Private Boat Tour Amalfi CoastPrivate Boat Tour Amalfi Coast from Sorrento: Marinas, Crossing Times and Routes
A private boat tour Amalfi Coast from Sorrento puts you on the water with your own skipper from Marina Piccola, with Positano, Amalfi, Li Galli and Capri all in range. A full Sorrento day runs 6 to 8 hours, and Sorrento Insider and Bluekeys put a private full day at EUR 800 (about $896) to EUR 1,200 (about $1,344) per boat. This page covers which marina you board at, how long each sea leg takes, the routes operators sail, what the price includes and where fuel is charged on top. For the wider market, see the private boat tour Amalfi Coast catalog.
Quick answer Yes, and here is the shape of the day
Yes. A private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento runs 6 to 8 hours with a skipper, typically from EUR 800 (about $896) per boat for a full day, boarding at Marina Piccola or the operator's own dock.
Key takeaways
- Most boats leave from Marina Piccola, reached by the lift from Villa Comunale, though some operators use their own docks. See where the boat leaves.
- A private boat from Sorrento to Positano takes about 45 minutes or more. The crossing times table has every leg.
- The cheapest full-day private charter from Sorrento below is $533 per group of up to 4, with fuel paid separately.
- A private boat tour from Positano shortens the sea leg if Positano and Amalfi are your only targets.
Private Boat Tours from Sorrento
Two bookable private charters depart Sorrento. Both run along the Positano and Amalfi side with swim stops, and neither reaches Capri, which is sold as a separate product by Sorrento operators. Both charge fuel on top of the fare.
from $533
Sorrento 7-hour skipper
8-Hour Amalfi Coast Charter from Sorrento: Positano, Amalfi & Snorkeling
A seven-hour private boat day from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi with snorkeling, snacks and Limoncello tasting, priced per group of up to 4. Suits small groups who accept fuel as a separate cost.
$533 per group of up to 4 (listed as reduced from $561); fuel is extra.
- Departs Sorrento marina
- 8 hours along the full coast
- Positano and Amalfi stops included
- Snacks, drinks and blankets provided
from $566
Sorrento Li Galli day
Full-Day Amalfi Coast Charter from Sorrento: Li Galli, Limoncello & Emerald Grotto
An eight-hour private boat day from Sorrento with Li Galli swim stops, free time in Positano and Amalfi, and Limoncello on the return. Suits groups who want a full day and can pay the fuel on top.
From $566 per person as the listing states; fuel of EUR 300-350 is listed as an extra.
- Departs Sorrento marina
- Li Galli island swim stop
- Emerald Grotto visit option
- Limoncello included on return
Figures current in Q4 2026.
Where the Boat Leaves: Marina Piccola or Marina Grande
Sorrento has two harbours and the booking confirmation decides which one you need.
Marina Piccola is the main departure point
Most boats in Sorrento, including the ferries and many coast tours, leave from Marina Piccola. The Sorrento lift runs from Villa Comunale down to the marina for a small fee, which saves the long staircase. Marina Piccola can be crowded at peak departure times in summer, so allow a few extra minutes.
Marina Grande is the smaller harbour, home to smaller operators, about 10 minutes on foot down steps. One source also reports private charters leaving from Marina di Cassano in Piano di Sorrento, one bay along, so confirm the exact dock on your voucher before the day. The two Sorrento charters listed below meet at Via Marina Grande 138 and Via Marina Piccola 41, one in each harbour, which shows why the voucher matters.
How Long It Takes from Sorrento by Sea
Sorrento sits at the western end, so every route spends real time under way. These figures shape how much swimming and shore time an 8 hour day actually buys.
Times by private boat and by public ferry
A private boat Sorrento to Capri takes about 40 minutes, and Sorrento to Positano about 45 minutes or more. Sorrento to Amalfi by public ferry takes about 40 minutes in summer. The ferry is faster to a single destination but runs early April to late October and stops nowhere except its landings.
On a 7 to 8 hour Sorrento day, plan on roughly 1.5 to 2 hours of the total getting to and back from the Amalfi stretch. That is the trade of the Sorrento start, and it is why the Sorrento-side combo of Nerano, Li Galli and Capri suits a shorter day better.
- Book a morning departure: 09:00 starts beat 13:00 starts for calm water.
