Sorrento or Positano: Capri & Blue Grotto Small-Group Boat Tour
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Sorrento, Italy
- 7 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Explore Capri’s top attractions on this small-group boat adventure. After boarding in Sorrento, admire spectacular views en route to Capri, then visit sites like the Faraglioni rock formations, the White, Green, and Blue (own expense) Grottos, and the historic Punta Carena lighthouse. Swim and snorkel in the clear waters, spend about 3 hours of free time exploring Capri and Anacapri independently, and enjoy soft drinks, beer, prosecco, limoncello, plus a Caprese sandwich.
- Experience Capri’s top attractions on this boat tour
- Explore Capri and Anacapri at your own pace with about 3 hours free time
- Swim and snorkel in clear Mediterranean waters
- Enjoy included drinks like prosecco and limoncello with a Caprese sandwich
What's Included
- Capri Exploration and Swim: Captain, Hostess, 3-4 hours of Free Time in Capri and Snorkeling Stops
- All-inclusive Lunch and Drinks: Caprese Sandwich, Water, Beer, Coke, Prosecco and Limoncello
- Safety & Equipment: Coast Guard Life Jackets, Passenger Insurance and Snorkeling Masks included
- Activities and entrances in Capri: Blue Grotto (18 euros) and Transport on the Island€18.00 per person
- Mandatory local taxes: 10 euros landing/port of destination tax€10.00 per person
- Fuel surcharge€40.00 per person
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
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End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Island of Capri (Pass By)
1
Blue Grotto
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Faraglioni (Pass By)
2
Giardini di Augusto
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Monte Solaro (Pass By)
3
Villa San Michele
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
Piazetta di Capri (Pass By)
4
Spiaggia di Marina Piccola
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Spiaggia Marina Grande (Pass By)
5
Grotta Verde
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
6
Villa Jovis
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
7
Capri
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
White Grotta (Pass By)
Villa Malaparte (Pass By)
Punta Carena Lighthouse (Pass By)
Capri (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- May be operated a multi-lingual skipper guide
- A maximum of 12 people per booking
- Dress code is smart casual
- Swimsuit suggested
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
What a great experience! The small group size makes it a very intimate and fun trip. The day we went out the water was a little choppy but the captain was working hard at ensuring we enjoyed. They had towels available in case you got wet from the waves or boat spray. Marcello was an absolute delight attending to everyone's needs and wants. He ensued we had enough beverages, pointed out and gave insight on the grottos and sea caves. The blue water was absolutely stunning! I would definitely recommend this outing. It was the perfect way to wrap up our visit to Italy.
Reviews
4.3
based on 468 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
SO fun! Was a highlight of our trip. We had great weather and thoroughly enjoyed the mix of swimming and exploring Capri. Size of the tour was perfect and our captions were expert navigators!
The Boat and crew were great! The places we stopped, the information shaed shared and drinks on the way back made it very special. The time listed by Viator for departure was off a bit. As well I think the description of the excursion should include a statement that the Blue Grotto may be closed due to weather or high tide as it was for us so expectations are set.
We had a wonderful experience on this boat tour! Everything was very well organized, the Bruno was friendly and professional, and the views were absolutely beautiful. The boat ride was relaxing and enjoyable, and we really appreciated how smoothly everything was handled throughout the day. It was a great way to experience Capri and the coastline, and definitely one of the highlights of our trip to Italy. Highly recommend!
The boat ride was fun- our driver, Giuseppe, was very sweet and welcoming. The tour company itself needs some work. We booked the 8:30 tour and arrived early but the boat didn’t depart until after 9:40, which was frustrating because they said it was because they were waiting for guests. It seems they book several tours around the same times (8, 8:30, 9, 9:30) and then just group the people together as they see fit and depart when they decide to. It says this on the booking details, but worth calling out again that when you arrive, they charge another 40 euros per person for a fuel surcharge plus 10 euros per person for docking fees. We ended up going to another dock on capri, so that cost an additional 10 euros when we returned. Just be aware, since this trip seems lower cost but is actually the same or higher than other options that include all fees up front on the booking. Other than that, it was a fun ride and we saw lots of cool stuff!
Wonderful excursion! We would highly recommend it! One of the highlights of our vacation. Pietro and Vito were great!
