Ponza Island 6 hours Boat Excursion with Swimming Stops and Lunch
Description
Join us on the stunning island of Ponza for a fun-filled day exploring this paradise-like Mediterranean destination by boat! This 6 hours small group excursion includes 4–5 swim stops in crystal clear waters, a delicious onboard pasta lunch with wine, drinks, and espresso. An English speaking trip leader will guide you through one of Italy's most beautiful hidden gems. Marvel at dramatic cliffs, mysterious sea grottoes, and breathtaking coastal scenery as you cruise around the island on this top-rated Ponza boat tour, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, relaxing and island exploration. Need round-trip ferry tickets to reach Ponza from Anzio? Select the "Ferry Tickets Included" option and meet us directly at the port of Anzio to begin your unforgettable Ponza island adventure, one of the best day trips from Anzio along the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Italian coast. Ideal for families, couples, and anyone looking for an incredible outdoor experience in the heart of the Mediterranean!
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will circumnavigate the island of Ponza by boat stopping along the way 5 times to swim and snorkel (must provide own snorkeling gear). Lunch is served on board.
These grottoes named for Pontious Pilate are an exciting first stop for our itinerary.
This smooth, moon colored cliff is a favorite stop in Ponza. Your tour leader will describe the romantic legend that gives the cliff its name. If the sea conditions are right, we might even have a swim stop here.
This unique rock formation is bright white, and thats because it was formed from compressed volcanic ash called. There is even a long grotto that runs straight through the cliff here, and at noon the sun creates spectacular blue reflections in the water, retro-illuminating the grotto. Are you adventurous enough to swim through the grotto end to end? If the sea conditions are right, join your tour leader for this unique experience!
One of the more popular swimming areas reachable by land, the "Natural Pools" are a sight to behold... perfect swimming pools carved into the rocks by nature.
Cala Feola is Ponza's second port, for smaller boats and is the main area of a quieter side of the island.
Today Ponza doesn't have its own water source, but long ago, it did and we can see the remnants here in this cove, called "of the water" just for this reason. Note the tiny waterfalls trickling down the cliffside... runoff from what is left of Ponza natural spring. You can also still see the ruins of an ancient Roman aqueduct that once carried the water throughout the island.
Another beautiful little cove most easily reached by boat.
Lots of history near this little cove. We'll float over the spot where an American landing ship tank sunk during a storm in WWII, a popular spot for divers today. Survey the remnants of a mine that once provided jobs to the Ponzan people. The closure of the mine marked a turning point in the history of the island, to an economy based heavily on fishing and tourism.
Nearing the northernmost tip of Ponza, we'll discover the colorful "Felci Cove". Here, sulphur has colored the cliff walls a bright yellow which contracts with the sparkling emerald of the sea here. This is a common swimming spot, and we'll likely drop anchor here to explore.
Ponza is a volcanic island, meaning the rock here is soft and constantly being shaped and moulded by the sea. No better example of this can be seen than here, at the "Natural Arch" -- a giant sea stack which has been hollowed out in the center forming an enormous rock arch, big enough to pass a boat under.
The last stop before heading back to port is the Beach of "Frontone". This is the most popular beach on the island and even at the end of the day it is crowded with Italian sunbathers.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- You must be able to swim if you wish to participate in swimming/snorkeling stops
- Be sure to bring a towel and suncreen
- Exact itinerary and departure may vary according to sea and weather conditions. If we do not contact you, please consider your trip confirmed.
Reviews(89)
Our tour in Ponza was an amazing experience! The guide who welcomed us was incredibly friendly, professional, and communicative, making the whole day enjoyable from start to finish. The boat was comfortable and perfect for exploring the island. Everything was very well organized, and Ponza itself is absolutely stunning and it deserves to be much more famous for its crystal-clear waters . Highly recommended!
So fun! Lots of swimming / snorkel stops at pretty coves with clear water. The impressive coastline’s geology and history was explained by the captain with translation into English for us by Mara, who was wonderful and enthusiastic. Pasta dish impressive for prep on a boat! Would highly recommend!
The lead. Was beautiful, the guide super nice. The boat comfortable and the food really delicious . Everything was perfect. Incredible landscape
Vielen Dank! Wir freuen uns sehr, dass dir die Führung gefallen hat, die Landschaft beeindruckt hat und du das Essen genossen hast. Es war uns eine Freude, dich an Bord zu haben — hoffentlich bis bald für ein weiteres tolles Erlebnis!
Had a great day touring around the entire island. Food and drinks were great. The tour guide gave history and stopped at 5 great swimming / snorkelling locations. Would recommend!!
Thank you so much! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an amazing day exploring the island, enjoyed the food and drinks, and loved the swim stops. Your recommendation means a lot to us — hope to welcome you back soon for another unforgettable experience!
This day isn’t 5 hours. It’s more like 10-12 hours. Was a massive day of more travel than fun. Probably wouldn’t do again even though I had a great time the travelling to and from was too long. Boat trip was unreal the history was amazing and the swimming was incredible. Our tour guide was so lovely and very friendly which is why I have 4 stars but the travelling was the downfall
We’re glad to read that our guide managed to let you enjoy the day in Ponza beside the “downfall” of transfers. You’re totally right! Ponza can gift stunning landscapes and unforgettable moments ❤️🌊 Just to be precise: you’re right the tour is not just of 5 hours, that’s why is listed as a DAY TOUR. All the schedule is available on the booking page and in the memo-mail we always send before the tour, from there is possible to know in advance all the schedule and the transports needed to reach the island of Ponza.
