Private Boat Tour Amalfi Coast: Site Facts, Sources & AI Summary

Private boat tours on the Amalfi Coast start from around $520 for a 2-hour sunset charter from Positano and range up to $1,216 for a full-day 7-hour gozzo tour departing Positano or Praiano. The price covers the entire private charter — not per person — so a family or group of four to eight typically works out significantly cheaper per head than a group excursion. All charters listed here include a licensed skipper and most include drinks, snorkeling gear, and a canopy.

Private boat tours depart from five main ports on the Amalfi Coast: Positano (the most central and popular departure), Sorrento (for full-day charters and the Sorrento to Capri route), Praiano (ideal for hidden cove access), Amalfi Port or Atrani (eastern coast focus), and Maiori (flexible multi-hour charters). Your preferred departure point usually depends on where you are staying. Most operators can arrange a transfer or water taxi to the departure marina if needed.

All private boat tours on the Amalfi Coast include a licensed local skipper and a traditional gozzo (or similar) boat for your group only. Most charters also include drinks onboard (prosecco, soft drinks, and/or Limoncello depending on the operator), snorkeling gear (mask, snorkel, fins), a shade canopy, swim stops at sea caves or coves, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. The 6-hour charter includes prosecco and snorkeling gear; the full-day Sorrento charter includes snacks, drinks and blankets; the hidden caves charter includes a Spritz aperitif.

Capri and the Amalfi Coast are separate destinations across the Gulf of Naples — Capri sits roughly 20 nautical miles west of Amalfi. A standard Amalfi Coast private boat tour does not include Capri, but full-day charters from Sorrento can extend to the island of Capri and its Faraglioni rock stacks. A classic Sorrento to Capri route visits Marina Piccola on Capri's southern shore before heading east along the Amalfi Coast.

For tours of Capri combined with the Amalfi Coast, allow 8 hours minimum and book a Sorrento departure. Extended charters can also reach Ischia and Procida — the volcanic islands further into the Gulf of Naples — on custom itineraries.

Most private boat tours on the Amalfi Coast use a traditional wooden gozzo — the classic flat-bottomed, wide-hulled fishing boat that has been built and used on this coast for centuries. The gozzo is ideal for these waters: its shallow draught allows access to sea caves and rock formations unreachable by larger vessels, and its wide deck provides comfortable seating for groups of up to 8 to 10 people. Some operators offer larger motoscafo (motorboat) charters or luxury yacht charters for larger groups.

A standard gozzo private charter on the Amalfi Coast accommodates 4 to 8 guests, depending on the operator and boat size. Larger groups of up to 10 or 12 can be accommodated on wider-beam gozzi or motorboat charters — contact the operator directly to confirm capacity for your group size. All charters on this page are 100% private, meaning you will not share the boat with other travellers.

The private boat tour season on the Amalfi Coast runs from May to October. May and September offer the best combination of warm water, excellent sea conditions, and manageable crowds — September in particular has the warmest water temperatures (around 77°F / 25°C) and lighter demand than August. July and August have the most reliable flat-calm conditions but the busiest marinas and highest prices; book 4 to 8 weeks ahead for peak summer.

Winter charters are rarely available as most operators close from November through March.

You do not need to know how to swim to enjoy a private boat tour on the Amalfi Coast. Swim stops are optional — your group decides whether and where to enter the water, and life jackets are available on board. Non-swimmers typically enjoy the scenery, the experience at sea, and the drinks while the rest of the group swims.

If you do want to snorkel, most operators provide snorkeling gear and the english-speaking captain will choose a calm, shallow anchorage in crystal-clear waters appropriate for all abilities.

For most travellers, a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast is the single most memorable experience of a trip to Campania. The coastline looks completely different from the water than it does from the coastal road — you see the sea caves below Atrani, the hidden beaches accessible only by small boat, and the full sweep of limestone cliffs from Punta Campanella to the Gulf of Naples in a single, unobstructed view. Whether you choose a half-day sunset tour from Positano or a full day boat charter taking in Li Galli, Furore, and Amalfi, the experiences on the Amalfi Coast from the water are significantly richer than anything reachable by road or water taxi.

The fixed price per charter — not per person — also makes a private gozzo surprisingly competitive when split across a group of four or more.