Capri Private Tour from Positano – Motorboat 28ft

The best part of this private Capri tour is the freedom to see the island from the water without being tied to a ferry timetable. You cruise from Positano past small beaches and fishing villages, circle Capri, stop for a swim, and choose how to use your time at Marina Grande. I especially like the private boat for up to seven people and the chance to see the White, Green, and Blue Grottos in one day.

I also like the practical extras: snorkeling gear, towels, drinks, snacks, Prosecco, and local limoncello are included. Skipper Tony has been praised for keeping passengers comfortable, including finding shade when the boat was stopped. The main drawback is cost: the advertised group price is $1,157.60, then you add a €300 fuel fee, possible Blue Grotto fees, and lunch.

Key points at a glance

• A full Capri circuit from Positano: You see the Faraglioni, Punta Carena Lighthouse, White Grotto, Green Grotto, and Blue Grotto from the sea.
• Private space for up to seven: Your group controls the pace instead of sharing a crowded ferry or large excursion boat.
• Swimming is built into the day: Snorkeling equipment, beach towels, bottled water, soft drinks, and snacks are supplied.
• Three hours around Capri: Use the time for a seaside lunch, independent exploring, or a mix of both.
• Extra costs matter: Fuel costs €300, and entering the Blue Grotto costs €16 per person if conditions allow.
• Shade may be available: The boat used by one group had a canopy, but ask about shade when booking.

What this private Capri boat day is really like

A boat trip from Positano to Capri gives you two different experiences in one. The first is the ride itself, with cliffs, coves, beaches, and fishing villages passing by at water level. The second is Capri, where you can circle the island by boat and then choose between swimming, lunch, and time ashore.

The tour lasts about eight hours and uses a private 28-foot motorboat. That size gives your group a more personal outing, but it also means you should think carefully about comfort, shade, and space. You will be out in the sun for much of the day, although one group found that the boat had a shade cover and that Tony made an effort to position it well.

The boat leaves from the NLG ticket office on Via del Brigantino in Positano. You return to the same boarding point. You need to bring an ID, and the tour is available only when sea and weather conditions cooperate.

Leaving Positano for the Amalfi Coast

The opening section is short, but it sets the tone. Your skipper welcomes you aboard in Positano, then points the boat along the coast toward Capri. The first views are of Positano from the water, where the stacked buildings and steep shoreline make more sense than they do from a crowded street.

As you head west, you pass beaches at Tordigliano, Recommone, and Nerano. The listed cruising time for this stretch is about 50 minutes. That is enough time to settle into the boat, take photos, and watch the coast change from the vertical walls around Positano to quieter coves and small seaside communities.

This is also where a private boat has a clear advantage. You are not simply being transported from one port to another. The skipper can show you coastal spots along the way, and the group can enjoy the ride without sharing the deck with a large crowd.

The tradeoff is that a motorboat is an exposed experience. Wind, spray, and sun are part of the day. Wear a swimsuit under light clothing, use the supplied towel after swimming, and protect your phone before you start taking photos.

Seeing Capri from the water

The Capri portion is the heart of the excursion. The boat spends roughly two hours circling the island and stopping at notable points. You see the island from the sea first, which gives you a different sense of its cliffs, rock formations, and caves than you get from Capri’s roads and walking paths.

The skipper can stop in a bay for swimming. The tour includes snorkeling equipment, so you can look beneath the surface rather than treating the swim as a quick dip. Bottled water, soft drinks, snacks, and towels are also supplied.

I like this part because it adds real flexibility. You can swim when the water looks inviting, stay aboard if you prefer, or spend more time looking at the rock formations. The exact swimming spot depends on conditions, and the tour does not promise a particular bay, so keep your plans loose.

White Grotto, Faraglioni, and Green Grotto

The White Grotto is one of the first major cave stops as you come around Capri. Its pale limestone and bright water create a sharp contrast, with stalactites and stalagmites adding texture inside the cave. You view it from the boat, which keeps the stop simple and avoids the separate arrangements needed for the Blue Grotto.

Next come the Faraglioni, Capri’s famous three sea stacks: Terra, Mezzo, and Fuori. The rock arch of Faraglione di Mezzo is the feature most people wait to see, but the three formations work best as a group. Your boat can approach for photos and give you time to take in the scale of the rocks from the water.

The Green Grotto has a different mood. Light reflecting through the water creates a green glow inside the cave. The listed stop is about 20 minutes, so this is a viewing stop rather than a long cave visit. Keep your camera ready, but do not expect the boat to linger indefinitely if the sea is busy or conditions change.

These stops are included in the private boat rental. You are not paying a separate admission charge for simply viewing them from the boat.

Punta Carena and the Blue Grotto

On Capri’s western coast, the Punta Carena Lighthouse gives you a change of pace from caves and rock formations. Its red-and-white structure is easy to spot, and the lighthouse is described as one of Italy’s oldest. The stop is brief, about 10 minutes, but it adds a clear landmark to the circuit.

The Blue Grotto requires more planning. Its entrance is only about two meters wide and roughly one meter high, so visitors enter in small rowboats, with a maximum of four passengers per boat. You cannot simply take the motorboat inside.

If you want to go in, request the stop and pay €16 per person on site. The visit is not included in the tour price, and entry can depend on sea conditions. Allow up to an hour in the schedule for the Blue Grotto, including the transfer into the small rowing boat and the wait involved.