They canceled on us last minute when we arrived. We did get a refund but our plans were ruined and we had to figure out what to do with our only day there. Very disappointing
It was a good experience overall. It would have been nice for the tour guide to have a microphone so we could all hear when he talked. And maybe a debrief of the itinerary before starting. Otherwise, it was a good way to see and visit capri. I do have to mention that 2.5 hours is not nearly enough for anything aside having lunch.
The experience was great. However, the management should know that the customer service rep that sits at the office is extremely rude and has a horrible attitude, she was not helpful, kept rolling her eyes, took forever to answer any questions and proceeded to ignore guests even-though there was a long queue of people waiting in line to check into the activity. Also, I was surprised that they charged a 4% credit card fee, no other excursion charges this fee for credit card use. Also, the activity started 30 minutes late and finished at the same time. There was no apology or answers, we had to wait in the sweltering heat just to be rushed during the activity. The captain of the ship and the skipper were nice and the activity fun but otherwise it left a horrible impression in my mind.
The boat tour was called Private Boat Tour to Capri and the Blue Grotto but we never got to see the Blue Grotto. We sat at the entrance of the Blue Grotto for 1.5 hours watching tour boats from other companies that arrived after us go in front of us to enter.
We have booked many successful and fun tours with Viator around the world so Please do not read this and not book Viator. I would instead make sure if you book this tour to make sure you are not on the Cape Crapolla boat which seems to have a bad relationship with the row boat operators that grant entrance to the Grotto.
Please also know that our family is continuing to have a bad experience with the on ground tour organizer because I did reach out to Viator after to lodge a complaint.
We had time but driver did not stop at blue grotto. The driver was also very rude. They did not have enough drinks even though it says it was included. Not a pleasant experience
A lot of hidden fees!
You do NOT get the option of seeing blue grotto— if you really want to see blue grotto use other private tour.
Skipper was very nice, boat was good but not worth the price… use ferry instead
Overall a very fun day, we didn’t get to see the blue grotto due to long lines and please be warned that there are hidden costs with fuel and 2x embankment fee. We ended up paying €120 on top of what we originally paid for the tour for two people.
But the experience on the boat was very nice, relaxing and enjoyable.
Response from Host, Aug 2026
Dear Nandini_W
Thank you for your positive review! We’re glad you had a fun day overall. We’re sorry you couldn’t visit the Blue Grotto due to the long queues. Regarding the additional costs, please note that all extra fees, including fuel and embarkation fees, are clearly listed in the “Inclusions & Exclusions” section of the tour description. Thank you again for your feedback!
The overall experience was okay but we were presented with costs which were unclear at the time of booking - small print scams
So we were on this boat by mistake for 20 mins and we loved it. The group we were with, the captain was awesome and fun, played great music. We transferred to our boat that was not like this experience unfortunately. Highly recommend this captain.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Kattie_c,
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're sorry about the mix-up at the beginning of your tour, as you accidentally followed the wrong group, but we're glad you still had a great first impression with our captain.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to have the chance to welcome you on board again for the amazing experience next time!
This boat trip was phenomenal! The itinerary was fulfilled but did go out of order for say. Overall the boat tour was very fun; filled with drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), sightseeing of Capri and the coast from the water, and the option to play personal music playlists. The bathroom on board is very nice for a boat bathroom, and the captains were extremely friendly. There were a lot less swim stops than expected so it does get a bit hot on the boat. Be sure to bring towels and sunscreen. The stop on Capri was perfect, but if you go to the chairlift from the marina to Anacapri--TAKE A TAXI...do NOT take the bus. It ends up being basically the same amount of money and the wait in Anacapri for a bus back to the marina would have been over 2 hours at least. The taxis are split and you wait like 15 minutes for one--we spent 20 Euro for 3 people. Also go right away if you want to do the chairlift and then swim at the free beach in the marina when you get back. We were warned that the wait for the Blue Grotto could be upwards of 2 hours, but we chose to attempt and ended up waiting for only 10 minutes. This experience is TOTALLY worth it but be mindful of your clausterphobia because you truly do have to flatten your body in the boat that takes you in and out of the grotto.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Megan_W,
Thanks a lot for sharing your positive experience. We're really glad everything went well!
