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Guide · From Positano
Private boat tour from Positano to Capri
Positano sits at the western end of the Amalfi Coast, and the sea route from there to Capri is a sightseeing trip in itself. Here is what a private boat tour from Positano to Capri covers, and what each listing includes.
Check availabilityfrom $461 · cancel at no cost
Editorial team, capriprivateboattour.comUpdated October 18, 2026Read time: 7 min22 sources
The quick version
- 01The boat we book
- A private day of 6 hours with a live guide in English and Italian, from $1,304.
- 02Its rating
- 4.77 from 57 reviews, with a perfect 5 for the guide.
- 03On the way
- The Sirenuses and Nerano, then the Blue Grotto, the caves and the Faraglioni.
- 04Shared option
- A small-group day limited to 12 participants, from $178.
- 05Booking terms
- Cancel at no cost until 24 hours out; pay later if you like.
Positano by sea, before you even reach Capri
Positano stands at the western end of the Amalfi Coast, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its houses step down the slope to the water.1 Its main beach, Marina Grande, is 400 metres of sandy shore in the inlet, and the pier at its edge is where the boats set out.2 Seen from the deck as you pull away, the town is a wall of color above the sea.
A private boat tour from Positano to Capri makes the crossing part of the experience. Heading west, the boat passes the Li Galli archipelago, three small islands in a marine reserve that legend says are home to mermaids.3 Ruins of Roman villas lie on Li Galli and on the islet of Isca, and also at Marina del Cantone.4
Any Capri boat tour from Positano runs along this coast toward Punta Campanella, wild and steep, the headland that points straight at Capri.5 The sea off Punta Campanella is rarely calm, where currents from the Gulf of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno meet.6 On a windy day the crossing can feel lively. On a calm morning, though, it is a gentle ride, with the island growing on the horizon.
The route
Positano to Capri on the private day
-
Morning
Leave Positano
Boats leave from the pier beside Marina Grande beach.2
-
West along the coast
The Sirenuses
The Li Galli islets, in a marine reserve.3
-
Toward the point
Nerano
The next named stop on the listing.
-
Around Capri
Blue Grotto and caves
Then the Green Grotto, the Grotta Bianca and Marina Piccola.
-
South side
The Faraglioni
The stacks and the Arco Naturale before Marina Grande.
-
Evening
Back to Positano
A day of 6 hours in all.
The private day we book: 6 hours to Capri
The listing this page books is a private group day of 6 hours from Positano, with a live guide in English and Italian. It starts from $1,304 and is rated 4.77 from 57 reviews, with 5 for the guide, 4.9 for transportation and 4.7 for value for money. Its title also offers Amalfi as the destination, so say which you want when you book.
Its listed route runs past the Sirenuses and Nerano, then around Capri to the Blue Grotto, the Green Grotto, the Grotta Bianca, Marina Piccola, the Faraglioni and the Arco Naturale, with a stop at Marina Grande before the return. The Sirenuses is a name also given to the Li Galli islets, the first sight off Positano's coast.
The listing names 4 possible starting locations, so check which pier your confirmation gives. It does not say whether the from-price covers the whole boat or each guest; set your group size on the booking page and read the total. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead, and you can reserve now and pay later.
Compare
Boats from Positano to Capri
| Listing | Type | Duration | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| To Capri or Amalfi | Private | 6 hrs | from $1,304 | 4.77 |
| Day trip with skipper | Private | 7 to 7.5 hrs | from $979 | 4.28 |
| Island tour with skipper | Private | 4 to 7 hrs | from $1,096 | 5.00 |
| Yacht from Sorrento | Private | 8 hrs | from $2,601 | 5.00 |
| Light lunch and drinks | Small group | 10 hrs | from $178 | 4.64 |
| Full day from 3 towns | Shared | 8 hrs | from $172 | 4.63 |
Durations, from-prices and ratings as each GetYourGuide listing states them; prices are starting prices.
Three ways from Positano
Private, yacht or small group
This page
Most comfort
Lower priceDecision helper
Which Positano boat should you book?
Start from what you want out of the day
The 6-hour private day
A private group with a live guide in English and Italian.
The day trip with skipper
It runs 7 to 7.5 hours.
The private yacht
An 8-hour yacht day from Sorrento to Capri and Positano.
The small-group day
Light lunch and drinks, limited to 12 participants.
The coves near Positano
A gozzo can take you to La Porta, San Pietro Laurito and Arienzo.7
it is worth heading to the pier to sail to the Li Galli Archipelago: three small islands in a marine reserve surrounded by crystal-clear waters, that legend has it are populated by mermaids.