I would treat the Blue Grotto as an optional extra, not the reason to book the entire day. The outer coast, Faraglioni, and other caves already make the boat circuit worthwhile. If the Blue Grotto is high on your list, bring cash or a payment method accepted on site and expect the timing to be less predictable.

Three hours to choose your own Capri

The tour gives you about three hours around Capri for lunch or independent time. That is a useful block, since a private boat day should not feel like one long string of photo stops.

You can eat at a seaside restaurant reached directly by boat, or use the time to explore the island independently. Lunch is not included, so check prices before settling in. Dining beside the water can be a memorable part of the day, but it also increases the total cost quickly.

The alternative is to spend the time ashore. The supplied details do not specify a particular walking route, attraction, or amount of transport time on the island, so you should not plan a complicated land itinerary around this tour. Keep your plans realistic, especially if you also want to visit the Blue Grotto.

For many groups, the best use of these hours will be a relaxed lunch and a little wandering rather than trying to cover all of Capri. You have already spent much of the day seeing the island from the sea.

What is included, and what is not

The inclusions are well chosen for a day centered on swimming. You receive:

• Private boat rental for about eight hours
• An English-speaking professional skipper
• Snorkeling gear
• Beach towels
• Bottled water and soft drinks
• Soft snacks
• Prosecco and local limoncello
• Life jackets and other required safety equipment

Those details matter. You do not need to arrange separate snorkel hire, and you can have a drink on the return ride along the Amalfi Coast. The supplied refreshments also mean you can save your appetite for lunch in Capri rather than depend on a snack bar at the port.

The €300 fuel fee is not included and is paid by link or in cash aboard. That is the most important price detail to catch before booking. The Blue Grotto costs another €16 per person, and lunch and gratuities are extra.

The advertised rate is $1,157.60 per group of up to seven. At full capacity, the base price works out to roughly $165 per person before the fuel fee, but the exact per-person cost changes with your group size and exchange rates. For two or three people, this is a costly day. For six or seven people who value privacy, the arithmetic is more reasonable.

The skipper and the comfort factor

An English-speaking skipper is included, and Tony is one skipper specifically associated with this experience. His role is more than steering. On a private day, the skipper affects the whole rhythm of the trip, from when you stop to how much time you get at each point.

Tony has been praised for making the day fun, helping with photos, keeping drinks available, and handling shade thoughtfully. One group had been worried about having no shade but found a canopy on the boat and said Tony positioned the boat to help keep them comfortable.

That is useful information, but I would still ask about shade before you go. The tour uses selected boats, and the precise boat may vary. If you are sensitive to the sun, bring a hat, sunscreen, and a light cover-up rather than relying only on the canopy.

An especially practical detail is luggage storage. The operator helped one group store suitcases in a warehouse. This is not listed as a formal inclusion, so confirm it in advance if you are changing hotels or carrying larger bags.

Who will get the most from this boat tour

This trip suits you best if you want a full day on the water and prefer control over a fixed group schedule. Families, couples traveling together, and groups of friends can split the cost and choose how much time to spend swimming, eating, and exploring.

It is also a good fit if you want to see Capri but do not want the whole day to be an island walking tour. The caves and Faraglioni are the focus, and the boat gives you views that are impossible to get from the road.

I would think twice if your main goal is extensive sightseeing on Capri itself. Three hours is helpful, but it is not a full land visit once lunch, port access, and possible Blue Grotto time are counted.

You should also be comfortable with a long day in the sun and on a moving boat. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but the listing does not provide detailed information about boarding arrangements for every mobility need. Ask the operator before booking if that is important for you.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation normally arrives when you book, though a booking made within one day of departure may need extra time while availability is checked. The activity requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Your own cancellation terms are strict. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason if you cancel or request an amendment. That makes travel insurance or a carefully chosen date worth considering, especially during a season when weather can disrupt sea plans.

Bring your ID on the day. The meeting point is the NLG BIGLIETTERIA POSITANO on Via del Brigantino, and the trip ends there after the return cruise.

Should you book the Capri private tour from Positano?

I would book this if your group can share the cost and you want the Amalfi Coast and Capri connected by one memorable day at sea. The private format, swimming gear, refreshments, multiple cave stops, and three hours of flexible Capri time make it more than a simple transfer.

I would skip it if the €300 fuel fee makes the total uncomfortable, if you want a low-cost ferry ride, or if your priority is spending most of the day walking around Capri. Before paying, confirm the boat’s shade arrangement, the fuel charge, the Blue Grotto plan, and any luggage storage.

For a group of up to seven that values privacy, swimming, and a relaxed pace, this is a strong use of a day on the Amalfi Coast. Just budget honestly for the extras and remember that the sea, not a detailed land tour, is the main event.

FAQ

Where does the Capri boat tour depart from?

It departs from the NLG BIGLIETTERIA POSITANO on Via del Brigantino, 84017 Positano SA, Italy.

How long does the tour last?

The private boat rental lasts about eight hours, and the tour returns to the same boarding point in Positano.

How many people can join the private tour?

The advertised price covers one private group of up to seven people.

Is fuel included in the tour price?

No. A €300 fuel fee is paid by link or in cash aboard the boat.

Is the Blue Grotto included?

No. The Blue Grotto is optional and costs €16 per person, paid on site. Entry requires a separate small rowboat and depends on conditions.

What should I bring for the swimming stops?

Snorkeling equipment and beach towels are supplied. You should bring an ID, swimwear, sun protection, and any personal items you need for a full day outside.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered a different date or a full refund.