From Tropea: Lipari Panarea Stromboli Night Cruise

About This Experience

The boat boards at Vibo Marina at 8:20am and at Tropea an hour later, at 9:20am, then crosses to Lipari, arriving at Marina Corta around noon. You have about two hours there, enough for lunch, a walk through the historic centre and up to the castle, or a visit to the Archaeological Museum. An optional boat trip around Lipari's sea stacks, the Grotta del Cavallo and the Pools of Venus is offered for €10.

Leaving Lipari around 2:15pm, the boat reaches Panarea at about 3pm and lands passengers at the port of San Pietro. The stop runs until about 4:30pm, which leaves time to walk round the village, do some shopping or have a late lunch if you skipped it on Lipari. It is the shortest of the three landings, so it suits a stroll rather than a trip to the far end of the island.

Stromboli follows at around 5:15pm, landing at Scari, and this is the longest stop, about three hours. You can walk up to the village of San Vincenzo, spend time on the black sand beach and swim in deep water, then have dinner before re-boarding at about 8:15pm. The boat then sails past Strombolicchio and along the coast to the Sciara del Fuoco for a 30-minute stop, when explosions may be visible if the volcano is active that evening.

The return reaches Tropea around 10:30pm and Vibo Marina around 11:30pm. Food and drink are not included; you can bring a packed lunch or buy from the snack bar on board. Live commentary runs through the day, and reviewers note that more of it is in Italian than in English or German. Several travellers describe the day as tiring, so it suits people who are happy to spend long stretches at sea.

Highlights

• About two hours on Lipari, from Marina Corta to the castle and museum
• Optional €10 boat tour of Lipari's sea stacks and the Pools of Venus
• Free time in San Pietro, Panarea's harbour village
• About three hours on Stromboli, with the black sand beach and San Vincenzo
• Sailing past Strombolicchio on the way to the Sciara del Fuoco
• A 30-minute stop off the Sciara del Fuoco at nightfall, sea permitting

What's Included

• ✓ Return boat trip from Vibo Marina or Tropea to Lipari, Panarea and Stromboli
• ✓ Assistance with check-in at the port
• ✓ Crew on board
• ✓ Live commentary during the cruise
• ✓ Sea sightseeing stop of about 30 minutes off the Sciara del Fuoco
• ✓ Third-party liability (RC) insurance

Not Included

• Aeolian landing tax (€5 from June to September, €2.50 from October to May), paid before boarding
• Food and drinks (packed lunch allowed; snack bar on board)
• Local tour guide ashore
• Optional €10 boat tour around Lipari
• Swimwear and towels
• Gratuities

What to Bring

• Passport or ID card
• Swimwear and beachwear
• Towel
• Sunscreen and a hat
• A warm layer for the late return crossing
• Cash for the landing tax and island purchases

Good to Know & Caveats

• If bad weather or a change in directives stops the trip, it is rescheduled to the nearest available date.
• All times are approximate, and the Sciara del Fuoco stop depends on sea conditions.
• Volcanic activity varies, so explosions are never guaranteed.
• Parents of children under three should weigh the heat and length of the day; for babies under one, contact Comerci Navigazione before buying tickets.
• Dogs are allowed with prior permission, and strollers should be declared in advance.
• Umbrellas and other bulky beach gear are not recommended on board.

Meeting Point

Comerci Navigazione boarding point, Viale Raf Vallone, Tropea port; the boat also boards an hour earlier at Vibo Marina port.