From Milazzo: Panarea and Stromboli Boat Trip by Night

About This Experience

The motorship leaves Milazzo at 11:00 and takes about an hour and a half to reach Panarea. You get around two hours ashore. San Pietro's lanes lead up to the church of San Pietro, and with the time available you can walk or take one of the island's small taxis to the Bronze Age village at Capo Milazzese and the cove of Cala Junco, or head for the beach at Cala degli Zimmari.

Leaving Panarea, the boat passes the islets of Basiluzzo, Spinazzola, Lisca Bianca, Dattilo, Bottaro and Lisca Nera, with the Panarelli and Formiche rocks, before docking at Scari on Stromboli. The listing gives about two and a quarter to two and a half hours here: enough to climb to the church square of San Vincenzo for the view of Strombolicchio, see the house where Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman stayed while filming, or swim off the black beach.

Back on board, the boat circles Strombolicchio and then moves under the Sciara del Fuoco, where it stops for about 30 minutes around sunset. If the volcano is active that evening you may see bursts of ash and glowing lapilli, but nothing is guaranteed and the sky may not be fully dark when the boat turns for home. Bring a warm layer, as the deck cools quickly once the sun has gone.

In high summer you are back in Milazzo between about 21:45 and 22:15. From 15 September arrival moves to roughly 21:00 to 21:30, and from 1 October to about 20:00 to 20:30. The landing tax is included in the ticket. A guide gives commentary on board while sailing, but there is no guide on the islands, so plan your own time ashore. Food and drinks are extra.

Highlights

• About two hours of free time in San Pietro on Panarea
• A route through the islets of Basiluzzo, Lisca Bianca, Dattilo and Bottaro
• Time ashore at Scari, with a swim possible off the black beach
• Strombolicchio from the water at sunset
• A stop of about 30 minutes beneath the Sciara del Fuoco
• Crossings by motorship, about 90 minutes between Milazzo and Panarea

What's Included

• ✓ Return motorship trip from Milazzo to Panarea and Stromboli
• ✓ Aeolian Islands landing tax
• ✓ On-board guide commentary while sailing
• ✓ Free time ashore on Panarea and Stromboli
• ✓ A visit by sea to Strombolicchio
• ✓ A stop of about 30 minutes off the Sciara del Fuoco, sea permitting

Not Included

• Food and drinks
• Guide on the islands
• Transport and parking at the port of Milazzo
• Small dog supplement of €10, paid at the Milazzo ticket office
• Gratuities

What to Bring

• Passport or ID card
• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen and sunglasses
• Comfortable shoes
• A warm layer for the evening crossing
• Cash for food and drinks ashore

Good to Know & Caveats

• Return times change with the season: about 21:45 to 22:15 in summer, 21:00 to 21:30 from 15 September and 20:00 to 20:30 from 1 October.
• The Sciara del Fuoco stop is timed around sunset, so the sky may not be fully dark; volcanic activity varies and explosions are never guaranteed.
• All stops and their length are subject to local ordinances in force on the day.
• The tour runs rain or shine; the sea decides whether the Sciara stop can go ahead.
• Only small dogs are allowed on board, for a €10 supplement paid at the Milazzo ticket office.
• It is a long day on a shared boat with many passengers, and the engine is noticeable below deck.

Meeting Point

Tarnav ticket office, Via dei Mille 17, Milazzo, by the port.