Daily Boat Excursions:

The Aeolian islands are a beautiful archipelago made of volcanoes, blue seas and incredible nature. One of the best ways to visit them is to choose one of the many daily boat excursions departing from the port of Marina Corta. You have a vast option of choices but amongst all it’s important to keep in mind some aspects. For longer tours, such as Panarea/Stromboli or Alicudi/Filicudi it’s advisable to look for a bigger boat, with internal seating, because it might be cold or bumpy on the way back. For closer islands – Salina, Vulcano, Lipari – it’s best to choose a typical gozzo boat with maximum 10 people or you risk to lose the charm of this traditional vessel

PANAREA & STROMBOLI:

Daily excursions to Stromboli always include a stop on Panarea. The boat leaves Marina Corta between 12:00 and 14:00 (depending on the season and company), then you have a bit more than an hour and half to walk around Panarea. You can either opt for coffee and shopping at the port or take a walk to the ruins of the Village of the Bronze Age at Punta Milazzese, dating back to the  XV-XIII century. It takes about 40 minutes to walk from the port or you can get a ride with one of the local taxi drivers.

Once back on the boat, off you go towards the North. Gradually you see the island rising majestically with its conical shape in the midst of an infinite blue. Stromboli is the farthest island from the Sicilian coast and just navigating towards it one can only feel a reverential fear.The boat leaves you on the island for a couple of hours then, on the way back, it stops on the northern coast, where you find the famous Sciara del Fuoco. There is nothing more charming than enjoying the sunset and watching out for possible lava explosions from the crater! Yes because Stromboli is a very active volcano and it typically erupts always on one side, making it an incredible adventure if you are stopping in Lipari. The boat comes back between 21:00 and 00:00 (always depending on season and company) and there is also the possibility to book the climb to the crater.

ALICUDI & FILICUDI:

The wildest and most primitive islands of the archipelago, unmissable for those seeking real off the beaten tracks. Twin sisters in soul, these islands can be considered one of the last places where the balance between man and nature appears frozen in time. To inhale all the beauty which overwhelms this lost land we recommend to walk as much as you can, so bring your gym shoes this time! Typical white Eolian houses, white cubes with large terraces decorated with columns (called pulere) facing south-east, olive trees, capers, children’s laughter, boats pulled dry on a strip of pebble beach, the scent of heather and lavender in the sun. These are the images that capture the eye as soon as you reach these islands.

The best way to enjoy Alicudi and Filicudi is definitely via boat trip. Excursions depart from Marina Corta around 9.30 am and return back to the port around 6.00 pm. Always have a look at the weather forecast, because in case of Maestrale or Scirocco wind it will be impossible to sail. 

SALINA:

Salina is famous for being the “green island” and its luxuriant naturalistic landscape fully proves this point. The uncontaminated spaces make the area an ideal place for the life of animals and plants: wild rabbits, dormice, small reptiles and lizards inhabit the green land spaces. 

To visit Salina you have two options: take a Liberty Lines hydrofoil or enjoy a boat excursion from Lipari. In the first case you will be able to choose independently what you want to see but won’t enjoy the incredible views you have with the boat excursions. If you have time, do both! One day enjoy the towns, book a wine tasting tour, take a coffee in the charming Malfa and come back at sunset with one of the last ferries. The other day, choose the boat excursions departing at 10 am from Marina Corta. After a stop close to the Pumice Mines in Porticello, the boat sails towards Pollara, where you can swim in an incredible place. After a stop at Lingua, for a granita at Alfredo’s, the boat will sail back towards Lipari passing from the other coast so you will also be able to make a complete boat tour of Lipari too! At 5 pm you will be back in Marina Corta getting ready for a glass of wine on Villa Sea Rose’s Rooftop Lounge. 

VULCANO:

Considered the ancient seat of the god Vulcan, from which it took its name, the island is part of a massive volcanic apparatus that extends mostly under the sea: the emerging part is the oldest, apparently formed over 100,000 years ago. The black, yellow and red of the volcanic rocks, in contrast with the green of the surrounding vegetation and the classic smell of sulfur, contribute to giving this island a veil of mystery, encouraging the visitor to venture to its discovery. 

You can opt for both boat excursions and hydrofoils but what you shouldn’t miss is climbing the crater. It’s a gradual one hour walk up to the top, where you can look into the crater and believe to find yourself on another planet, made of barren rock and smoking fumaroles. And in front of you the beauty of the other six Aeolian Islands. Another option is strolling over to the mud baths (the famous Fanghi di Vulcano) with therapeutic properties and immerse yourself head-to-toe in this stinky yet healing mud pool. Once you have ticked the mud baths from your list, head to Sabbie Nere, the nearby black sandy beach. As for Salina, daily boat excursions depart at 10 am from Marina Corta and return at 5pm, just in time to have a last swim down at the beach close to Villa Sea Rose.