✦ Portofino · Italian Riviera › Private Boat Experiences

Private Sunset Boat Tour with Aperitif
in Portofino Gulf

★★★★★ 4.6 27 verified reviews ✓ Free cancellation ⚡ Instant confirmation 🔒 Private — no strangers

PRIVATE BOAT — UP TO 6 GUESTS

$242 /group

$121/person

for 2 guests — adjust below

Compare the value:
Dinner for 2 in Portofino ≈ $90–140
Group boat tour (shared) ≈ $45–65/pp
This private tour ≈ from $30/pp ✓

Choose Your Experience

Your Journey — Step by Step

18:30 · MEET YOUR CAPTAIN

Portofino Marina — Pier Check-In

Meet Captain Marco at the main pier. He'll give you a safety briefing, introduce the boat (a sleek 7.5m vessel), and answer any questions. No rush — the evening is yours.

18:45 · DEPARTURE

Head Toward Paraggi Bay

Glide out of the harbor into the Ligurian Sea. Paraggi Bay — one of the most beautiful bays in Italy — is just minutes away. The water here is a rare shade of turquoise.

19:10 · SWIM STOP

Hidden Cove — Snorkeling & Swimming

Anchor in a cove closed to public ferries. Snorkeling equipment provided. Swim at your own pace — take 20 minutes or stay longer. The captain knows where the fish are.

19:50 · APERITIVO

Italian Aperitivo Served On Board

The captain serves your aperitivo: Ferrari Trento Brut, Aperol Spritz, local Ligurian wines, and a platter of fresh focaccia, olives, and regional bites. Entirely private. No sharing with strangers.

20:30 · GOLDEN HOUR

Sunset Anchor at Portofino Headland

Drift to the captain's secret viewpoint — a spot in front of the Portofino headland where the sunset hits perfectly. Watch the sky turn orange and pink while the village lights begin to flicker on.

21:00 · RETURN

Back to Portofino Harbor

Return to the pier as the village lights up. Dinner reservations are easy from here — the captain can recommend the best spots within walking distance. Total experience: ~2.5 hours.

What's Included

✓ Included — no extras

✓Private boat — entire vessel for your group
✓Captain (English + Italian speaking)
✓Italian aperitivo board (focaccia, olives, bites)
✓Ferrari Trento Brut & Aperol Spritz
✓Ligurian wines, soft drinks & water
✓Snorkeling equipment & towels
✓Fuel surcharges
✓On-board restroom
✓Life jackets (all sizes including children)
✓Bluetooth speaker & sun canopy

✗ Not included

✗Gratuity for captain (optional — typically €10–20)
✗Dinner or lunch (evening tour, ends ~21:00)
✗Transport to Portofino marina

Note on gratuity: Not expected, but if the captain makes your evening special — which they usually do — €10–20 per group is appreciated.

Meet Your Captain

⚓

Captain Marco

Licensed Maritime Operator · Portofino, Liguria

12+Years sailing

4.6★Viator rating

27Reviews

100%Private tours

Born and raised in the Ligurian coast, Marco has been navigating these waters his entire life. He knows every hidden cove, every viewpoint for the perfect sunset, and exactly when the light hits the Portofino headland best. He handles all the seafaring — you just show up and enjoy.

🇬🇧 English

🇮🇹 Italian

🇫🇷 French (basic)

Practical Information

📍

Meeting Point

Portofino Main Pier (Calata Marconi). Exact coordinates sent in confirmation email.

🕐

Duration

~2 hours (Sunset Aperitif) · ~3 hours (La Dolce Vita) · ~6 hours (Full Day)

👗

What to Bring

Swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, light jacket for evening. Towels provided.

🌊

Accessibility

Suitable for non-swimmers. Children welcome with life jackets. Low boarding step from pier.

🚗

Getting There

Ferry from Santa Margherita Ligure (15 min, €5). Taxi from Rapallo or Santa Margherita (~€30). Limited car access to Portofino.

🍽️

Dietary Requirements

Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free aperitivo available. Mention at booking — the captain handles it.

⛅

Bad Weather Policy

Captain monitors conditions daily. If unsafe: full refund or free reschedule. Your safety comes first.

❌

Cancellation Policy

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure. Cancel via Viator — no questions asked.

Private Boat vs. Other Options

Feature	⛵ Private Boat (This Tour)	👥 Shared Group Tour	🚢 Public Ferry
Who's on board	✓ Your group only	15–20 strangers	100+ passengers
Route flexibility	✓ Captain adapts to you	Fixed stops	Fixed route
Swimming stop	✓ Anytime, any cove	One scheduled stop	✗ Not allowed
Aperitivo / food	✓ Included on board	Extra charge	✗ Not available
Snorkeling gear	✓ Included	Extra charge	✗ Not available
Hidden coves access	✓ Yes — restricted areas	✗ No	✗ No
Captain's attention	✓ 100% focused on you	Divided, 15–20 pax	✗ None
Price per person (8 pax)	$30	$45–65	$12–18
* Group tour pricing based on typical Portofino shared boat tours. Ferry price based on Golfo Paradiso ferry schedule.

