Private Boat Tour Amalfi Coast: Prices by Port

Operator Prices by Boat and Length

The figures below come from Positano Boats, Luxury Boats Positano and Bluekeys, converted at about $1.12 per euro. Every private price is per boat, not per person.

Split Between Two, Four or Six

Worked examples from bookable tours show how the per-head cost falls as the group grows. The 90-minute sunset cruise from Positano or Praiano costs $513.78 per boat: about $256.89 each for two, $128.44 each for four and $85.63 each for six. The 4-hour gozzo charter from Positano costs $763 per boat for up to 6 guests: about $381.50 each for two, $190.75 each for four and $127.17 each for six.

The 7-hour full-day gozzo from Positano or Praiano costs $1,233 per boat for up to 6 guests: about $616.50 each for two, $308.25 each for four and $205.50 each for six. Doubling the group halves each share.

Private or Shared

A shared boat wins when your group is small and the date is flexible. Bluekeys puts shared boats at EUR 50-80 (about $56-90) per person at sunset, EUR 60-90 (about $67-101) for a half day and EUR 90-140 (about $101-157) for a full day or Capri. amalficoast.boats lists fixed shared tours at EUR 86 (about $96) from Amalfi and EUR 95 (about $106) from Positano. It puts the break-even at about eight people: a EUR 680 (about $762) private boat costs EUR 85 each at eight.

Below that, a shared boat is usually cheaper. The full ladder by trip length, boat class and group size is on the private boat tour Amalfi Coast prices page.

Ports and Route Times

The table maps each departure port to what a shorter trip and a full day reach, with links to the matching tour cards. Positano Boats asks you to arrive 15 minutes before departure.

Naples and Salerno

Naples cruise passengers have their own option: a private yacht day of 7-8 hours from EUR 600 (about $672) for up to four, timed to the ship, with optional pickup at the cruise terminal. Molo Beverello is the ferry dock next to the main terminal, and one guide lists no direct ferry from Naples to Amalfi. From Salerno, the cruise-port private tour runs 8 hours for up to 12 at EUR 1,750 (about $1,960). Bluekeys quotes the Salerno private range at EUR 650-1,000 (about $728-1,120) and says the first stretch of coast from that side is less dramatic.

Port detail is on the pages for a private boat tour from Sorrento and a private boat tour from Positano.

Fuel, Grottos, Capri Landing, Lunch and Tips

Fuel is the biggest variable. Some listings fold it in, others charge EUR 100-350 on top. The Blue Grotto is paid in cash to the rowboat crew because your own boat cannot enter the cave.

The Emerald Grotto ticket varies by source. The Capri landing tax is a small per-person fee in season, though sources disagree on who owes it when you arrive by private boat. Lunch and tips are yours to decide.

Which Tours Include Fuel and Drinks

Fuel is included with the 4-hour Positano gozzo charter, the Maiori all-day gozzo except one half-day option where fuel is EUR 100 (about $112) payable on the day, the Atrani caves and beaches day, the Positano sunset cruise, the full-day Positano or Praiano gozzo, the six-hour Positano, Praiano or Amalfi cruise and the Capri full day. Fuel is extra on the Sorrento 7-hour charter at EUR 300 (about $336) and on the Sorrento Li Galli day at EUR 300-350 (about $336-392), a tour priced per person with fuel charged per boat. The Amalfi leisure boat, the luxury boat day and the 90-minute sunset cruise do not state fuel, so ask.

Drinks range from water and soda to prosecco, beer and Limoncello. The Capri day lists the Blue Grotto at EUR 18 (about $20) per person and an optional Capri port fee of EUR 100 (about $112) as extras.

How Far and How Long

By private boat the crossing takes about 40 minutes from Sorrento, about 50 minutes from Positano and about 75 minutes from Amalfi, according to Bluekeys. Capri lies about 5 km from the tip of the Sorrento peninsula. amalficoast.boats advises at least 6 hours for a Capri day, and the operator Capri days run 7-8 hours. The Positano-Capri leg can be uncomfortable in the afternoon north-westerly breeze, so skippers may reverse the route and do the crossing early.

