Egadi Private Tour: an exclusive day

Favignana and Levanzo make their strongest impression from the water: pale tuff cliffs, small coves, and clear shallows that shift from blue to green. This private day gives you time to swim and snorkel at several stops, rather than rushing straight between the islands.

I like that your group has its own skipper, so the day can feel personal, and that the price includes fuel, snacks, drinks, and snorkeling gear. I also like the stop in Favignana, where you can stretch your legs and choose a local restaurant for lunch.

The main consideration is the weather-dependent route. Wind and sea conditions can rule out some coves, and lunch is not included. At $886.99 for up to eight, the price makes most sense when you share it with a group.

At a glance

• Seven stops across two islands: The route includes Favignana and Levanzo, with several coves and swimming breaks.
• A private outing for up to eight: Only your group joins the tour, with a skipper included.
• Snorkeling gear, snacks, and drinks are provided: The tour also includes fuel and fees and taxes.
• Favignana has a land break: Spend about an hour at the port, where you can visit the village, see the old Florio tuna trap, or have lunch.
• The day starts in Trapani at 10:00 am: It lasts approximately six to nine hours and returns to the same meeting point.
• Sea conditions can change the plan: The skipper may need to avoid some usual stops on a windy day.

From Trapani toward Favignana’s blue coves

Meet at Columbus Yachting, Via Ranuncoli 1, in Trapani, for a 10:00 am departure. This is a private tour, not a shared boat excursion, so the people on board are your own group. The listed maximum is eight, a useful detail when comparing the cost with a standard per-person cruise.

The islands sit off Sicily’s western coast, and the boat route is built around coves, cliffs, and time in the sea. The itinerary names seven stops, though the actual order or choice of places may shift with conditions. One skipper, Marco, has been singled out by name in accounts of memorable outings; other named captains include Fulvio, Mike, and Mauro. You can ask about a preferred skipper when booking, but a particular captain is not guaranteed by the tour details.

Cala Azzurra and the first swim

The first stop is Scogliera Cala Azzurra, named for the strong blue color of its water. The planned stop is 40 minutes, enough time for a swim and a first look at the coast from the boat. Since this is an open-water outing, bring your swimsuit under your clothes if you want to get in without changing on shore.

The itinerary lists admission as free, as it does for each stop. In practice, these are natural places approached by boat, not ticketed attractions. That makes the day less about checking off formal sights and more about choosing where to spend time in the water.

Tuff cliffs at Grotta del Bue Marino

At Grotta del Bue Marino, the focus shifts from swimming to the island’s old tuff quarries. The pale stone cliffs meet the sea and create a dramatic setting, with about 30 minutes planned here. This stop adds a different texture to the day: the Egadi islands are not only pretty bays, but also working landscapes shaped by stone extraction.

The name includes grotta, or cave, but the description emphasizes the quarries and their sea-facing scenery. The route also includes caves elsewhere, and captains have been praised for taking groups to striking coastal spots. Still, the precise places you see depend on sea conditions and the skipper’s route.

Cala Rossa’s clear water

Scogliera di Cala Rossa is allotted 40 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. Its broad stretch of turquoise water is one of the tour’s main attractions, and the included snorkeling equipment means you do not need to bring your own mask and snorkel. If you are more interested in floating and looking around than swimming far, you can simply enjoy the water near the boat.

The sea is the star here, but do not assume every stop will be calm or suitable for a long swim. Wind can affect access to the usual spots. On a windy outing, the skipper may change the plan and make the best of the conditions, rather than follow the route exactly.

A shore break in Favignana

The boat moors at Favignana’s port for about an hour. You can use that time to walk around the village, visit the old Florio tuna trap, or sit down for lunch at one of the island’s typical restaurants. This is the one planned land stop, so it is a welcome chance to get off the boat and see a little of the island beyond its coves.

Lunch is not included, and the hour is short enough that it pays to keep your plans simple. If a restaurant meal is important to you, ask the crew for a recommendation and allow time to get back to the boat. Captains have helped groups find fresh seafood lunches, but the meal itself is an extra cost.

Levanzo’s harbor and Cala Fredda

After Favignana, the route heads to Levanzo, passing its imposing sea stack on the way toward the port and Cala Fredda. The planned harbor approach lasts about 40 minutes. The scale changes here: the island’s coastline feels quieter and more rugged, with coves that are best appreciated from the water.

Cala Fredda has a pebble beach and a seabed covered with Posidonia, a marine seagrass. The cove is described as reachable by swimming, so expect a water-focused stop rather than a straightforward stroll onto a sandy beach. The itinerary allows about 40 minutes. If you prefer not to swim, check with the skipper about the best way to enjoy the stop from the boat.

