Sailing to Positano: 7-Hour Amalfi Coast Boat Experience from Sorrento

On the turquoise edge of southern Italy, the Positano Boat Experience launches from Sorrento for a single, sun-drenched day that rewrites expectations about what a coastal excursion can be. This seven-hour boat tour runs from the port of Sorrento to Positano on the Amalfi Coast, moving along limestone cliffs, hidden coves and the islets of Li Galli. It's equal parts slow, sensory sailing and hands-on exploration—swims from the boat, snorkeling in clear water, and a stroll through Positano's steep streets. The voyage opens with the skipper's briefing at the meeting point in Sorrentotttt and then eases into open water. The route traces dramatic coastal geology: sheer calcareous cliffs shaped by centuries of wave action, narrow sea caves, and pebbly beaches dotted with Mediterranean scrub and olive terraces. Snorkelers will find seagrass meadows of Posidonia and a busy littoral life, including sea bream, small groupers and the occasional bottlenose dolphin. Several planned stops let you slip off the stern to swim in turquoise coves that are reachable only by boat. Around Li Galli, the water deepens and the coastline tightens into private-feeling anchorages framed by cliffs. Once in Positano, the town's stacked, pastel houses rising from the shoreline provide a cinematic backdrop; spend free time wandering artisan boutiques, photographing the steep alleyways or sitting for seafood scialatielli with a glass of chilled white. Why this operator stands out here is intimacy and pace: group sizes are capped at up to 6 or up to 10 people depending on the boat, a local skipper brings route knowledge, and the day can include a restaurant booking on request. The trip is as much about quiet moments at sea—reading on deck, sunbathing on soft cushions—as it is about short bursts of exploration on land. Practicalities are simple: the tour is seven hours long, starts at Sorrento's port, and is best booked in spring through early fall when sea conditions are calm. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and a lightweight wind layer for the open deck. Respect local conservation: avoid anchoring on Posidonia meadows and follow crew instructions to protect fragile marine habitat. The tour is family friendly—marketing notes 'All ages'—and runs with two boat sizes (up to 6 or up to 10 passengers), which fits couples, families, or small groups. Skippers read the swell and choose sheltered anchorages when breeze rises; bring motion-sickness remedies if you feel sensitive. Food is integral: order scialatielli or octopus salad at a harbor trattoria for true Campania flavor. Many guests end the day with one last swim at sunset, the cliffs turning warm orange as the boat eases back toward Sorrento. The Positano Boat Experience is a clear-window way to understand the Amalfi Coast: geology, gastronomy and coastal culture rolled into a single, unforgettable day on the water.