Coast of the Gods Snorkeling Tour from Tropea: Capo Vaticano, Formicoli, and Santa Maria Bay
by Mondo Blu Diving
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€100Overview
This three-hour boat tour runs daily from the Bay of Santa Maria near Tropea, with morning and afternoon departures. The route follows the Coast of the Gods from Capo Vaticano to Tropea, visiting beaches, caves, and coves accessible only by sea. The tour includes snorkeling and SCUBA gear, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks served on board. The tour starts and ends at Spiaggia Santa Maria, the only fishing village in the Capo Vaticano area, where guests board the boat. The first stop is Grotticelle Beach, where the boat stays about 30 minutes for snorkeling among various fish species in its inlets. Next is Capo Vaticano, known for its lighthouse and beaches, with a 30-minute break to admire the landscape. Afterward, the boat visits Praia di Fuoco, a beach reachable only by sea or private stairs, stopping for 15 minutes. Formicoli Beach follows, located at the site of the ancient Roman port Forum Hercules, where guests have 30 minutes to snorkel. The tour then stops for 15 minutes at Spiaggia di Riaci, featuring caves and inlets that can be explored by swimming. The Grotta dello Scheletro, also called the Blue Grotto, is next with a 30-minute stop for snorkeling among fish, starfish, and sea urchins, including the option to swim inside the cave. Tropea Beach is visited for 15 minutes beneath a 50-meter cliff that overlooks the town. Opposite Tropea’s cliff, the boat approaches the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola, a medieval church on a sandstone rock with the Cave of Lovers inside. This stop lasts about 15 minutes and marks the end of the main sightseeing. The boat returns to Capo Vaticano for a final swim before concluding the tour. Along the way, the tour passes the Port of Tropea, a modern marina resort. All snorkeling and SCUBA equipment, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are provided during the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Itinerary
Spiaggia Santa Maria
The Bay of Santa Maria hosts the only fishing village in the Capo Vaticano area, divided into three zones: Scoglio Fortino, Santa Maria, and Petrario. A small church stands in the center, surrounded by fishermen's houses. The tour begins and ends here.
15 min
Grotticelle Beach
Grotticelle Bay consists of several inlets and small bays, ending at Scoglio del Palombaro, the tip of Capo Vaticano. The boat stops here for about 30 minutes, allowing guests to snorkel among various fish species.
30 min
Capo Vaticano
Capo Vaticano features a lighthouse that has guided sailors for centuries. Its beaches are considered among the most beautiful worldwide. Guests can enjoy a 30-minute stop and are encouraged to visit the Belvedere at the top for views of the landscape.
30 min
Praia di Fuoco
Located at the foot of Capo Vaticano beneath the lighthouse, Praia di Fuoco is one of Italy's top beaches. It is accessible to the public only by sea, while a private staircase connects it to the lighthouse and the house of writer Berto, who lived there since the 1960s. The stop lasts about 15 minutes.
15 min
Formicoli Beach
Formicoli derives its name from Forum Hercules, an ancient Roman commercial port founded over 2000 years ago. Guests have 30 minutes to snorkel and observe various fish species in this historically significant area.
30 min
Spiaggia Di Riaci
Riaci Bay features clear blue waters and a stratified rocky wall rising over the sea. The beach is divided by the Scoglio di Riaci, a small promontory with caves and inlets that can be crossed by swimming. The stop lasts about 15 minutes.
15 min
Grotta dello Scheletro
Also called the Blue Grotto, this cave’s name comes from the sunlight reflecting on white sand inside, creating skeletal shapes. The nearby beach, Pietre di Mulino, is named for the millstones once extracted from rock hollows. The boat stops here for 30 minutes, offering snorkeling among fish, sea urchins, starfish, and the option to swim inside the cave.
30 min
Tropea Beach
Tropea Beach lies beneath a 50-meter cliff overlooking the sea, with the town of Tropea above it. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, allowing guests to view this seaside town of approximately 6,200 residents.
15 min
Santuario Di Santa Maria Dell'Isola Di Tropea
Opposite Tropea’s cliff, a sandstone rock stands surrounded by the sea, hosting the medieval Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola. The rock contains the Cave of Lovers and was likely inhabited by hermits around the 7th-8th century. A staircase built around 1810 leads to the sanctuary. The stop lasts 15 minutes and marks the end of sightseeing before the boat returns to Capo Vaticano for a final swim.
15 min
Porto Turistico di Tropea
The Port of Tropea is a modern marina resort offering services for boaters. The tour passes this marina on the way.
Meeting point
Parking Giudice – Locality Fortino, Santa Maria (VV). Large municipal parking (1€/h), easy to find. Check-in on the beach: go down the path to the counter or take the stairs to the right and find it at the bottom, always on the right.
End point
Parking Giudice – Locality Fortino, Santa Maria (VV). Large municipal parking (1€/h), easy to find. Check-in on the beach: go down the path to the counter or take the stairs to the right and find it at the bottom, always on the right.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.
Additional info
Coast of the Gods Snorkeling Tour from Tropea: Capo Vaticano, Formicoli, and Santa Maria Bay
by Mondo Blu Diving
Choose from 5 available options
How do you want to book?
