Puglia boat trips: the best adresses to rent a boat
Are you currently on holiday in the south of Italy? I've come up with the best boat hire addresses in Italy, and more specifically in Puglia! Whether you've got a boating licence or not, you'll be able to sail and admire the coastline! As my husband's family is originally from Salento and we spend all our summers in the region, we've already had the chance to try out lots of places and can share with you our list of favourite service providers in the region! It's sure to be a wonderful day at sea! Let's discover the best adresses for Puglia boat trips!
Where can I rent a boat in Puglia?
As I explained in this article, Puglia is divided into three main tourist regions: Salento (the southern part, below the town of Lecce), the Itria Valley (between Bari and Lecce), and Foggia (north of Bari). On the left side of the boot (from Taranto to Sant Maria di Leuca) is the Ionian Sea. On the other, from Foggia to Santa Maria di Leuca, is the Adriatic Sea. The landscapes change dramatically from one side to the other.
- On the Ionian side, the coast is relatively flat, with endless white sandy beaches and shallow waters (part of the region is even known as the Maldives).
- On the Adriatic side, on the other hand, the coast is very impressive from the sea, with impressive rocks, very deep and colder waters, and very few sandy beaches. It's up to you to choose which side you prefer to discover!
Boat hire is very common in Italy, with lots of companies offering it, but here are my top addresses in Puglia. You should also be aware that the weather is very different from one side to the other. If the weather is bad on the Adriatic coast, there's a good chance it'll be beautiful on the Ionian coast!
As my family is originally from Salento, the boat tours I'm going to suggest are all concentrated on the Adriatic coast. This is the part I know best and in my opinion the most interesting part of a day's sailing in Puglia!
Puglia boat trips: rent a boat in Castro
We hire boats here every year. These are boats without a licence that you can hire for a day or half a day. Even though they're licence-free boats, I can assure you that they're very fast and you can take a great trip along the Italian coast! We recommend heading up the coast towards Otranto, where the scenery is sumptuous and you'll find plenty of coves where you can moor your boat and swim. You can also find other excursion options on their website.
- Price: €120/boat for 4 people for half a day, fuel included.
- Booking: +39 3284389963 or +393282706533
- Website: https://www.escursionisudestsalento.com/
A sailing trip around Monopoli
If you're staying further north in Puglia, particularly in the Itria Valley, I recommend you take part in this excursion: discover the crystal-clear waters of the Adriatic coast and the caves of Polignano a Mare by sailboat! For 3h30 you'll discover the most beautiful areas of the coast accompanied by an English and Italian speaking skipper. You'll even receive a small aperitif! A real treat. If you'd like to explore the town of Monopoli or Polignano A mare after or before your excursion, I'll give you my top restaurants in this article.
- Price: €100 for 7 people for 3h30
- Online booking only
Boat trip around Otranto
Limestone cliffs, unreal coves, turquoise waters, an aperitif with typical products... this is one of the trips I'd really recommend! The excursion lasts 4 hours, with skipper and aperitif on board. It's well worth the effort, because you'll get to places you can't get to by land! With this boat trip in Italy, you can either set off along the north coast of Otranto or along the south coast. Both are worthwhile, depending on what you've already been able to discover by land and how much time you have in the region. If your time is limited, I'd recommend going north of Otranto.
- Price: €90 per adult
- Online booking only
I hope this article has convinced you to hire a boat and set off on an excursion along the Adriatic or Ionian Seas! If you have any other questions about boat hire in Italy, don't hesitate to ask them in the comments section. And if you are convinced by my favorite adresses, enjoy your Puglia boat trips!