The boat itself was nice, but unfortunately the experience did not match what was advertised. The description stated that lunch and alcohol would be provided, but neither was available during the tour. To make matters worse, the captain arrived and seemed confused about which tour he was even supposed to be conducting that day, which did not inspire confidence.
After the trip, I attempted to contact the company regarding these issues, but they have refused to respond. Poor communication and failure to provide the advertised amenities made this a very disappointing experience. I would recommend booking with a different company.
Absolutely amazing! Daniel and Luigi were fantastic. Such great views. Once in a lifetime experience!!! A must-go!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Angelina_A,
We truly appreciate your review! It's great to know you had a lovely day with us.
The boat staff were very friendly and looked after us well during the tour. The boat ride itself was excellent, small group, two stops to go swimming and some explanations on a few interesting spots we visited.
Two things bothered me however, one was the lady at the ticket office at the harbour who was so incredibly rude, no customer service skills at all. Spoke to me as if I was annoying her while charging me the rest of the fees, looking at me with disgust when I asked her a question, and I'm a very friendly person. We waited for the boat for around 30 min in the baking sun..The other thing was the fact that we arrived at the blue grotto and were asked if we wanted to wait 1-2 hrs in the queue of boats or just continue. Everyone was a bit confused, so we just continued lol so basically paid for entrance and then skipped one of the main attractions that made me choose this particular tour. So I'm thinking they always do this, based on previous comments. If you don't go to the grotto,don't advertise it, it's misleading! You know very well that when arriving there, there will be a long queue. The very least you could have done is make up for it with a bit more time on the island. We were on the island for 2.5 hrs, just enough time to visit the lift to the top if capri and take the shuttle bus back. I really wanted to see the garden of Augustus and maybe visit some shops, but no time. So we went back at 3pm and arrived back in sorrento at 5. I don't understand the logic of the time missed going to the grotto, if you normally visit the grotto, you could never leave capri at 3pm either right?
Overall I would not take this tour again but take a ferry to capril and spend the day there, then maybe a 2 or 3 hrs pleasure boat ride while there to have a look at the famous rocks nearby. This company seems a bit lazy knowing they have way too many customers!
The guide was great! They called us the night before and asked us if we could arrive an hour early. The boat did not have any place to change. Tour was nice- the island was beautiful! We never got our sandwiches or limoncello but had fresh fruit and drinks. Blue grotto was good but very short tour. We ate at a restaurant by the water that our guide recommended- it was good but expensive- I wouldn’t go to that restaurant again. Overall though I would recommend just not all as advertised.
The boat ride and swimming was incredible. We were able to get a tour of Capri and swim for hours. All of the staff were very kind and welcoming. We ended up having our own boat for our group because no one else booked and it was fantastic. The only thing is in the trip description it said there would be lunch included and there was not, we had to pay lunch on the island. But overall a great experience and so much more personal than the larger boats. Luciano was great!
The tour guide was such a chill guy he was vibing the whole time, our geoup was vibing the whole time, he was also funny. this tour was so worth the money especially because it's almost an all day thing with so many activities planned and getting tours of the island. i'd really reccomend it instead of booking a cheaper sight seeing boating. the boat only let a maximum of 12 people on it and there's a front and back people can be seated at it's very comfortable and so much fun!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Dear Brittney_D,
Thanks a lot for sharing your positive experience. We're really glad everything went well!
This was such a fun tour! It was great to see Capri and really recommend doing the chair lift in Anacapri. Overall, the boat driver did a good job explaining the things we were going past and driving the boat in choppy water since it had just stormed. We were not offered limoncello or a sandwich but still a great experience!
This experience was hard to rate. Here’s why:
Pros: Fabulous boat and limited number of people on the trip.
Cons: I paid 80 euros for two people before getting on the boat for harbor taxes and other fees. Which I trusted was correct. We docked in the marina Piccola because the skipper said there was no harbor tax. We didn’t do anything else that required money - as far as the boat was concerned.
This is the worst part- I booked an early morning tour to see the blue grotto at 8:30. As the site suggested it is supposed to be one of our first stops to get ahead of the crowd. The skipper was late- we were told there was boat issues but the the man who collected the money from us and set up the excursion was highly irritated with the skipper and he said “late in season sometimes people don’t do their jobs.”
