How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about 6 hours, including swim stops, lunch and time ashore in Monopoli.

Where is the meeting point?

Embarkation is at the Porticciolo di San Vito in Polignano a Mare.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes — masks and snorkel tubes are supplied on board for all guests.

What does the lunch include?

A typical Puglian lunch is served with a choice between riso, patate e cozze or orecchiette, plus water and wine or beer.

Are there restroom facilities on board?

Yes, the vessel is equipped with a toilet and a freshwater shower.

What happens in bad weather?

The trip can be rescheduled or refunded in case of adverse weather; confirm the operator’s weather cancellation policy when you book.

Polignano and Monopoli: Luxury Small-Boat Cruise to Caves, Calette & Coastal Cuisine

Set off from the Porticciolo di San Vito in Polignano a Mare and spend a six‑hour day on a private luxury boat exploring Puglia’s limestone coast. The route threads past sheer cliffs, sea caves and secret coves between Polignano a Mare and Monopoli, in Puglia, Italy, with time for snorkeling, a regional lunch on deck, an aperitivo and a short walk through Monopoli’s old town.

The first large visual is Costa dei Trulli, a bay framed by white rock where the water drops from aquamarine to cobalt; the crew anchors for an initial swim and supplies snorkel masks and tubes so you can check the rocky seabed. From there the boat eases along cliffs carved with grottoes — most famous are Grotta Palazzese and Grotta dell’Amore — hollowed into calcarenite and limestone by millennia of waves. These caverns cast sudden shafts of light and make natural arches that photographers and swimmers prize.

Stops are short and purposeful: two or three coolings in calette with room to float, photograph and peer at posidonia meadows that shelter small fish. Lunch comes on board: a choice between riso, patate e cozze or classic orecchiette, served with local wine and mineral water. Later the boat ties up at Monopoli’s port so you can stroll narrow, cobbled lanes, visit a small piazza and buy a gelato or espresso before reboarding.

What sets this trip apart is the blend of comfort and local flavor: towels, sunscreen and a fresh aperitivo of focaccia, taralli, mozzarella and prosecco arrive without fuss, while a professional multilingual crew handles navigation, safety and the timing so guests can relax. The onboard toilet and freshwater shower make multiple cliffside swims uncomplicated and family-friendly, and safety gear including lifejackets and a first‑aid kit are standard.

Practical matters: departures are from Porticciolo di San Vito; plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early for check‑in. The itinerary can shift for weather or sea conditions but typically includes three swim stops and about an hour ashore in Monopoli. Children are welcome but should be supervised; accessibility for those with limited mobility may be constrained by the small harbor and ladder transfers.

If you want dramatic coastal geology, warm clear water for snorkeling and a short cultural side‑trip to a historic Apulian town, this private luxury cruise is a concise, high‑comfort way to experience Puglia from the sea. Bookings usually include snorkeling gear, towels and sunscreen, and cancellations for weather are reimbursed per operator policy; confirm languages available (Italian, English, French, Spanish) when you book. Bring a hat, reef‑safe sunscreen and a small dry bag for phones; pace your drinks during the aperitivo and respect marine habitats by avoiding contact with posidonia and rocky bottoms please.