The tour went around the entire island with several swimming stops at beautiful coves and with descriptions of the attractions and history. There were about 20 people in the group, so if you're looking for something more intimate this may not be the tour for you, but the boat was comfortable and the staff took their time to show the island.
Hi there, Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this review! We’re really glad you enjoyed the tour around the island and appreciated the beautiful swim spots, the comfort of the boat, and the efforts of our staff to share the island’s history and highlights. You're absolutely right – our standard group tours can include around 20 people, or also more, which makes for a fun and social experience. But for those looking for something a bit more intimate, we completely understand – and that’s why we also offer “small group” and “private tour” options, designed for a more exclusive and personal experience. We’d love to have you back again, maybe next time for a quieter day on the water! Thanks again and warm wishes,
We went sailing for a day. The rental of the snorkels was 30 euros pp. The lunch was delicious but very basic. So all in all, way too much money for this trip.
Bedankt dat u de tijd heeft genomen om uw feedback met ons te delen. Het spijt ons te horen dat de ervaring niet aan uw verwachtingen voldeed. We doen ons best om een volledige dag van ontspanning en ontdekking te bieden, maar we begrijpen dat de prijs-kwaliteitverhouding voor iedereen anders kan aanvoelen. De huur van de snorkelsets is optioneel en wordt duidelijk vermeld in de prijslijst. Wat betreft de lunch: deze is eenvoudig maar we streven ernaar om iets vers en passends te serveren voor een dag op zee. Uw opmerkingen zijn waardevol voor ons en we nemen ze mee om de ervaring voor toekomstige gasten te verbeteren.
Even if we had not been on the superior Ponzesi per Scelta Jolly boat to Palmarola the day before taking this tour, we would have been disappointed by the overpriced, underwhelming Ponza boat tour trio by EcoArt Travel, which was unprofessional and misleading. Firstly, the confirmation stated the tour left at 10:30, so we arrived early to not be late. The tour did not leave until after 11:00, so we wasted time waiting in the hot sun for the guide who SHOWED UP at 10:30. The crew consisted of the captain and 2 teenage boys, one who barely stopped making out with his pouty girlfriend for the 5 hour trip right in front of everyone on the small boat. The “lunch” finally served at 3:30, consisted of a bowl of pasta and A CUP OF WATER. The great Ponsezi per Scelta trip served plenty of tomato topped bruschetta, 3 different types of pizza, pasta, and a torte for dessert. In addition, the fun, professional crew walked around serving prosecco and there was a huge ice chest full of canned drinks, including beer and sodas. That tour was 2/3 the price of the Ponza trip! The Ponsezi boat has bunches of noodles and many inflatables for the passengers, while this Ponza boat had 3 old, worn-out noodles. It was telling that when the “dessert boat” cruised up to yesterday’s boat, everyone was so full from a great lunch, that NOT ONE person bought anything. When the dessert boat came up to the Ponza boat, over half the passengers lined up to buy ice cream and drinks because we were so hungry. I felt totally ripped off and scammed by the EcoArt Travel boat to Ponza trip. Take my advice and go with Ponsezi per Scelta Mickey Mouse or Jolly boat instead, whose tour is offered on TripAdvisor.
Dear Reviewer, If you are indeed a paying customer on this trip, I sincerely apologize that your experience did not meet your expectations. However, several details in your review raise concern for us as to whether you actually participated in our tour and in what context. First, it would be impossible for lunch to have been served at 3:30 PM, as we are always back in port by 4:00 PM to ensure that guests returning with the Laziomar ferry have sufficient time. At 3:30PM we are actively navigating towards the port, and lunch is long behind us. Lunch is typically served around 1:30/2:00 PM, as is usual with most boat tours from Ponza. Additionally, our lunch service includes unlimited wine and water, and a hot espresso afterwards — not merely a “cup of water” as indicated in your review. You also make no mention of your English-speaking guide, who is a key part of the experience (and is not provided by Ponzesi per Scelta). Finally, your review reads more like a promotion for Ponzesi per Scelta than a genuine account of our trip. Given our many years of consistently excellent feedback, we will let readers draw their own conclusions.
beautiful excursion, the food was great and the staff friendly and helpful. I recommend it because you see beautiful coves, is not included Palmarola but it is still worth it
Grazie di cuore per le tue belle parole! Siamo felici che tu abbia apprezzato le calette, il cibo e la gentilezza del nostro staff. È vero, l’escursione è dedicata esclusivamente a Ponza, come indicato nella descrizione, ma sapere che ne sia comunque valsa la pena ci riempie di gioia. Speriamo di riaverti presto con noi, magari alla scoperta anche di Palmarola! 🌞⛵💙
This excursion was so much fun! What a great way to see the island from a different perspective, learn so much, and the lunch was delicious! The swimming spots were picture perfect. Amazing way to spend the day in Ponza
Thank you! We’re so happy you had fun and enjoyed the stunning views, lunch, and swimming spots. Ponza is truly special—glad we could share it with you! 🌊☀️