More private boats from Positano
A private day trip to Capri by boat with a skipper runs 7 to 7.5 hours and starts from $979, rated 4.28 from 42 reviews. Another private island tour with skipper runs 4 to 7 hours, from $1,096, with a 5.00 rating from only 4 reviews. A very small sample says little, so read what each one includes.
For a bigger occasion there is a private yacht day of 8 hours that leaves from Sorrento and calls at Capri and Positano, rated 5.00 from 4 reviews, from $2,601. A yacht changes the feel of the day: more room on deck, more shade, more comfort, at a far higher price. For many couples and families a gozzo or a small cabin boat already gives the privacy they came for.
Whatever you choose, compare three things: how long you are at sea, what the listing names as stops, and whether drinks or snorkel gear come with it. A shorter private day leaves you the evening in Positano; a longer one lets you swim at Capri and still pass Li Galli on the way back while the light softens.
Map
Around Capri, and across the gulf
The island's boat stops from Marina Grande, then the towns on the mainland where the other boats start.
1Marina Grande2Blue Grotto3Punta Carena4Marina Piccola5Faraglioni6Arco Naturale7Grotta Bianca
8Naples9Sorrento10Punta Campanella11Capri12Positano13Praiano14Amalfi
- 1Marina Grande
The harbor where the booked private tour starts and ends; a cable car climbs from the port to the Piazzetta.8
In Google Maps ↗ - 2Blue Grotto
Its entrance is partly under the sea, and you go in lying down in a rowing boat.910
In Google Maps ↗ - 3Punta Carena
The lighthouse on the island's southwest tip, a stop on many of the listings.
In Google Maps ↗ - 4Marina Piccola
A rocky beach on a turquoise sea below the Gardens of Augustus.11
In Google Maps ↗ - 5Faraglioni
Stella, the Faraglione di Mezzo with its arch, and the Faraglione di Fuori.12
In Google Maps ↗ - 6Arco Naturale
A photo stop on the booked listing, seen from the water.
In Google Maps ↗ - 7Grotta Bianca
One of the pale sea caves on the east side, a stop on the booked listing.
In Google Maps ↗ - 8Naples
The Gulf of Naples runs for over 200 kilometres from Monte di Procida to Punta Campanella.13
In Google Maps ↗ - 9Sorrento
A lift runs from the Villa Comunale down to Marina Piccola and the port.14
In Google Maps ↗ - 10Punta Campanella
The headland pointing straight at Capri, with a protected marine area.5
In Google Maps ↗ - 11Capri
An island with caves and sea stacks all round its coast.15
In Google Maps ↗ - 12Positano
The western end of the Amalfi Coast.1
In Google Maps ↗ - 13Praiano
Between Positano and Amalfi, with Capri in view on clear days.1617
In Google Maps ↗ - 14Amalfi
A Maritime Republic from the 9th to the 11th century.18
In Google Maps ↗
Checklist
Leaving Positano by boat
01
The night before
- Check the forecast and the sea
- Note the 24-hour free cancellation window
- Meeting time and pier from the confirmation
02
In your bag
- Swimwear, towel and a mask
- A light layer for the ride back
- Money for the grotto ticket, paid on the spot
Cost calculator
The shared days from Positano, for your group
Choose a shared day, then your number of travelers.
People
Total from$356
per person from $178
Check availabilityfree cancellationA total here is the listing's lowest GetYourGuide price times your headcount, turned into your currency at the ECB rate of the day; what you actually pay appears when you book.
Video
POSITANO VLOG ❥ dream hotel, beach clubs, boat trip to Capri & the best restaurants!!
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A small-group boat tour from Positano to Capri
Not everyone needs the boat to themselves. A small-group boat tour from Positano to Capri with a light lunch and drinks limits each departure to 12 participants and runs for 10 hours. It starts from $178 and is rated 4.64 from 412 reviews, with a live guide in English, Italian and Spanish.
Another full-day trip leaves from Positano, Praiano or Amalfi and runs for 8 hours, rated 4.63 from 616 reviews, from $172. Its listed stops are the Grotta Bianca, the Arco Naturale, the Faraglioni, Marina Piccola and Marina Grande. These shared days usually include time ashore on Capri, so you see the town as well as the coast.
Every boat from Positano shares the same sea, so the difference is the company and the clock. On a shared boat the timetable is fixed and the stops are the same for everyone. On a private boat you can linger at Li Galli, skip a crowded cave and swim longer where the water is clear. Price is the obvious difference; pace is the one you will feel.
