Elba Island: 5 must-do boat tours during your next holiday

The sea of this destination reserves many surprises: fascinating caves, little hamlets, a rich underwater life. How can you enjoy all this? Simple: there are five boat tours to do during a holiday on Elba Island.

Boat trips

• The gulf of Portoferraio. A “classic” idea, perhaps the boat tour par excellence. From the sea, you can see Portoferraio from a new perspective, admiring the Medici fortresses, the dock, the remains of Roman villas, beaches and caves.
• The islands near Elba. We’re talking about Pianosa, Capraia and Montecristo. Three uncontaminated places, with jagged coastline and several coves, ideal for a dip in a fabulous sea.
• Secret caves and coves. There are the most beautiful and renowned beaches. And there are several small, uncrowded coves and picturesque caves. Every boat tour proposes its particular itinerary. A must-see is the Grotta Azzurra of Elba Island.
• Anello occidentale. It is specially known among the hikers: it is the coastal road from Procchio to Marina di Campo. A road that can also be “traveled by sea”, sailing along the western coast of Elba.
• Dolphins. Its “second name” is the Sanctuary of the cetaceans. It is a protected marine area between Italy, Corsica and the Principality of Monaco. An area where you can admire the dolphins swimming freely around the boat.

In the ports of the main towns (such as Portoferraio, Capoliveri and Porto Azzurro), you will find several tour operators who will take you on such excursions.

Boat tour of Elba Island

Another “classic” idea: the boat tour of the entire Elba Island. Usually, this type of tour takes one day, with lunch and plunge in the most beautiful parts of the Elba’s sea. Also in this case, the operators offering the service can be found in the ports of the main towns and villages.

Coves to reach by boat

As already mentioned, a fundamental part of many of these excursions is the plunge into the sea. The operators offer their personal itineraries. However, if you also want some ideas to find the most special coves, then we can suggest:

• The less-known but really special beaches: there are places such as Ripa Barata, Crocetta and Cotoncello;
• The wild beaches, which will give you the feeling of being far, far away from modernity.

How to get to Elba Island

There is nothing simpler: you just have to book a place on one of the many ferries to Elba that depart from Piombino and that will take you to the main ports of the island, such as Portoferraio, Cavo and Rio Marina.

Image source: Flickr.com/photos/magnetismus