- A public ferry is transport only, with no cove stops, compared with a private boat from EUR 300 (about $336) for 2 hours.
| Leg | Private boat | Public ferry | Ferry fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorrento to Capri | about 40 min | 15 to 30 min from Marina Piccola | EUR 16.40-22 (about $18-25) |
| Sorrento to Positano | about 45 min or more | about 30 min | not stated |
| Sorrento to Amalfi | not stated | about 40 min, summer only | not stated |
| Positano to Capri | about 50 min by motorboat | about 40 min high-speed | EUR 27.50-30 (about $31-34) |
Sources: Bluekeys, Positano.com ferry schedule, Capri.com.
Sorrento Routes: Capri, Nerano, Li Galli, Positano, Amalfi
Three shapes of day leave Sorrento, and the route you pick decides whether the hours work.
The full coast day, 6 to 8 hours
The longest single-day list from Sorrento runs Sorrento coast, Nerano, Crapolla, Li Galli, Positano, Praiano, Furore, Conca dei Marini and Amalfi in 6 hours. Full days combining Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi are priced at 7 to 8 hours, and a Sorrento to Capri day runs 8 to 9 hours. Expect about 30 minutes for a swim in Nerano bay and 30 minutes at Li Galli.
The 8-hour Sorrento charter with Li Galli and the Emerald Grotto follows this shape, with free time in Positano and Amalfi. The 7-hour Sorrento charter to Positano and Amalfi adds the Emerald Grotto and the Furore fjord instead.
| Route from Sorrento | Total hours | Main stops |
|---|---|---|
| Full coast: Positano to Amalfi | 6 to 8 h | Nerano, Li Galli, Positano, Praiano, Furore, Conca dei Marini, Amalfi |
| Positano and Amalfi day | 7-8 h | Sorrento coast, Li Galli or Nerano, Positano, Amalfi |
| Capri day | 8-9 h | Sorrento coast, Capri circumnavigation, Faraglioni |
The Punta Campanella reserve rule
The route out of Sorrento crosses the Punta Campanella marine reserve, which covers the promontory between the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno and is run by six municipalities including Sorrento and Positano. Zone A around the Vetara rock allows no access, anchoring or swimming. Zone B around the Li Galli islets allows activities only with authorisation and bans anchoring at the buoys.
Your skipper handles this, but it explains why boats hold off the islets rather than tying up.
Sources: Perillo Tours, Bluekeys, Punta Campanella reserve.
What It Costs from Sorrento
Private charters from Sorrento are priced per boat, not per person, and the range across the market is wide because boat class differs.
Per-boat prices on the Sorrento market
Sorrento Insider lists ten Sorrento boats from EUR 819 (about $917) per boat up to EUR 1,918, with capacities from 8 to 14, and a Bluekeys guide puts a Sorrento full day from EUR 900 (about $1,008). At the top of the market, Positano Boats sells a Sorrento 8-hour day for EUR 2,000 (about $2,240) for up to 12, and Amalfi Coast Dream quotes its Amalfi Coast tour from EUR 800 (about $896). Bluekeys puts the typical Sorrento full-day band at EUR 800 to EUR 1,200 per boat.
| Listing | Price per boat | Duration | Group max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sorrento Insider, cheapest Sorrento full day (Capri, Positano, Nerano) | EUR 819 (about $917) | full day | 14 |
| Bluekeys Sorrento full day, gozzo or tender | from EUR 900 (about $1,008) | full day | not stated |
| Amalfi Coast Dream, Amalfi Coast tour | from EUR 800 (about $896) | not stated | not stated |
| Positano Boats, Sorrento departure | EUR 2,000 (about $2,240) | 8 h | 12 |
The two bookable Sorrento charters
The 7-hour charter to Positano and Amalfi is $533 per group of up to 4, which works out at about $133 per person at capacity, and the 8-hour Li Galli day is from $566 per person with fuel charged separately. For the full ladder, see the Amalfi Coast private boat price page.
- Fuel is an extra on both Sorrento cards: about EUR 300 on the 7-hour boat and EUR 300-350 on the 8-hour boat.
- Emerald Grotto entry is EUR 5-10 per person depending on the source, and the optional Positano dock fee on the 7-hour boat is EUR 30 (about $34).
Sources: Sorrento Insider, Bluekeys, Positano Boats, Amalfi Coast Dream.
What Is Included on a Sorrento Charter
Inclusions differ more between Sorrento boats than anywhere else on the coast, so read the list before you pay.
