Catania: Boat Excursion to Acitrezza with the Faraglioni and Snorkeling

About This Experience

This boat excursion follows the Riviera dei Ciclopi from Aci Castello towards the Faraglioni di Aci Trezza, run in a small group with a local skipper who adjusts the stops depending on the day rather than following a fixed itinerary. The pace is described as relaxed and unhurried, built around the sea and the coastline rather than a fixed checklist of sights to tick off.

The route passes below the Norman castle at Aci Castello and close to the Faraglioni sea stacks, with Mount Etna visible in the distance on a clear day. Along the Riviera dei Ciclopi there are stops for swimming, snorkelling and, when available, stand-up paddleboarding, giving guests real time in the water rather than just views of the coastline from the deck of the boat.

Life jackets and shaded seating are provided on board, along with drinks during the trip and a small gift for guests before they disembark. The skipper shares background on the coast and its landmarks as you go, in a style reviewers consistently describe as personal and attentive rather than a scripted, one-size-fits-all commentary aimed at a large tour group of strangers.

Because there's no rigid itinerary, the exact order and length of stops can vary with sea conditions on the day, though the swim and snorkel stops along the Riviera dei Ciclopi remain the core of the trip. This makes it better suited to travellers happy to go with the flow than those wanting a strictly fixed schedule of stops planned out in advance.

Highlights

• A relaxed pace along the Cyclops Riviera with no fixed stop-by-stop itinerary.
• Views of the Norman castle above Aci Castello from the water.
• A close pass of the Faraglioni di Aci Trezza sea stacks, with Mount Etna behind them.
• Swimming and snorkelling stops in coves that are hard to reach from land.
• A small-group setup with a local skipper who knows the coast.
• Shaded seating on board for breaks from the sun.

What's Included

• ✓ Two-hour boat excursion with a skipper on board
• ✓ Swimming and snorkelling breaks along the Riviera dei Ciclopi
• ✓ Stand-up paddleboard and jet ski use, when available
• ✓ Life jackets and shaded seating
• ✓ Drinks served on board
• ✓ A small gift during the tour

Not Included

• Gratuities for the skipper
• Transport to the Aci Castello meeting point
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• A full meal (drinks and a small gift are provided, not a meal)

What to Bring

• Swimwear, for the swimming and snorkelling stops
• A towel
• Sunscreen

Good to Know & Caveats

• There's no fixed itinerary; the skipper decides the stops and pace depending on the day.
• This runs as a small-group excursion rather than a large tour boat.
• Paddleboard and jet-ski use depend on availability and conditions on the day.
• Swimming and snorkelling stops depend on the sea being calm enough.

Meeting Point

Via Lungomare Dei Ciclopi, 173, 95021 Aci Castello, on the seafront in Aci Castello, the same departure point used for this operator's other Aci Trezza excursions.