see caves, especially the famous Blue Grotto. Going inside the Blue Grotto is optional and the entrance fee of €14 per person is not included in the boat tour. You will pay that in cash directly to the tour staff at the grotto.
It’s well worth seeing though. To go inside, you transfer to a small rowboat, and once you get into the cave, it’s lit up with insanely bright blue water.
It’s a very cool experience to be in there. Here’s a video I posted on the fun way you get in and out of the cave.
Inside the Blue Grotto
You’ll also see other unique caves and sites from the comfort on the boat and your skipper will tell you about each as you go.
My favorite part was the swimming stops where we could jump off the side of the boat into the water to cool off. It was a lot of fun and I loved having the freedom to stay and swim as long as we wanted since it was a private tour.
There are basic drinks on board including cans of beer, soft drink, and water.
During the tour, you can lay on the back of the boat to tan, sip some drinks, and play your own music. We had some of our favorite songs from our Hawaii playlist serving as the soundtrack for the day which made it even nicer.
Is it good for solo female travelers?
I’d say no.
In my opinion, it’s more suited to a couple, family or group than a solo traveler.
If you’re alone, it’d just be you on a boat and I don’t think it’d be as enjoyable or worth the cost.
For solo travelers, it’s probably better to join a shared boat tour or explore the island without a tour.
Is a private boat tour of Capri worth it?
In my opinion, absolutely.
Sure it’s expensive, but my view on spending money while traveling is that as long as I get something valuable for my money, then it’s worth it.
Cruising the island with the privacy of our own boat, stopping to jump in the water when we wanted, and not having to share space with a crowd of tourists made it a fun and memorable day out.
For me, I wasn’t really interested in walking all around the island in the heat of the summer day so seeing it from the water and being able to swim to cool off was perfect.
It’s not going to be the best option if you are traveling on a budget. If that’s the case it would be better to book a shared tour of Capri with another company. This is where you’ll get on a bigger boat and see the main sights in a more scheduled way (as opposed to personalized.)
Another option would be to visit Capri and walk around the island itself without any boat tour.
If you’re looking for a little splurge and luxury experience though, a private boat tour of Capri is well worth it.
I’d absolutely recommend it as a way to see the caves and beauty of Capri.
Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast
I stayed in Praiano, a little away from the hustle and bustle at La Maurella.
It was fantastic!
The location was super convenient to get around between towns because there is a bus stop just a short walk from the hotel. It’s a small, boutique hotel with helpful staff, chic French decor, and delicious breakfasts complete with homemade cakes.
Best of all, the balcony views are hard to beat.
If you’d like to stay somewhere else, I recommend doing a search on Booking.com because it’s what I use to find deals on accommodation and hasn’t let me down yet.
Sunset on our balcony at La Maurella
Other Italy travel guides you might enjoy:
- Here Are My Favorite Places To Swim At Lago Di Garda
- What To Expect While Touring A Local Olive Oil Factory In Italy
- All The Details About How To Visit The Saturnia Hot Springs In Tuscany
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