The standard package and the fuel trap
A skipper comes with every private charter. Drinks and snacks are common: the 7-hour Sorrento boat throws in soft drinks, a bottle of Prosecco, Limoncello, snacks, towels and a snorkel kit, and the 8-hour boat adds a welcome drink, a hostess, insurance and taxes. Towels and snorkel gear are on most listings.
Fuel is the variable. On the Sorrento listings, fuel is not included on 2 of 10 motorboat tours, including a Capri and Positano boat at EUR 1,018 and a luxury motorboat at EUR 1,868, and other listings simply do not say. Both Sorrento charters listed above charge fuel on top. Ask the operator to confirm in writing whether fuel is in the fare, and budget EUR 300 or more for a full day if it is not.
Paid extras beyond the boat: Emerald Grotto entry EUR 5-10 per person, the Capri landing tax of EUR 5 (about $6) per person from 1 April to 31 October if your day crosses to the island, lunch ashore EUR 25-50 per person, and a tip of EUR 20-50 for a full-day private charter.
Sources: Sorrento Insider, amalficoast.boats, Bluekeys.
When to Go and How Far Ahead to Book
The Sorrento season is long but the ferry season is not, and calm mornings matter from this port.
Season and lead times
Perillo Tours runs its private Sorrento tour daily from March to November, wider than the April to October season quoted for the coast as a whole and the ferry season, which runs early April to October. Mornings are calmer, with a 10 to 15 knot north-westerly breeze building mid-afternoon that makes the open legs uncomfortable, so a 09:00 departure beats a 13:00 start.
Book 2 to 4 weeks ahead, longer for August when alternative dates in the same week get hard to find. Both Sorrento charters listed above carry free cancellation up to 24 hours before start, which is the GetYourGuide standard rather than a coast-wide rule. If rough seas cancel on the morning itself, operators refund or reschedule.
Sources: Perillo Tours, Positano.com ferry schedule, amalficoast.boats, Bluekeys.
Positano or Sorrento: Which Start
Sorrento works best as a base when you are staying there. For a Positano and Amalfi day, a Positano start cuts out the 1.5 to 2 hours of total sailing that the Sorrento start spends on the way.
The trade in one paragraph
From Sorrento, the Sorrento-side combo of Nerano, Li Galli and Capri uses the geography well and fits 7 to 8 hours. Add Positano and Amalfi only if you have a full 8 hours, because the out-and-back alone eats that much. If Positano and Amalfi are the whole point, the Positano pier is 45 minutes closer and the Positano Boats starts at EUR 300 for 2 hours and EUR 1,500 (about $1,680) for a 7-hour day, with full detail on the private boat tour from Positano page.
Capri, the Blue Grotto entry and the landing tax are covered on the homepage Capri section.
Sources: Bluekeys, Positano Boats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a private boat tour of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento?
Yes. Skippered private charters leave Sorrento daily in season, running 6 to 8 hours to Positano and Amalfi, and the two bookable options are compared in the Sorrento tour list above.
How long is the boat ride from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast?
Sorrento to Positano takes about 45 minutes or more by private boat, and the ferry from Sorrento to Amalfi takes about 40 minutes, so a full coast day spends 1.5 to 2 hours of its 6 to 8 hours under way. The times are tabled in the crossing times section.
Is there a boat from Sorrento to Amalfi?
Yes, a public ferry runs Sorrento to Amalfi in about 40 minutes but only in summer, and it is transport only with no cove stops. The private option with swim stops is covered in the private versus shared section.
Is fuel included in a private boat tour from Sorrento?
Not always. Fuel is excluded on 2 of 10 Sorrento motorboat listings, and both charters listed above charge it on top at roughly EUR 300 (about $336) to EUR 350 per boat. The full breakdown is in the inclusions section.
Where does a private boat tour from Sorrento depart?
Most boats and ferries leave from Marina Piccola, reached by the lift from Villa Comunale, while Marina Grande hosts smaller operators about 10 minutes on foot down steps. Confirm the dock on your voucher, as explained in the boarding section.
Can a private boat from Sorrento do Capri and the Amalfi Coast in one day?
Yes, Sorrento operators sell combined Capri, Positano and Amalfi full days, with one listing at EUR 919 per boat for up to 14, and Capri sits only about 40 minutes away by private boat. Prices are compared in the prices from Sorrento section.
What does a private boat from Sorrento cost compared with a shared boat?
A private Sorrento full day runs EUR 800 (about $896) to EUR 1,200 (about $1,344) per boat while semi-private boats start at EUR 109 per person, so the private boat wins on price from about 8 guests. The comparison is in the private versus shared section.