Amalfi Coast Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes
The Amalfi Coast’s compact geography makes it ideal for both day charters and extended voyages. Positano to Capri is just 12 nautical miles, Sorrento to Ischia 27 nautical miles, and the entire UNESCO-listed coastline from Positano to Vietri sul Mare barely 25 nautical miles. The itineraries below are designed to be combined: a guest looking at the 3-day and 4-day routes can stitch them together into a full 7-day Amalfi Coast charter without repeating a single stop. Every itinerary is fully customisable – your Boatcrowd charter specialist and onboard captain will tailor stops, pacing and activities to your group’s interests and the conditions on the day.
Day Charter Routes
Capri Day Charter: Blue Grotto, Faraglioni and Marina Piccola
Depart Sorrento or Positano by 9 a.m. and cruise to Capri (12–17 nautical miles, 40–60 minutes). Head directly to the Blue Grotto before the midday crowds build – your crew arranges the rowing-boat transfer while the yacht repositions. Circumnavigate the island slowly, passing the lighthouse of Punta Carena, the limestone sea stacks of the Faraglioni (pass through the natural arch by tender), and the imposing Villa Jovis where Emperor Tiberius ruled the Roman Empire for 11 years. Anchor at Marina Piccola for a swim in crystal water over white sand, then take the tender ashore for lunch at Da Luigi ai Faraglioni or ride the funicular to the Piazzetta for shopping and a cocktail with panoramic views. Return to the Amalfi Coast by late afternoon as the setting sun lights up the entire coastline in gold.
Li Galli and Positano Day Charter
Depart from Amalfi or Praiano and cruise west to the Li Galli islands – three private islets less than 4 nautical miles from Positano, where Homer’s Sirens allegedly lured sailors to their doom. Anchor in the sheltered water between Gallo Lungo and La Rotonda for a morning snorkel over rocky reef in crystalline water. Continue to Positano for a mid-morning arrival: take the tender ashore and climb the steep lanes past boutiques, ceramics shops and the famous handmade-sandal makers. Lunch at one of the beachfront restaurants on Spiaggia Grande – fried calamari, grilled octopus, a carafe of local Falanghina – with your yacht riding at anchor just offshore. In the afternoon, cruise east along the coast to the hidden Fiord of Furore (Fiordo di Furore), a dramatic narrow inlet flanked by 30-metre cliffs, for a final swim before heading back.
Ischia Day Charter: Thermal Springs and Aragonese Castle
Cruise from Sorrento or Procida to Ischia (17–27 nautical miles depending on your starting point). Anchor in the shadow of the Aragonese Castle – a medieval fortress perched on a volcanic islet connected to Ischia by a stone bridge, originally built in 474 BC and rebuilt by Alfonso of Aragon in 1441. Take the tender ashore and explore the castle complex (allow 1–2 hours). After lunch on the aft deck, cruise south to Sorgeto Bay, where natural volcanic hot springs bubble up through the rocks and mix with the cool sea – your crew knows exactly where to find the warm spots. Alternatively, head to the Giardini Poseidon thermal park for an afternoon of volcanic-spring pools (22 pools ranging from 15°C to 40°C, set in subtropical gardens). Return to your starting point in the golden late-afternoon light.
3-Day Amalfi Coast Yacht Charter Itinerary: Positano, Capri and the Li Galli Islands
Day 1: Salerno to Amalfi and Ravello
Board your yacht at Marina d’Arechi in Salerno by mid-morning. After a welcome briefing and a champagne toast on the flybridge, cruise west along the UNESCO-listed coastline – roughly 15 nautical miles to Amalfi town, a relaxed 50-minute run hugging the dramatic cliffs. Anchor off Amalfi and take the tender ashore to explore the 9th-century Cathedral of Sant’Andrea, its stunning Cloister of Paradise (a 13th-century arcade of interlaced Arab-Norman arches), and the narrow lanes of this former Maritime Republic. In the afternoon, drive (or take a taxi) up the winding road to Ravello, 350 metres above the sea. Visit Villa Rufolo – the 13th-century estate whose clifftop gardens inspired Wagner – and walk to Villa Cimbrone’s Terrace of Infinity for a sunset drink with what may be the most beautiful coastal panorama in Europe. Return to the yacht for a chef-prepared dinner on the aft deck: pasta e fagioli, grilled local fish, Delizia al Limone, and a bottle of Lacryma Christi del Vesuvio.
Day 2: Positano and Capri
Depart early and cruise 10 nautical miles west to Positano. The approach from the sea – pastel houses tumbling down cliffs to the grey pebble beach, the tiled dome of Santa Maria Assunta catching the morning light – is one of the great arrivals in Mediterranean yachting. Anchor offshore and take the tender in for a morning of boutique shopping, lemon-grove browsing and a mid-morning espresso at one of the terraced cafés. Cruise on to Capri (12 nautical miles, 40 minutes), arriving in time for a late morning visit to the Blue Grotto. Your crew arranges the rowing-boat transfer while the yacht repositions to Marina Piccola for lunch – a sheltered southern bay with water so clear it barely looks real over the white-sand bottom. Afternoon exploring Capri town: the Piazzetta, the Augustus Gardens with views down to the Faraglioni, the boutiques of Via Camerelle. Dinner at Il Riccio (two Michelin stars, cliffside above the Blue Grotto) or aboard your yacht, anchored in Capri’s harbour as the island’s lights flicker on.