Swims and coves near Positano
If the day allows, use the waters close to Positano too. Fornillo Beach, of pebbles and gravel, is reachable on foot and a snorkeling paradise for its seabed.19 On a gozzo, the traditional boat, you can ask to be taken to small coves such as La Porta, San Pietro Laurito and Arienzo.7 These make a gentle half day if the open crossing to Capri looks too rough.
On the way to Capri the swim stops depend on the skipper and the sea. Around the island, the stacks and caves have clear water, and snorkelers around the Faraglioni meet grouper and prawns.20 Bring a mask if your listing does not mention one, and ask the skipper where the water is calm before you jump in.
Part of this route runs through the protected marine area of Punta Campanella, where small motor craft must keep to 5 knots within 300 metres of the coast in zone B.21 It is the reason the boat sometimes slows to a crawl near the shore. Enjoy it: those slow minutes are when the cliffs, the caves and the color of the water show best.
Practical tips for a Positano departure
Positano is a vertical town, and the walk down to the pier takes longer than the map suggests. Leave your hotel with time to spare, wear shoes you can walk in on steps, and carry your beachwear in a small bag. The meeting time on your confirmation is when to be at the pier, which may be earlier than the boat's actual departure.
Pack sun protection, a light layer for the ride back and money for the Blue Grotto ticket, which is paid on the spot. The grotto can only be visited when the tides and the weather allow, so treat it as a bonus rather than the reason to go.22 A private skipper can adjust the day if it is closed.
Finally, check the forecast the evening before and keep your free cancellation window in mind: the listing we book allows cancellation at no cost up to 24 hours ahead. If the sea looks rough, a calmer day later in your stay is worth more than a bumpy crossing, and the coves near Positano make a good plan for the rough day.
Who should book a private boat from Positano
A private boat from Positano suits couples on a special trip, families who want to swim when they like and groups of friends who want the day to themselves. The boat leaves from the town you are staying in, follows the coast past Li Galli and gives you the island's caves without the crowd of a shared deck.
It suits photographers too. On a private boat you can ask the skipper to hold position for a shot of the Faraglioni or to come back to a cove when the light is better. That kind of freedom is hard to find on a shared day with a fixed timetable.
A shared or small-group day is the better choice if you want to spend time ashore on Capri or keep your budget in check. The small-group day from Positano includes a light lunch and drinks and limits the boat to 12 participants. Choose the boat by what you want to do with the day, not by price alone.
Your own boat
The caves and the stacks, just for you.
Pick a date, set your group size and cancel at no cost up to 24 hours ahead.
You ask,we answer.
How long is the private boat from Positano?
6 hours on the listing we book. Other private days from Positano run 4 to 7 hours or 7 to 7.5 hours.
Does the boat stop at Li Galli?
It passes the Sirenuses. The listing names the Sirenuses and Nerano before Capri; Li Galli are three islets in a marine reserve.3
Can I go to Amalfi instead of Capri?
The listing offers both. Its title is a private boat tour to Capri or Amalfi, so choose when you book.
Is there a small-group option?
Yes, limited to 12. A small-group day of 10 hours from Positano starts from $178.
Where does the boat leave from?
Check your confirmation. The listing names 4 possible starting locations.
What if the Blue Grotto is closed?
The boat goes on. Visits depend on the tides and the weather, and the rest of the coast is still there to see.22
Can I cancel for free?
Up to 24 hours ahead. You can cancel the private day without a fee until 24 hours beforehand.
Sources
Sources and evidence
- 1Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Positano↩
- 2Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Positano↩
- 3Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Positano↩
- 4Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Punta Campanella bewitched by the sirens of Ulysses↩
- 5Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Punta Campanella bewitched by the sirens of Ulysses↩
- 6Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Punta Campanella bewitched by the sirens of Ulysses↩
- 7Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Positano↩
- 8Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Capri, island of dreams↩
- 9Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Grotta Azzurra, Anacapri↩
- 10Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)La Fontelina↩
- 11Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Capri, island of dreams↩
- 12Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)La Fontelina↩
- 13Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Golfo di Napoli↩
- 14Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Sorrento↩
- 15Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Capri, island of dreams↩
- 16Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Praiano↩
- 17Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Praiano↩
- 18Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Amalfi↩
- 19Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Positano↩
- 20Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)La Fontelina↩
- 21Area Marina Protetta Punta CampanellaArea Marina Protetta di Punta Campanella: zonazione↩
- 22Italia.it (ENIT, Ministry of Tourism)Grotta Azzurra, Anacapri↩
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