Private boat charter
Taormina & Giardini Naxos
Set off from the bay of Giardini Naxos, at the foot of Taormina, with a professional skipper at the helm. Swim off Isola Bella, slip into the sea caves of Capo Sant'Andrea and see Mount Etna from the water: you choose the stops, the skipper takes care of the rest.
1
boats
10
max guests
€2,137
per day
Boats in Taormina & Giardini Naxos
How does a private boat charter from Taormina and Giardini Naxos work?
Updated June 2026
A private boat charter from Taormina is a boat trip with a professional skipper reserved for your group only, departing from the bay of Giardini Naxos on Sicily's Ionian coast below Taormina. You send a request, the operator confirms availability, then you secure the date with a small online deposit and pay the balance to the skipper on board. Trips start from €2,137. By sea, Isola Bella is about 2 nautical miles away, around ten minutes.
Taormina looks down on the sea from Monte Tauro, with its Ancient Theatre; below it, the bay of Giardini Naxos opens towards Mount Etna. Here, on the lava headland of Capo Schisò, the Greeks founded Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily: today it is the natural starting point to discover the coast below Taormina from the sea.
A couple of miles from the harbour lies Isola Bella, the small green islet joined to the beach by a thin strip of pebbles, now a nature reserve. Right after it comes Capo Sant'Andrea, with its sea caves including the Blue Grotto, and then the bay of Mazzarò. Heading north you follow Letojanni and the cliffs up to Capo Sant'Alessio.
From the sea you see what you cannot see from land: Taormina and Castelmola clinging to the mountain, villas and gardens dropping to the water and, on clear days, Etna towering over the whole bay. Sunset trips, with the light changing on the volcano, are among the most requested.
Every trip is private and skippered, so no boating licence is needed. You book by sending a request on BlueKeys: once the operator confirms the date, you pay a small deposit online and the balance to the skipper on board. Prices, guests and durations depend on the boat and are shown on each listing; the operator confirms the meeting point in Giardini Naxos.
Taormina & Giardini Naxos in pictures
Reachable from nearby ports
Taormina & Giardini Naxos ⟷ Syracuse & Ortigia
What you can reach by sea
Isola Bella and its pebble strip, for a swim from the boat
The sea caves of Capo Sant'Andrea, including the Blue Grotto
The bay of Mazzarò below Taormina
Capo Schisò, birthplace of Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily
Taormina and Castelmola seen from the sea
Mount Etna in the background, especially at sunset
A day on the water from Taormina & Giardini Naxos
New to the area? Here are ready-made days your skipper can follow — or mix and match.
Isola Bella and the Blue Grotto
The most famous stretch of coast below Taormina, minutes from the harbour.
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Isola Bella
The nature-reserve islet: a swim in clear water
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Blue Grotto of Capo Sant'Andrea
The headland's sea caves, when the sea allows
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Mazzarò Bay
The bay below Taormina, then back to Giardini Naxos
Up to Capo Sant'Alessio
North along the Ionian coast, with the best stops and a swim at anchor.
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Isola Bella
First stop off the islet
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Mazzarò Bay
The sheltered waters below Taormina
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Letojanni
The coast and beach of Letojanni from the sea
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Capo Sant'Alessio
The headland with its castle, then back along the coast
Capo Schisò and Etna at sunset
A slow cruise in the bay of Naxos with the volcano behind and the evening light.
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Capo Schisò
The lava headland where ancient Naxos stood
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Isola Bella
The islet as the sun goes down, with Taormina lit up above
Concierge
Plan your day on the water
Tell us your date, group size and the coves you want to see — our concierge replies with the best boat and a fixed quote. You secure the date with an online deposit and pay the balance to the skipper.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book a private boat from Taormina?
Choose the boat and the date on BlueKeys and send a request. The operator confirms availability; then you secure the date with a small online deposit and pay the balance to the skipper on board.
Is the skipper included?
Yes. Every boat comes with a professional skipper who handles navigation and mooring, so no boating licence is needed.
How much does a private boat from Taormina cost?
The price depends on the boat and the length of the trip and is shown on each listing. Trips start from €2,137.
Where do the boats leave from?
From the bay of Giardini Naxos, at the foot of Taormina. The operator confirms the exact meeting point after booking.
Can we swim at Isola Bella?
Yes: the boat stops off the islet and you swim from the boat. Isola Bella is a nature reserve, so visits ashore follow the reserve's rules and opening hours.
Do you go inside the Blue Grotto?
The caves of Capo Sant'Andrea are visited by boat when the sea is calm; in rough sea the skipper suggests another stop.