We didn’t go to the blue grotto until later. There was an hour wait. There were 8 of us on the boat and the skipper asked each group if we’d like to wait. We were 4 and 4. So, he came to my group and said we needed to make the decision for the boat and told us “But it’s just a cave with blue water” “if you want to see it take a taxi and see it by land - like all of those people on shore.” (Which there was a huge line on shore trying to get a look)
I told him I wasn’t making that call- it was all super uncomfortable!
That’s where this tour gets a 1 rating. Really? My decision for the boat when you were late? Didn’t I book a blue grotto excursion???? The water level was right, the sea was calm. No way he just dismissed this part of the tour! Unbelievably horrible!!! What just happened? No blue grotto. Extra money paid for nothing. Horrible.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Hello Karrie_C, We’re sorry to hear that your experience did not meet your expectations, but we would like to clarify a few important points.
All additional costs you mentioned (port fees, fuel, taxes) are clearly listed multiple times before and after booking, including on your Viator ticket and voucher, so these aren’t hidden in any way. We’d like to specifically point out that the port taxes you paid refer to the Port of Sorrento and the Marina Piccola port in Capri, where you disembarked, which charges €5 per person as a disembarkation fee. Marina Grande port, on the opposite side of the island, charges €100 per boat plus €5 per person.
The delay at the beginning of the tour was not due to the skipper's negligence. As we had already communicated, that morning there were delays at the port caused by Coast Guard inspections, which affected multiple boats and were completely beyond our control.
Regarding the Blue Grotto, the long wait time upon arrival led us to consult with all guests onboard. The skipper did not make the decision alone, but rather tried to avoid compromising the rest of the tour by suggesting an alternative for those who still wished to visit the site
We’re truly sorry if our communication wasn’t perceived as clear, but we respectfully disagree with the claim that there was a lack of professionalism or transparency on our part.
Kind regards
This company uses false advertisement and bad business practice!! You in fact do NOT go to the blue grotto, and I had to pay an additional 120 euro when checking in which is technically in the listing, but clearly left out of the official price to make it seem cheaper than it is. I’ve been on many similar group boat tours all around the world, and this one was the worst. The only thing that saved it was the beautiful scenery.
The tour was advertised as stopping at the blue grotto which was the whole reason we booked the tour in the first place! We would not have booked this tour if we knew that it would be skipped. Every person on the boat complained about this too, and the captain claimed the options were either stopping at the blue grotto OR stopping at capri. This is NOT what the tour listing on Viator says. The expected itinerary includes stopping at both locations. And he did not even ask which option we wanted, he just chose going to capri (probably because it’s the easier option for the crew since they just dump us there).
When docking at capri, we weren’t told anything besides “pick up in 4 hours” and had to wander around and figure out the bus/taxi situation on our own. A little guidance or information from the captain would have been appreciated.
The timing of the (soggy) sandwich was also interesting… they handed them out as we were docking in capri which added to the awkwardness of 11 people standing confused at the dock with these sandwiches in hand lol
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Thank you for your feedback, although we are sorry to read such a misleading and inaccurate review.
We always strive to provide a fair, safe, and enjoyable experience, and we regret that your expectations did not align with the service offered. We welcome feedback, but we also ask guests to review us based on true facts.
All additional costs you mentioned (port fees, fuel, taxes) are clearly listed multiple times before and after booking, including on your Viator ticket and voucher. so these aren’t hidden in any way .
Seems quite evident that you coordinated with the guest from the previous review (Shannon_A) in an attempt to get a free boat tour by requesting refunds. This is confirmed by disputes on Viator and on your credit card for the payment of the additional costs.
Regarding the blue grotto, the captain stopped twice that day, both on the way to and back from Capri. In the morning there was a 1.5-hour queue, and the majority of the group decided not to stop. It's never guaranteed, as access depends on sea and tide conditions, as it is managed by a third party which no company can control, This is why we do not guarantee access to the Grotto and why the ticket cost is not included.
Lastly, the guided land tour is not mentioned anywhere on our sales channels; when requested, it is an optional add-on paid separately.