Day 3: Li Galli, Nerano and Return to Salerno
Rise early for a morning cruise to the Li Galli islands – three private islets less than 4 nautical miles from Positano. Anchor between Gallo Lungo and La Rotonda and snorkel over rocky reef in crystal water that the morning light turns to liquid turquoise. Continue east to Nerano (Marina del Cantone), a quiet bay famous for inventing spaghetti con le zucchine alla Nerano in 1952 at Ristorante Maria Grazia – your chef might recreate it on the aft deck, or you can take the tender ashore for the original. After lunch, cruise along the coast past Praiano, Furore and Minori, arriving back at Salerno by late afternoon. Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine this 3-day route with the 4-day Ischia and Procida itinerary for a comprehensive 7-day Amalfi Coast charter covering the entire coastline plus three islands – without repeating a single stop.
4-Day Amalfi Coast Yacht Charter Itinerary: Ischia, Procida and the Bay of Naples
Day 1: Salerno to Sorrento and Massa Lubrense
Board your yacht at Marina d’Arechi in Salerno by mid-morning. Cruise north-west across the Gulf of Salerno to the Sorrento Peninsula – roughly 25 nautical miles, just over an hour at cruising speed. Anchor off Marina di Puolo, a small sheltered bay between Sorrento and Massa Lubrense with clear water and a sandy bottom, for a swim and your first on-board lunch. In the afternoon, take the tender into Sorrento’s harbour and walk the clifftop town: the main piazza, the lemon-tree-lined lanes, the views across the Bay of Naples to Vesuvius. Pick up Sorrento’s famous inlaid woodwork (tarsia) and sample the local limoncello, made from Sorrento lemons (a different PGI variety from the Amalfi variety, rounder and slightly less acidic). Return to the yacht for dinner on the aft deck as the lights of the Bay of Naples wink on across the water.
Day 2: Procida
A 22-nautical-mile cruise north across the bay brings you to Procida, the smallest and most unspoilt of the Bay of Naples islands. Anchor off Marina Corricella – the pastel-painted fishing harbour that featured in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Il Postino, and was named Italian Capital of Culture in 2022. This is one of the most photogenic harbours in the Mediterranean: peach, lemon-yellow and terracotta houses stacked above fishing boats on a quiet waterfront. Take the tender ashore and wander the car-free lanes, stopping for a granita di limone at a harbourside café. In the afternoon, cruise the short 3 nautical miles to Ischia’s eastern shore and anchor off Cartaromana beach, with views across to the Aragonese Castle. Dinner ashore at one of Ischia Ponte’s waterfront trattorias, with the castle lit up against the night sky.
Day 3: Ischia
Spend a full day exploring the Bay of Naples’ largest island. Morning at the Aragonese Castle – the imposing medieval fortress perched on its volcanic islet, with panoramic views from the ramparts. After a morning snorkel in the clear water around the castle’s base, cruise south around Ischia’s coast to Sant’Angelo, a car-free village built on a dramatic isthmus. Anchor in the sheltered bay and take the tender ashore for lunch at one of the harbourside restaurants. In the afternoon, walk (or taxi) to Sorgeto Bay, where natural volcanic hot springs bubble through the rocks and mix with the cool sea – you can soak in warm volcanic water while looking out at your yacht riding at anchor. Alternatively, visit the Giardini Poseidon thermal park for an afternoon of hot-spring pools and subtropical gardens. Your chef prepares dinner on the aft deck: ischiotto rabbit (coniglio all’ischitana, the island’s signature dish, slow-cooked in a terracotta pot with tomatoes, garlic and local herbs).
Day 4: Ischia to Amalfi Coast and Return to Salerno
Depart Ischia and cruise south-east back towards the Amalfi Coast. Stop at Punta Campanella – the rocky headland at the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula, a protected marine area with excellent snorkelling over Posidonia meadows and rocky reef. The name comes from the watchtower bell that warned of Saracen pirate raids. Continue east along the coast, pausing at Conca dei Marini to visit the Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto), a partially submerged cave where the water turns an intense emerald green from sunlight filtering through an underwater opening. Your chef lays out a farewell gourmet lunch on the aft deck as you cruise past Atrani (the smallest municipality in Italy, a tiny tangle of lanes and bridges wedged into a cliff) and on to Salerno, arriving by mid-afternoon. Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine this 4-day route with the 3-day Positano and Capri itinerary for a comprehensive 7-day charter – without repeating a single stop.
