All the colours of Circeo: the San Felice Circeo boat trip, from one colour to the next
06 Italian Charter organises the San Felice Circeo boat trip on the yacht Blue, Baia 49: a half-day private charter with a crew of three on board, departing from Porto Badino, Oasi Della Nautica in Terracina, at one of the two available time slots, Morning Cruise or Afternoon Cruise.
Why explore the Circeo by boat: the Circeo caves seen from the sea
Viewed from the sea, the Circeo reveals its caves, the outline of the mountain and the dunes of Sabaudia, which remain hidden from the coast. The promontory juts out from the Pontine Plain like a failed island: 541 metres of rock plunging straight into the sea, within the Circeo National Park. Tradition places Circe here – the sorceress who, in the Odyssey, held Ulysses captive for a whole year – and the silhouette of the mountain, as seen from the open sea, still evokes that reclining figure. On the southern flank, travelling at a leisurely pace, one can make out the Circeo caves, which open out at water level all the way to the Capo Circeo lighthouse, whilst San Felice Circeo clings to the rock with its small harbour and watchtowers. Beyond Punta Rossa, the landscape changes colour: the golden dunes of Sabaudia come into view, with Lake Paola hidden behind the sand and watched over by Torre Paola.
The private charter boat trip around Circeo visits these spots without any shared stops: the Blue and Baia 49 remain for the exclusive use of the booked group, and the skipper chooses the anchorages and the order of the stops based on the day’s wind and sea conditions. No boat licence is required: the skipper, crew member and hostess/steward remain on board for the entire trip. For those wishing to spend more time at sea along this stretch of coastline, there is ‘Cape to Cape’, the full-day tour from one headland to the other.
The stages of your trip out to sea
The San Felice Circeo boat trip is a half-day excursion, from departure from Porto Badino to return, taking in the village, the caves, swimming in the coves and the dunes of Sabaudia.
Click to discover the stage
Leaving the Porto Badino canal behind
We board the Blue after meeting the crew and listening to the skipper’s briefing on the jetty at the Oasi Della Nautica. The engine roars to life, the bow cuts through the water, and the Porto Badino canal recedes behind us. The Circeo promontory is already ahead – the mountain plunging straight into the water, seven miles away. From here on, the course heads straight for the promontory at a cruising speed of 22 knots.
The silhouette of the enchantress Circe
The Circeo rises from the plain like a failed island: five hundred and forty-one metres of rock plunging straight into the sea. Tradition places Circe here, the sorceress who, in the Odyssey, held Ulysses captive for a whole year, and the outline of the promontory, seen from a distance, does indeed resemble a reclining figure. Blue passes beneath the cliff face, which towers over the boat, and for a few minutes the mountain and the sea seem to be one and the same.
San Felice Circeo as nobody else sees it
Blue arrives beneath the village, perched high on the rock: the village of San Felice Circeo, the little harbour and the pale houses clinging to the slope, with the cliff face rising behind them all the way to the summit. From land, you cannot imagine how beautiful it is when seen from the sea. The watchtowers, built centuries ago to spot the sails of pirates before it was too late, remain there, guarding the village’s skyline.
The lighthouse and the caves of the southern coast
The Blue sails along the southern flank of the headland at reduced speed, within the Circeo National Park: no concrete on the cliff face, Mediterranean scrub right down to the water’s edge and a row of Circeo caves opening out at water level. At the tip of the headland, the Capo Circeo lighthouse comes into view. Anyone wishing to get closer to the caves can take the tender down with the crew, and it takes you almost right up to them.
Sheltered beneath the cliff face
The engine cuts out in one of the coves along the southern coast, where the headland acts as a windbreak and the sea remains calm even when the wind is blowing outside. Above, the rock rises sheer; below, the seabed is visible right to the bottom. It’s the first dive of the day: forty minutes with the mask on, or simply floating and looking up at the cliff face.
Torre Paola and the dunes of Sabaudia
Blue dives past Punta Rossa and the landscape changes in an instant: behind lies the vertical cliff face of Circeo; ahead stretch kilometres of golden dunes running to the horizon, without a single house in sight. Torre Paola watches over the entrance to Lake Paola, hidden behind the sand, whilst the headland is now visible in profile. Here we slow down and gaze at the dunes of Sabaudia from the sea, doing nothing else for a few minutes. Then the bow turns towards the last swim of the day.
The deep blue of Punta Rossa
On the way back, we stop where the water is darkest and most beautiful: Punta Rossa, the western tip of the headland, where the reddish rock drops sheer and the seabed plunges abruptly. Here, the colour is no longer turquoise but a blue that seems almost thick. Diving mask, dives from the deck, the tender to get closer to the rocks: it’s the second swim of the day, deliberately saved for last.
