REVIEW · SICILY
Favignana and Egadi Islands Boat Tour
Book on Viator →Operated by Mare Azzurro · Bookable on Viator
Boat days on the Egadi feel like borrowed sunshine. A small captain-led ride among Favignana and Levanzo turns Sicily’s sea into the main event, with stops for views, coves, and time on the islands. You start from Trapani at 10:00 am and spend the day balancing guided sightseeing with plenty of chances to cool off in clear water.
I really like two things most: the max 12 travelers setup (you’re not just another body in a crowd), and the way the day mixes swimming-worthy spots with actual island time. The included aperitif and fish lunch (plus coffee and soft drinks) also hit the right spot when you’ve spent hours in the sun.
One thing to factor in: this is weather-dependent, so the exact coves and cave stops can change. If the sea is rough, plans shift, and that can mean fewer specific photo moments than you hoped for.
In This Review
- Key things I’d clock before you go
- Favignana and Levanzo: why this boat day works
- Getting to the water: Trapani timing and the 7–8 hour rhythm
- Stop 1 on Levanzo: cold cove, rock stacks, and the commander’s plan
- What I’d expect on Levanzo
- Potential drawback on this stop
- Stop 2 on Favignana: Cala Rossa, Cala Azzurra, and the Bue Marino stop
- Why these Favignana coves matter
- The realistic downside
- Food and drinks: the included lunch is part of the point
- Practical tip for your stomach and your day
- What the small-group size changes for you
- Price and value: is $120.43 a fair deal?
- Weather realities: how the route can change
- Who should book this boat tour (and who shouldn’t)
- Should you book the Favignana and Egadi Islands boat tour?
- FAQ
- What time does the tour start?
- Where is the meeting point?
- How long is the boat tour?
- How many people are on the tour?
- Is there a mobile ticket?
- What stops are included?
- Are aperitif and lunch included?
- Is the itinerary fixed?
- What if weather cancels the tour?
- What’s the cancellation window?
Key things I’d clock before you go

- 12 travelers max keeps the pace personal and the questions answered
- Two island chapters: 2 hours on Levanzo, then Favignana with a village stop
- Swimming coves on the route: multiple stops where you can actually get in the water
- Sea-cave and rock features are part of the sightseeing, not just the coastline
- Included meal + drinks: welcome drink, aperitif, fish lunch, fruit, coffee, and soft drinks
Favignana and Levanzo: why this boat day works

The Egadi Islands feel close to Sicily, but they don’t act like typical nearby “quick stops.” What I like is that the day is built around the sea itself: golden sand, rocky coves, and views from water that you simply can’t get from a bus or a walking-only plan.
Favignana brings the most “classic island” energy. You get beach time, coves to swim in, and a village hour that helps you switch gears from boat mode to island mode. Levanzo is quieter and a bit more rugged in feel. Even without turning it into a long hiking day, you still get real shoreline variety—rocky formations and small landing spots that look like they were designed by nature for pause-and-stare moments.
Also, the tour is intentionally small. With a maximum of 12 people, the captain can adjust faster and keep the day feeling like a guided outing instead of a conveyor belt.
You can also read our reviews of more tours and experiences in Sicily.
Getting to the water: Trapani timing and the 7–8 hour rhythm

You meet at Via dei Gladioli, 15, in Trapani at 10:00 am, and the tour ends back at the same meeting point. Total time is listed as about 7 to 8 hours, which is long enough to feel like a full day, but not so long that you’re stuck in one place.
That timing matters because the day is structured in two chunks:
- First comes Levanzo (about 2 hours)
- Then the bulk of Favignana (about 5 hours, including around an hour in the village)
The practical takeaway: wear swim stuff under your clothes or be ready to change fast. You’ll be on and off the boat and in and out of the water during the ride, so plan for a day where comfort beats fashion.
Stop 1 on Levanzo: cold cove, rock stacks, and the commander’s plan
Levanzo is where the tour starts to feel more “wild” and less curated. You’ll spend about 2 hours there, and the specific shoreline sights can vary depending on weather—so think of this as flexible, live sailing rather than a rigid script.
From what’s described, you might see:
- Cold cove
- Rock stacks
- Customs cove
- And other spots the commander decides are best for the day’s conditions
That last part is important. This is an area where wind and sea state can change quickly. When the captain chooses the most comfortable approach for docking or swimming, you usually end up with a better experience even if it means you don’t hit every single “named” viewpoint.
What I’d expect on Levanzo
Levanzo isn’t presented as a long sightseeing march. It’s more about getting the feel of the island—small coastal features, brief but meaningful time on land, and then back to the boat while the timing still works for swimming and sailing.
Potential drawback on this stop
Because the tour is flexible, you shouldn’t book this expecting a guaranteed hit list of exact coves. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, some “signature” spots may not be the ones you see first.
Stop 2 on Favignana: Cala Rossa, Cala Azzurra, and the Bue Marino stop