This company is HORRIBLE. They have over $80 in fees not included in their advertised price and only list it deep in their ad. We brought just enough cash but didn’t know some of their fees (not things like the blue grotto we anticipated). I’ve traveled extensively to over 70 countries. Companies who try to do this to lure you in with what appears to be low prices and then price gouge or bait and switch should be shut down. Just be up front and honest. Include your fees in your price. Manage customer expectations and be transparent. This was completely horrible. I’d never travel with this company again.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear Shannon_A,
We’re sorry to hear about your disappointment, but we would like to clarify that all additional costs are clearly stated both before and after booking, including on the Viator confirmation voucher you received.
Our team never hides information, and we always encourage our guests to review the full tour details carefully before and after the booking. If something was missed, it’s truly unfortunate, but it doesn’t mean we were not transparent.
It’s unfair to accuse our staff or our company of misleading practices when the information is clearly available and shared with all customers equally. We remain available for any further clarification.
Best regards
We had a fantastic day visiting Capri! The crew – Cataldo and Vincenzo – were fun, easy-going, and very helpful throughout the trip. They really looked after us and made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable.
We had time to swim and enjoy the water, while being served cold drinks on board. Cataldo and Vincenzo gave us plenty of explanations about the island and the grottos, which made the journey even more interesting. They also made sure we got some great photos, even taking pictures of us at the best spots. Once we arrived, there was also lots of time to explore Capri at our own pace.
From start to finish everything ran smoothly, with the perfect balance of guided information, relaxation, and free time. The atmosphere on board was fantastic thanks to Cataldo and Vincenzo, who made everyone feel welcome.
Overall, a brilliant experience – we couldn’t have asked for a better day in Capri. Highly recommended!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Olga_D, Thanks a lot for sharing your positive experience. We're really glad everything went well!
I paid for early departure 8:30am and the tour started at 9:45am. This meant that the blue grotta was not made in the morning.. And in the afternoon it was closed due to high tide, additionally they gave us only 3 hours to tour the island and on the tour I paid for 4 hours. This made us rush into taxis inside the island, spending more money and not having peace. In addition, the service was not the best, they did not offer the drinks, we had to ask for them at all times. had a very bad experience and it was not what I paid for or imagined.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Dear andres_a,
Thank you for your feedback, and we're sorry the experience didn’t meet your expectations.
Clearly, ours is not a train service, that’s also why the decision was made to have you depart later. All decisions are made based on weather conditions and the majority decision on board. Out of a group of 12 people, you were the only ones to file a complaint.
However, we always make sure to recover the full duration of the tour despite any delays.
Regarding the Blue Grotto, it’s never guaranteed, as access depends on sea and tide conditions. That day, it was unfortunately closed due to high tide, as it is managed by a third party which no company can control. On shared tours, decisions are made by group majority.
About the drinks, they are always available on board for everyone. Of course, the crew can’t know when guests are thirsty, but they are happy to serve drinks whenever asked.
Based on your review, we honestly don’t believe this experience warrants a 1-star review
We appreciate your comments and will keep working to improve.
A bit of a chaotic start, and long wait to get started, but once on the boat the skipper and his mate were such fun, very relaxed and generous with the drinks. Very much wanted us to enjoy ourselves. Stopped twice for a swim which was unexpected, with Marcello showing great skill gliding the boat into several caves for our enjoyment. Highly recommended trip, easily the highlight of our Sorrento trip. Loved it!!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Sally_V, We truly appreciate your review! It's great to know you had a lovely day with us.
What an amazing experience. Vito and Marcello were excellent guides for our tour to Capri. The weather was perfect and we got to see the blue grotto which was magical.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Samantha_O, Thank you for the kind review and for choosing us. It was a pleasure having you with us!
It was a fabulous trip. With beautiful, indescribable, scenery. The guide and the boat driver were very personable and made the trip fun. They stopped for photo ops. We stopped to swim. We could have used an extra hour on the island so that we could have gone to the very top of the island. For a really good restaurant walk all the way to the end after you take the Funicula to the top and right before the hospital on your left is a fabulous hotel that’s all in white. Of course it’s very crowded but that is to be expected during the summer. It looks just like the pictures!
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Hello Mary_M, We truly appreciate your review! It's great to know you had a lovely day with us.
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