Pine trees above Cala Minnola

The final named stop is Spiaggia di Cala Minnola, another quiet cove on Levanzo. A pine forest overlooks the sea, lending the bay a different feel from the exposed cliffs and open-water stops earlier in the day. The planned time here is about 40 minutes, which gives you another chance to swim or relax before heading back.

The route’s repeated swim stops are a big part of its appeal, but they also mean you will spend much of the day on or in the water. If you want a tour centered on museums, long walks, or extensive time ashore, this is not the right fit. If you enjoy moving between bays and taking the day at sea, the sequence makes sense.

What the private format adds

A private boat day is a different proposition from a scheduled group cruise. You are not sharing the outing with strangers, and the skipper can respond to the conditions and the mood of your group. One family outing included a 76-year-old, two teenagers, and their parents; the captain was described as attentive, and the group appreciated a playlist suited to different ages. That is a useful sign that the trip can work for mixed-age groups, though individual comfort on a boat and in the water varies.

The skipper is more than someone at the helm. The strongest accounts describe captains who helped the group feel at ease, explained the islands, and suggested a good lunch stop. Marco is a name that comes up more than once, while Fulvio was praised for being thoughtful and speaking good English. The tour is offered in English, but a particular captain or style of commentary cannot be guaranteed.

Drinks, snacks, and the true cost

The listed price is $886.99 per group of up to eight. At full capacity, that works out to roughly $111 per person before lunch. For a smaller group, each person’s share rises, so compare the total against the value of having the boat and skipper to yourselves.

Fuel, fees and taxes, snacks, snorkeling equipment, and a selection of soft and alcoholic drinks are included. Drinks mentioned during outings include Prosecco and Aperol Spritz, though the precise selection may vary. Lunch, private transport to the meeting point, and a beach towel are not included. Towels may be available by reservation, so arrange one ahead if you need it.

The package’s value rests on the private boat, the skipper, and several hours on the water, rather than on a long list of included meals or transfers. If you are already staying in Trapani and can split the price among a full group, the cost is easier to justify. If you are traveling as a couple, it is a more expensive way to see the islands than a shared boat trip.

Timing, weather, and what to bring

The tour begins at 10:00 am and lasts approximately six to nine hours. That is a broad range, so leave room in your schedule afterward rather than planning a tight connection or dinner reservation. The listed stop times add up to about four hours and fifty minutes, with the remaining time for travel between places and the day’s running order.

Sea conditions matter. A windy day can make some familiar stops unsuitable, and a different cove or route may be used instead. If bad weather forces cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start; changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Pack swimwear, sun protection, and a change of clothes if you want one after swimming. A beach towel is not included, though one can be reserved. If you are prone to seasickness or have concerns about swimming, contact the operator before booking to discuss your needs; the tour information does not specify facilities or particular accommodations.

Who will enjoy this day most

This tour suits friends or families who want a shared day at sea and are happy to spend much of it swimming, snorkeling, and moving between coves. It is especially appealing if your group values a private skipper and would rather tailor the day around the sea than follow a large group’s fixed pace.

It is less suitable if you want a guaranteed route, extensive time on land, or lunch bundled into the price. You should also be comfortable with a long boat outing and the possibility that wind will change the stops. The operator says most people can participate, but that general note is not a substitute for checking whether the trip fits your own mobility and comfort needs.

Should you book the Egadi private tour?

Book it if your group wants a full day among Favignana and Levanzo’s coves, and you value privacy, swim breaks, and a skipper who can adjust to the conditions. The included drinks, snacks, snorkeling gear, and fuel help the price go further, especially with close to eight people sharing the cost.

Think twice if you are a small party focused on keeping costs down, or if a fixed itinerary and included lunch matter more than private time on the water. If you do book, ask about the skipper, towel reservation, and lunch options before departure, and keep your schedule flexible for a day that can last anywhere from six to nine hours.

FAQ

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $886.99 per group, for up to eight people.

How long does the tour last?

It lasts approximately six to nine hours.

Where and when does the tour start?

It starts at 10:00 am at Columbus Yachting, Via Ranuncoli 1, 91100 Trapani, Italy.

Does the tour return to the starting point?

Yes. The activity ends back at the meeting point in Trapani.

What is included in the price?

The price includes a skipper, fuel, fees and taxes, snorkeling equipment, snacks, and a selection of soft and alcoholic drinks.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You have about an hour in Favignana to visit the village, see the old Florio tuna trap, or eat at a local restaurant.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If the tour is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.