✓Confirmation before Wed, 9 Sept - card's only charged if it's a yes. If it's a no, still time to book on Viator.
Book on Viator Confirmed right away, but you pay full price.€100Overview
This three-hour boat tour runs daily from the Bay of Santa Maria near Tropea, with morning and afternoon departures. The route follows the Coast of the Gods from Capo Vaticano to Tropea, visiting beaches, caves, and coves accessible only by sea. The tour includes snorkeling and SCUBA gear, bottled water, and alcoholic drinks served on board. The tour starts and ends at Spiaggia Santa Maria, the only fishing village in the Capo Vaticano area, where guests board the boat. The first stop is Grotticelle Beach, where the boat stays about 30 minutes for snorkeling among various fish species in its inlets. Next is Capo Vaticano, known for its lighthouse and beaches, with a 30-minute break to admire the landscape. Afterward, the boat visits Praia di Fuoco, a beach reachable only by sea or private stairs, stopping for 15 minutes. Formicoli Beach follows, located at the site of the ancient Roman port Forum Hercules, where guests have 30 minutes to snorkel. The tour then stops for 15 minutes at Spiaggia di Riaci, featuring caves and inlets that can be explored by swimming. The Grotta dello Scheletro, also called the Blue Grotto, is next with a 30-minute stop for snorkeling among fish, starfish, and sea urchins, including the option to swim inside the cave. Tropea Beach is visited for 15 minutes beneath a 50-meter cliff that overlooks the town. Opposite Tropea’s cliff, the boat approaches the Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola, a medieval church on a sandstone rock with the Cave of Lovers inside. This stop lasts about 15 minutes and marks the end of the main sightseeing. The boat returns to Capo Vaticano for a final swim before concluding the tour. Along the way, the tour passes the Port of Tropea, a modern marina resort. All snorkeling and SCUBA equipment, bottled water, and alcoholic beverages are provided during the tour.
Highlights
What's included
Itinerary
Spiaggia Santa Maria
The Bay of Santa Maria hosts the only fishing village in the Capo Vaticano area, divided into three zones: Scoglio Fortino, Santa Maria, and Petrario. A small church stands in the center, surrounded by fishermen's houses. The tour begins and ends here.
15 min
Grotticelle Beach
Grotticelle Bay consists of several inlets and small bays, ending at Scoglio del Palombaro, the tip of Capo Vaticano. The boat stops here for about 30 minutes, allowing guests to snorkel among various fish species.
30 min
Capo Vaticano
Capo Vaticano features a lighthouse that has guided sailors for centuries. Its beaches are considered among the most beautiful worldwide. Guests can enjoy a 30-minute stop and are encouraged to visit the Belvedere at the top for views of the landscape.
30 min
Praia di Fuoco
Located at the foot of Capo Vaticano beneath the lighthouse, Praia di Fuoco is one of Italy's top beaches. It is accessible to the public only by sea, while a private staircase connects it to the lighthouse and the house of writer Berto, who lived there since the 1960s. The stop lasts about 15 minutes.
15 min
Formicoli Beach
Formicoli derives its name from Forum Hercules, an ancient Roman commercial port founded over 2000 years ago. Guests have 30 minutes to snorkel and observe various fish species in this historically significant area.
30 min
Spiaggia Di Riaci
Riaci Bay features clear blue waters and a stratified rocky wall rising over the sea. The beach is divided by the Scoglio di Riaci, a small promontory with caves and inlets that can be crossed by swimming. The stop lasts about 15 minutes.
15 min
Grotta dello Scheletro
Also called the Blue Grotto, this cave’s name comes from the sunlight reflecting on white sand inside, creating skeletal shapes. The nearby beach, Pietre di Mulino, is named for the millstones once extracted from rock hollows. The boat stops here for 30 minutes, offering snorkeling among fish, sea urchins, starfish, and the option to swim inside the cave.
30 min
Tropea Beach
Tropea Beach lies beneath a 50-meter cliff overlooking the sea, with the town of Tropea above it. The stop lasts about 15 minutes, allowing guests to view this seaside town of approximately 6,200 residents.
15 min
Santuario Di Santa Maria Dell'Isola Di Tropea
Opposite Tropea’s cliff, a sandstone rock stands surrounded by the sea, hosting the medieval Sanctuary of Santa Maria dell'Isola. The rock contains the Cave of Lovers and was likely inhabited by hermits around the 7th-8th century. A staircase built around 1810 leads to the sanctuary. The stop lasts 15 minutes and marks the end of sightseeing before the boat returns to Capo Vaticano for a final swim.
15 min
Porto Turistico di Tropea
The Port of Tropea is a modern marina resort offering services for boaters. The tour passes this marina on the way.
Meeting point
Parking Giudice – Locality Fortino, Santa Maria (VV). Large municipal parking (1€/h), easy to find. Check-in on the beach: go down the path to the counter or take the stairs to the right and find it at the bottom, always on the right.
End point
Parking Giudice – Locality Fortino, Santa Maria (VV). Large municipal parking (1€/h), easy to find. Check-in on the beach: go down the path to the counter or take the stairs to the right and find it at the bottom, always on the right.
Languages
Cancellation policy
- Cancel at least 24 hours before start for a full refund.