Boat excursion in Capri

Everything depends on the weather - wind, waves.

As a day trip from Sorrento, take one of the early jet boats over to Capri and go first to the Blue Grotto.

There are several companies down by the water. We went back and forth between windows in July, just trying to find the right time. Going completely around the island was just a little bit more than the trip to the Blue Grotto. I think all the boats are pretty comparable. Our guide pointed out all the highlights along the coast.

It's pretty funny when you get to the entrance of the Blue Grotto. As you can imagine, it's very commercialized. They load you onto the little rowboats and you give your money to the rower. He then rows alongside a "water booth" with a handful of men who collect the entrance fee from each boat. I really did enjoy the cave where you see the beautiful reflections of the azure blue grotto. Our rower gave us a "special" tour and took us way back in and rowed us around an extra time. Of course he also expected a "special" tip! We gladly complied, all in good fun.

A few years ago we went down to the harbour of Capri and a man offered to take us around the island on his boat. We had seen ads in the hotel lobbies for private boat hire but they were too expensive for our budget. After 10 minutes with the man, we assuring him it was too expensive he had us on a smaller boat (18 feet perhaps) with his 17 year old nephew piloting the boat. Instead of taking us to the famous grottos we went to small ones and stopped four times to swim off the side. We added another hour (think it lasted 3 hours)circling the entire island. It was one of the hilites of our trip and very reasonably for our family of four. The boy spoke little English but was very sweet and loved our tip.

I had a similar experience as Karen in the last reply back in the 1970's. We were rowed, serenaded with Italian songs, and stopped to swim along the way. We were headed to get the boat to the Blue Grotto and a young boat owner came up and offered us to come in his rowboat. We negotiated a price "before getting on and deciding" to go with him. It was alot of fun. Back then he could take us into the Blue Grotto. From what I have read, they don't allow that anymore during regular hours. His boat was the same size as the ones they transfer you to when you get to the Blue Grotto by the larger boats. We even got to swim in the Blue Grotto back then. It was a fantastic experience swimming in the blue water and lights of that cave. Other tourist were taking our pictures. I guess they thought we were natives? I don't remember if he had life preservers on board. Back then I didn't think about that.

COST?
how much is a "special" tip!
How much was it to rent the little boat for the family?
How much is the typical tourist trap trip?
We are a family of 5.
thanx

We did this in '06 and plan to again this July...we took the ferry from Sorrento to Capri, then if you walk to the right after getting off the ferry, past the ticket booths, there is a company that rents small, motorized boats to individuals. They were very nice boats, with a canopy. The price was extremely reasonable, but I can't remember what we paid. We spent the day driving around Capri and stopping to swim wherever we wanted. It was so much fun! I think the company was called "Banana boats" but I'm not positive.

We went in 2004 and paid 150 euros for 3 1/2 hours including the boy's 30euro tip that he wasn't even expecting. We didn't go into the main grottos. We were very lucky finding them.

Does this sound right?
Bannana Sport
High Season
2 hours (not per person): Euro 95,00
extra hour or part of hour: Euro 35,00
full day (from 09,30 to 17,30): Euro 190,00
Maximum 5 people. All inclusive
$300 for all day Boat rental sounds to good to be true. I bet its $300 more for the GAS!;)

David, in '06 we paid about $140 for 8 hrs re: my above post.

Looks like Ill be on a Bannana Boat! Thanx

The banana boat looks like a great idea...a few questions. If I want to go into the blue grotto, what do you do with the boat? Also, with the banana boat there is no skipper with you right? just who ever you want on the boat with you.

http://www.capri.com/en/c/capri-boat.....
just seems like a small boat rental place.

If I remember right, the boat comes with an anchor. It must have, because when we stopped to swim I have a vague memory of lowering the anchor. We'd swim around and the boat stayed put. There are also some very private beaches where you can stop, lower the anchor, and hang out on the beach if you want. You could, conceivably, go into the Blue Grotto but if it's during the time when all the guys in their row boats (charging money)are there, then you'd have to go in one of their boats and pay. We noticed that late in the day, all the guys were gone and we could have just swam in there. And you're right, there's no skipper, you drive it yourself. I was nervous at first (my then 16 yr old was not) but it was SO easy that I quickly relaxed and loved every minute. They are very nice boats, clean, well maintained, seat about 6 people comfortably with padded seats, have a canopy and a storage place for your stuff. We brought picnic food with us and had a great time. I just hope they are still there when we get there!

I found my notebook with all of my Capri info from our July 2007 trip. We went on a Laser Capri tour that lasted 1 hour 45 minutes (according to the brochure - we had tickets for a trip back to Naples and were on a time crunch) and it was 12 euros.This trip includes a stop at the Blue Grotto. For a 1 hour trip to the Blue Grotto and return it was 9 euros. According to my journal we saw the Punta Carena lighthouse, the Green Grotto, Marina Piccola with a bunch of mega yachts, the Faraglioni Islands (went through the arch of one of them), the Arco Naturale, the White Grotto with stalactites and stalagmites, Villa Jovis, and back to Marina Grande. The Blue Grotto dinghies are 9 euros each and we probably tipped him about 8-10 euros (I'm not sure because, unbeknownst to each other, we BOTH tipped him! But like I said, all in good fun. This year I don't think I'd be as generous!

No swimming, but the breezes felt wonderful in the heat of July.