The Faraglioni and the Blue Grotto

The Faraglioni are three limestone stacks off Capri's southeast coast: Stella at 109 m joined to the island, Mezzo at 82 m and Scopolo at 106 m. Boats hold at a controlled distance. Capri.com says passage under the arch of Mezzo is no longer permitted for safety and environmental reasons, even though some charter listings still advertise it, so do not count on it.

The Blue Grotto on the northwest coast is a separate entry: the cave mouth is about 2 m wide and 1 m high, so no boat goes in. You anchor at the buoys outside and a rowboat takes you in for about EUR 18-19 (about $20-21) in cash, not covered by the charter fee. The grotto closes in rough sea or strong north wind and can open and close several times a day.

Capri Tours in the Catalog

One tour is a dedicated Capri day. It passes Li Galli and the Faraglioni with swim stops en route, and time on the island is optional. The Blue Grotto entry and the Capri port fee are extras.

Operators price Capri above a coast day: Positano Boats asks EUR 1,500 (about $1,680) for a 7-hour Amalfi Coast day, EUR 1,780 (about $1,994) for an 8-hour Capri day for up to 6, and EUR 2,400 (about $2,688) for Amalfi Coast and Capri together.

Local Skipper

A local skipper comes with the boat and knows the coves, the currents and the permitted anchorages.

Snorkeling Gear

Masks are listed on some charters and not on others, such as open deck boats. Confirm on the card if you need them.

Drinks Onboard

Soft drinks and water are common. Prosecco, beer, Spritz or limoncello appear on some listings and are extras on others.

Swim Stops

Most charters include at least one anchored swim stop at a cove or sea cave. Longer tours add more stops.

Canopy & Shade

Many gozzi carry a canopy for shade, which matters on July and August afternoons. Check the card.

Cancellation Terms

Terms differ by operator. Several cards show free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Read the card for the boat you choose.

When Boats Run

The private boat season runs April to October, with sunset cruises roughly May to September. Bluekeys puts April and October about 20% below standard prices, May and September about 10% below, July 10-20% above and August 20% above. Water warms from about 16-17 C in April to 26-27 C at the August peak, with May at 18-20 C and September at 24-25 C.

Wind, Waves and Weather Days

A charter company page puts the summer afternoon north-westerly at about 10-15 knots, and mornings are calmer, so a 09:00 departure beats 13:00. The Positano-Capri leg gets uncomfortable in that afternoon wind. When the sea is rough, navigation in dangerous conditions is prohibited and a booking may be cancelled on the morning itself.

Terms differ by operator. Positano Boats refunds in full at 7 days or more, 50% at 3-6 days and nothing at 2 days or less, while bad-sea cancellations bring a full refund or a reschedule at the captain's discretion. Kiss from Italy gives a full refund for weather.

Amalfinstyle reroutes or reschedules with no refund terms printed. In August a cancelled day is hard to replace in the same week, so confirm the weather terms in writing before you pay.

Seasickness

Bluekeys advises a dimenhydrinate tablet such as Xamamina or Travelgum 30-60 minutes before boarding, a light breakfast, no alcohol the night before and no orange juice. On board, sit at the stern, watch the horizon and consider ginger. Morning departures are calmer than afternoon runs.

Tell the skipper how you feel, since they can slow down or find calmer water.

Booking Lead Time

Book 2-4 weeks ahead. Bluekeys breaks it down as 1-2 weeks for June, 3-4 weeks for July and 4 or more weeks for August, when a cancelled slot is hard to replace in the same week. Deposit practice varies.

One operator example reported by Ischia Review shows a EUR 150 (about $168) deposit on a EUR 2,000 (about $2,240) tour with the balance paid on the day, at least EUR 500 (about $560) of it in cash. amalficoast.boats says GetYourGuide listings allow free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Operator-direct terms differ, so read the cancellation line on each tour card before you pay.

The Public Ferry Instead

If you only need to move between ports, the ferries run in season from April to October. What you give up is everything between the ports: no swim stops, no caves, no skipper and no say in the schedule. Sailings can also be suspended in rough seas.

A private 2-hour speedboat from EUR 300 (about $336) per boat is a different product from a EUR 10 (about $11) ferry ticket.