What Guests Are Saying

4.6

★★★★★

out of 5.0 · 27 reviews

5★

75%

4★

18%

3★

2★

1★

VIATOR

All reviews collected and verified by Viator from guests who completed this tour

Emma & Tom R.

🇺🇸 Chicago · June 2026 · Honeymoon

June 2026

"Worth every cent — the sunset moment was unforgettable"

★★★★★

We anchored right in front of the Portofino headland just as the sky went completely orange. Marco set out the aperitivo — Ferrari Trento, fresh focaccia, local cheese — without us even asking. The whole thing felt like it was choreographed. We've done boat tours in Greece and Croatia. This is better. The privacy makes all the difference — you're not sharing the moment with 15 strangers.

✓ Verified Viator Booking

Marco V.

🇮🇹 Milan · May 2026 · Anniversary

May 2026

"As an Italian, even I was blown away"

★★★★★

I've been to Portofino many times — by car, by ferry, walking from Santa Margherita. I'd never seen it by private boat at sunset. Completely different experience. The hidden cove we stopped at isn't on any map. Marco anchored in a spot where the light was absolutely perfect. My wife was in tears. We booked through this site and had zero issues with the booking process on Viator.

✓ Verified Viator Booking

Hannah S.

🇦🇺 Melbourne · July 2026 · Anniversary

July 2026

"The 2-hour format is perfect — don't overthink it"

★★★★★

We were debating between this and the full day tour. Went with the 2-hour sunset. Perfect decision. Long enough to fully relax, short enough to have dinner in Portofino village after. Marco recommended La Stella — great call. We ended up extending our whole trip by 3 nights because of this experience. The Aperol Spritz on the water with that light... there's no equivalent in Australia.

✓ Verified Viator Booking

James K.

🇬🇧 London · August 2026 · Group of 6

Aug 2026

"$40/person for 6 of us — genuinely the best value of the trip"

★★★★★

Six of us did this for around $40/person total. We'd spent more on cocktails at the hotel bar the night before. Marco had the whole boat set up beautifully — Prosecco chilled, food laid out, music going. He took photos of our group with his phone and sent them over afterward. We tried to tip extra but he insisted the rate was fair. Book it, don't hesitate.

✓ Verified Viator Booking

Sophia & Luca B.

🇩🇪 Munich · June 2026 · Family of 4

June 2026

"Brought our 8-year-olds — they're still talking about it"

★★★★★

We were nervous about bringing kids on a boat tour but it couldn't have been easier. Life jackets for the children, plenty of space, Marco was patient and funny with them. Our daughter spotted a sea turtle during the swim stop. He let us stay an extra 20 minutes. Flexible, professional, genuinely kind. The aperitivo has a kids' version too — fresh juice and snacks. Perfect family memory.

✓ Verified Viator Booking

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this genuinely private? No strangers will be added?+

100% private. The entire boat is reserved exclusively for your group for the full duration. No other guests are ever added regardless of how large or small your group is. Just your people, the captain, and the Ligurian Sea.

What if the weather is bad on our day?+

The captain monitors sea and weather conditions daily. If conditions are deemed unsafe, you'll receive a full refund or a free reschedule — whichever you prefer. Additionally, free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure directly through Viator.

We're a group of 2 — is the full price $242 or $121/person?+

The $242 is the total price for the entire private boat — regardless of group size (1 to 8 guests). A couple pays $242 total ($121/person). A group of 8 pays $242 total ($30/person). The boat is yours either way.

Where exactly do we meet? How do we get to Portofino?+

Meeting point is Portofino Main Pier (Calata Marconi) — exact GPS coordinates are in your confirmation email. To get there: take a ferry from Santa Margherita Ligure (15 min, €5) or taxi from Rapallo (~€30). Note: private cars are restricted in Portofino village — ferry is the easiest option.

Why book through this site instead of going directly to Viator?+

This page links directly to Viator's secure booking system — the world's largest tour marketplace. You pay the exact same price, get the exact same Viator Money-Back Guarantee, and the same free cancellation. We simply help you find and evaluate the best private tours in the Italian Riviera before you book.

Can we bring food or our own drinks?+

Yes — the boat welcomes you to bring additional items. The aperitivo and drinks are included, but you're free to bring extra wine, snacks, or a birthday cake. Just mention it to the captain on arrival.