After Levanzo, the day swings back toward Favignana with a longer stretch—about 5 hours total—built around a circuit of coves and a village pause.
The described highlights include:
- Cala Rossa
- Cala Azzurra
- Grotta del Bue Marino (also referred to as the Bue Marino stop)
- Plus a stop in the village of Favignana for about an hour
This is a smart balance. Many boat tours on islands go hard on scenery and forget that you might want a real moment off the water. That village hour helps you reset—walk a bit, look at everyday island life, and not only focus on waves and sunscreen.
Why these Favignana coves matter
Cala Rossa and Cala Azzurra are often mentioned together because they give you variety within a compact area: you get different water tones and shoreline vibes, and you get more than one chance to swim or simply float and watch the rock shapes drift past.
Grotta del Bue Marino is the “sea cave” element. You’re not going to experience it like a dry-land cave tour. On a boat, the value is in the approach—the way the coastline and rock formations frame the view.
The realistic downside
You’re on the water most of the day. If you don’t like being out in the sea for hours, this isn’t the best fit. I’d treat it as a water-focused plan, not a light “just cruise around” morning.
Food and drinks: the included lunch is part of the point

What surprised me (in a good way) is how much the food is treated like part of the experience, not an afterthought. The tour includes a welcome drink, an aperitif, and then a fish-based lunch with fruit, followed by coffee and soft drinks.
In the ratings, people specifically praise the lunch as plentiful and home cooked, with a local feel. That matches what I look for on island tours: enough food to actually satisfy you after you’ve spent hours swimming and sunning yourself.
Practical tip for your stomach and your day
If you tend to get a little queasy on boats, try not to show up hungry. Since you’ll be on the water early, a calm start helps. And because lunch is fish-based, it’s best to bring your “I’ll eat light but well” mindset rather than expecting something like a quick snack.
What the small-group size changes for you

Max 12 travelers doesn’t sound dramatic until you’re on a boat and you can feel the difference. For me, the biggest payoff is attention. The captain and mate can handle questions, help with getting organized for boarding, and adjust stops without the group turning into a logjam.
The reviews also highlight friendly staff—captain and mate come across as approachable, which matters a lot when the day is weather-driven. When plans shift, you want clear explanations and a steady hand at the wheel.
So if you hate the feeling of being rushed, this smaller limit is genuinely part of the value.
Price and value: is $120.43 a fair deal?

At $120.43 per person, you’re paying for a full-day boat outing plus included meals and drinks. That cost isn’t just “getting on a boat.” It’s also:
- guided navigation around the islands
- multiple stops for swimming
- an aperitif and fish lunch with fruit
- coffee and soft drinks
- small-group attention (12 travelers max)
When I judge value, I ask a simple question: would I pay for the boat even if the food weren’t included? If your answer is yes, then the meal and drinks make the price feel more reasonable. If your answer is no, you’re basically paying for a day at sea with included extras—still fun, but less of a bargain.
The fact that booking commonly happens about 21 days in advance suggests people plan ahead for limited spots. If you know your dates, I’d check availability early rather than waiting for a last-minute impulse.
Weather realities: how the route can change

This tour requires good weather, and the itinerary can vary depending on conditions. That means:
- the exact coves and cave approaches may shift
- what you see can differ from day to day
The good news is that the day isn’t a bust if conditions aren’t perfect. If the experience is canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
My practical advice: keep the rest of your schedule flexible. If you’ve booked tight connections or your whole trip depends on this exact route, pick a backup day nearby.
Who should book this boat tour (and who shouldn’t)
This tour is a strong match if you want:
- an Egadi Islands day focused on water views and coves
- small-group pacing
- a stop in Levanzo plus a longer hit of Favignana
- included lunch and drinks so you’re not hunting food on the fly
It’s also ideal for couples and small friend groups who like conversation and don’t want the “big boat, big crowd” feeling.
You might skip it if:
- you strongly dislike being out on the sea for most of the day
- you can’t deal with a schedule that adjusts to weather
- you want a museum-like sightseeing structure rather than beach-and-cove time
Should you book the Favignana and Egadi Islands boat tour?
If you’re deciding between a relaxed island day and a checklist-style itinerary, I’d lean toward booking. The strongest reasons are the 12-person cap, the mix of Levanzo + Favignana (not just one island), and the practical fact that lunch and drinks are included—so you can spend the day focused on swimming, scenery, and real breaks.
Book it if:
- you want multiple bathing stops in small coves
- you like the idea of sea caves and rocky features viewed from the water
- you appreciate home cooked, plentiful meal vibes
Consider holding off if:
- your dates are fixed with no flexibility
- rough-weather risk would stress you out
For most people planning Sicily’s west coast, this is one of those “pay once, enjoy the day” tours—less effort on planning, more time doing what the Egadi are best at: letting the sea set the pace.
FAQ
What time does the tour start?
The tour starts at 10:00 am.
Where is the meeting point?
You meet at Via dei Gladioli, 15, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy.
How long is the boat tour?
It runs about 7 to 8 hours.
How many people are on the tour?
The maximum group size is 12 travelers.
Is there a mobile ticket?
Yes, the tour uses a mobile ticket.
What stops are included?
The tour includes Levanzo (about 2 hours) and the island of Favignana (about 5 hours), with stops around the coves and time in the Favignana village.
Are aperitif and lunch included?
Yes. The tour includes an aperitif and a fish-based lunch with fruit, plus coffee and soft drinks. A welcome drink is also included.
Is the itinerary fixed?
Not fully. The route and coves can vary depending on weather conditions.
What if weather cancels the tour?
If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
What’s the cancellation window?
You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience’s start time.

