With half a day still to go
The bow points eastwards and, in less than twenty minutes, the coast of Terracina reappears, with the Temple of Jupiter Anxur standing guard on the hill behind the town. We shake the salt off our bodies and look back at the day’s photos. We disembark at the Oasi Della Nautica, with half a day still to go.
The times shown are for the morning trip, the Morning Cruise: on the afternoon trip, the Afternoon Cruise, the whole schedule is shifted by six hours, with check-in at 2.00 pm and disembarkation at 6.30 pm. In both cases, one rule remains: the skipper adapts the route to the wind, waves and weather conditions on the day, and the order of the stops may also change for technical reasons.
PDF: the complete itinerary with timetables and stops
What’s included in the day
Hover over or click on the panels to open them
Yacht and skipper
Exclusive use of the Blue, Baia 49, with crew for a half-day, on one of two departures (Morning Cruise or Afternoon Cruise), departing from and returning to Porto Badino, Oasi Della Nautica in Terracina.
Find out more →On board
Cruising, stops for swimming, snorkelling on request, lunch and dinner bookable 24 hours in advance.
Find out more →On request
Hostesses, luxury cars with drivers, event catering, wine selection.
Find out more →Blue, Bay 49
Blue, Baia 49, is a 15.20-metre motor yacht built by Cantieri di Baia, fitted with twin inboard engines.
2 bathrooms · sun deck · air-conditioned lounge · no boat licence required
15.20 m
Overall length
12
People on board, including the crew
3
Cabins
6
Number of beds
On board with us
Who is this experience aimed at?
Couples
A half-day trip away from the crowded beaches of Circeo, with stops for a swim along the coast.
Families
Private boat with shaded areas, a toilet and seating areas for children and adults.
Groups and private events
Birthdays, anniversaries and stag or hen parties for up to 10 people on board.
The skipper stays on board all day, and none of the guests need to know how to sail the boat.
How much does it cost?
From €1,600
The final quote depends on the provisions, moorings and any extras agreed with the crew.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a private charter?
Yes, the boat trip is a private charter: Blue, Baia 49, is for the exclusive use of the booking group, with no other guests on board.
How long does the trip last?
The San Felice Circeo boat trip lasts half a day – four hours – and is available on one of two departures: the Morning Cruise from 8.30 am to 12.30 pm or the Afternoon Cruise from 2.30 pm to 6.30 pm. Guests are expected to arrive 30 minutes before boarding in the lounge area of the Oasi Della Nautica, where the skipper will hold a briefing before the trip.
Are swimming stops included?
Yes, swimming stops are included in the day’s programme, subject to sea conditions and the captain’s discretion.
Is snorkelling possible?
Yes, snorkelling is available on request during stops at coves.
Is food included?
A welcome glass of Prosecco and water are included throughout the trip. Lunch is not included in the basic price of the itinerary: you can arrange a galley service on board with the crew, or add the Dockside Aperitivo on request, featuring a spread curated by 06 Italian Charter.
What should I bring on board?
You’ll need a swimsuit and a light change of clothes for the return journey, a light jumper as it’s cooler on board than on land, soft shoes with light-coloured soles (as dark ones leave marks on the teak), sun cream, a hat and sunglasses, and a form of ID for going ashore. Beach towels, towels and slippers can be provided on request. For their safety whilst at sea, pets must remain ashore.
Can the itinerary change?
Yes: the order of San Felice Circeo, the passage around Capo Circeo with the Circeo caves, the swimming stop on the south coast and the dunes of Sabaudia beyond Torre Paola may vary depending on the weather and sea conditions, and it is the skipper who chooses the best sequence for the trip. Stops at anchor follow the rules of the Circeo National Park and the marine protected areas passed through: anchoring takes place only where permitted, in authorised waters, and 06 Italian Charter arranges the necessary authorisations before departure.
How many people can come on board?
Up to 10 guests, with an authorised capacity of 12 people on board, including the crew.
How much does it cost?
The quote for the San Felice Circeo boat trip depends on the options you choose in consultation with the crew: a bespoke catering package or the Dockside Aperitivo on board, the on-board wine and sparkling wine list, any extra time to extend the trip, and private transfer to and from Rome. Extras are settled on return to Porto Badino; for a quote, please message us on WhatsApp or give us a call.
Book your boat trip to San Felice Circeo
Private charter · three-person crew · departing from Porto Badino · half-day trip, morning or afternoon · aperitif and provisions available on request
Book your boat trip to San Felice Circeo with Blue, Baia 49, now: with a crew on board, from the village to the Circeo caves and on to the dunes of Sabaudia.