Highlights
- See the Faraglioni sea stacks and Lachea Island from the water, engine off
- Sail beneath the Norman castle of Aci Castello and along Etna's lava flows
- Swim and snorkel inside the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area
- Enter the Caves of Ulysses when the sea allows it
- Small family-run boat, on the Acitrezza pier since 2015
Description
Leave the Acitrezza pier aboard the Polifemo, a small boat run by the same family since 2015, for a 90-minute tour along the Cyclops Riviera, the stretch of Ionian coast at the foot of Mount Etna.
Within minutes you are in front of Lachea Island, the largest of the Cyclops Islands and a nature reserve, and beneath the Faraglioni, the black lava sea stacks that legend says Polyphemus hurled at Ulysses. Seen from the water they become columns of basalt rising out of the sea, as tall as a house. The skipper stops the engine and explains what you are looking at: lava flows from Etna that reached the sea, columnar basalt cooled into perfect prisms, an island that is home to a lizard found nowhere else in the world.
The boat then heads south along the coast to Aci Castello, where the black Norman castle stands on its lava crag, a view you never get from land, and on past the lava flows to the cliffs of Cannizzaro. When the sea allows it, you glide inside the Caves of Ulysses, carved by the lava into the coast, with the engine off.
On the way back the boat stops inside the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area for a swim: masks and snorkels are on board, and anyone who prefers to stay on the boat is welcome to. Life jackets are provided for all passengers.
This is not a quick pass in front of the rocks: the tour is about stopping, looking down and understanding the place. Departure times are confirmed the day before based on sea conditions; if the sea is not suitable, the tour is rescheduled or refunded.
Includes
90-minute boat tour along the Cyclops coast
Skipper who explains the sights (Italian and English)
Swim stop inside the Isole Ciclopi Marine Protected Area
Masks and snorkels
Life jackets for all passengers
Excludes
Food and drinks
Towels
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Important Information
- The tour runs subject to sea conditions: the skipper confirms the departure time on WhatsApp the day before. If the sea is not suitable, you can reschedule or receive a full refund. The swim stop is optional and life jackets are available for everyone. Entering the Caves of Ulysses depends on the sea and cannot be guaranteed. The boat is a small open motorboat: bring sunscreen and a hat in summer.
Easy cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
