Organizing an excursion to the Blue Grotto of Capri: how to reach it and what to see
The Blue Grotto is one of the most popular destinations for tourists who go to Capri. It is a place able to enchant visitors from all over the world thanks to the magical atmosphere it can transmit, and for this reason it is an unmissable stop if you are on vacation on this island or in another location on the Amalfi Coast.
Organizing an excursion to the Blue Grotto, perhaps during a boat tour, is an opportunity to be fascinated by this historic site, already famous in Roman times, but which only returned to life in the nineteenth century after a long period of decline. Let’s discover together the history and legends related to this natural cavity, and all the useful information to visit it, from the opening hours to the ticket price.
Excursion to the Blue Grotto of Capri: how to reach it, what to see and how much the visit costs
Continuing with the reading, you will find many useful information on how to organize an excursion to the Blue Grotto, an essential destination for those lucky enough to spend a holiday in Capri or on the Amalfi Coast. In fact, there are many caves that can be admired during a stay in this area (another very popular destination, not far from Amalfi, is the Emerald Grotto).
In addition to many curious details, we will explain how to reach the cave safely – perhaps by relying on one of the Sorrento Trips boat tours – what you can see during the visit and how to access the site.
Blue Grotto: history, legends and beauties of this enchanted place
The Blue Grotto is a natural cave located in Anacapri (one of the two municipalities of the island of Capri) and its name derives from the splendid blue colour that can be admired inside, caused by a particular effect that we are going to explain in a little while.
The charm that characterizes it is also due to the history that accompanies it. The Blue Grotto, in fact, was already known in Roman times and above it is the imperial villa of Demecuta, built by the Emperor Tiberius.
Used in this era as a nymphaeum (inside, in fact, statues dedicated to pagan gods were found), after the Roman period the cave was forgotten, and a veil of mystery fell over it. This is because, according to popular legends, the place was haunted by evil spirits and the locals, therefore, kept away from them.
Only in 1826 the painters August Kopisch and Ernst Fries, accompanied by the fisherman Angelo Ferraro, decided to go inside, regardless of the stories that were told, and discovered this beautiful cave which, since then, has become a destination for excursions by tourists from all over the world.
What to see in the Blue Grotto
The Blue Grotto is about 60 meters long, has a length of 25 and a depth ranging from 14 to 22 meters. The average height of the cave is 7 meters, but in some places it even reaches 14.
As we will see, given that the entrance is just one meter high, it is possible to visit this natural cavity only with special rowing boats.
Once inside, you will find yourself inside the so-called Blue Cathedral, the main room of the cave. Inside, in the darkness, you will be fascinated by the blinding blue that characterizes the water, a phenomenon due to a refraction effect of light: from a submerged entrance, in fact, the rays of the sun penetrate and illuminate the cave with this typical blue colour.
From the Blue Cathedral several other tunnels start, mostly unexplored and, probably, connected with the nearby Grotta dei Guarracini.
Next to the platform built by the Romans as an internal landing point, there is also the “Gallery of the Pillars” which reaches the “Hall of Names”, so called because of the signatures that old visitors left on the walls. At this point the cavity narrows more and more up to the “Corrosion Room”, where the explorable part of the gallery ends, as the air becomes more and more unbreathable.
How to reach the Blue Grotto of Capri and organize an excursion
The opening of the Blue Grotto to the public depends on the weather and sea conditions. In winter the site is rarely accessible, but if the weather allows it, it is not excluded that it is.
How to reach this place of interest? If you are in Anacapri you can reach the cave on foot, starting from the center and passing through via Pagliaro and via Grotta Azzurra (the road is about 3 and a half kilometres long). Alternatively, you can take the bus that leads up to the staircase leading to the site’s entrance.
If you are not in Anacapri, however, a practical and safe way to reach the cave is to rent a boat. Sorrento Trips, for example, a tour operator specialized in the rental of boats, scooters and convertible cars, that offers boat tours that allow you to explore the Amalfi Coast and all the major points of interest, including the Blue Grotto.
With the Capri Tour you can get to Capri in a fun way, discover the island and visit the most significant places, including this splendid natural cavity. Another option is to book a trip to Capri and Positano, thanks to which you will also have the opportunity to admire the wonders of the so-called “vertical city”.
The advantage of private tours like these is the possibility of having the boat at your disposal to enjoy an unforgettable day with family, friends or partner. The boat is guided by a skipper, which is included in the rental price, as well as a travel insurance, 24-hour assistance from the Sorrento Trips staff and other convenient services such as snorkelling equipment and a well-stocked minibar.
If you are traveling alone or you want to save some money on the price, why not choose a group tour to Capri? Also in this case you will have the opportunity to spend 8 hours of pure fun discovering the island and its most famous attractions, including the Blue Grotto, the White Grotto – characterized by white stalactites and stalagmites – and the Green Grotto, which has this name thanks to the emerald green reflections. Also known as the “Cave of the Turks”, the play of colours inside it change depending on the time of day and weather conditions.
How to visit the Blue Grotto of Capri and how much the ticket costs
During the tours provided by Sorrento Trips, it is therefore possible to reach the Blue Grotto. The skipper will stop the boat at the entrance to the site because, as anticipated, inside you can only go aboard small rowing boats led by local expert boatmen.
Once you reach the cave, therefore, you will have to get on one of these boats and pay the ticket at the box office at the entrance (reservations are recommended, since there is usually a lot of visitors). Furthermore, upon entering, you will be asked to lie down on the bottom of the boat precisely because the access is small.
The visit is not included in the Sorrento Trips rental price and must be paid directly on site. The full ticket costs around 14 euros. The cost of the ticket must then be added to the cost of the boat that allows the excursion, which has its own ticketing.
The whole visit lasts about 5 minutes, but it represents a unique experience, absolutely not to be missed.
What you cannot do while visiting the Blue Grotto
We are sure that the water, with its almost transparent appearance, will make you want to dive in. However, bathing in the cave is absolutely forbidden: both swimming and bathing during the excursion are not allowed.
Moreover, given the small entrance, entering this cavity while swimming can be very dangerous: in fact, a slightly higher wave is enough to risk hitting the rock. For this reason, the visit can only take place in the established manner, with small boats led by authorized rowers.
During the excursion you cannot stick your head and arms out of the boat and bring accessories such as life jackets and armrests with you. Children under 14 must be accompanied and pets are not allowed.
During the tour in the Blue Grotto, it is recommended to wear non-slip shoes or, at least, laced shoes that have a flat sole. It is also good not to forget the sunscreen, especially since the wait at the entrance can be long in periods of greater tourist influx.
The opening hours of the Blue Grotto
The opening hours of the Grotto are from 9 to 17 (from 1 April to 31 October) and from 9 to 14 (from 1 November to 31 March).
However, as we have said, in winter the cave is often closed due to adverse weather conditions, such as wind and rough sea. The times themselves may change according to the situation of the sea and the weather, often unpredictable.
Boat tour: a unique opportunity to explore the Blue Grotto and the Amalfi Coast
Without any doubts, touring the Amalfi Coast by boat is a fun, original and safe way to experience the charm that this land can offer. By renting a boat with Sorrento Trips, in particular, it will be possible to reach the most important attractions, from the Blue Grotto to the Pompeii excavations, for an experience to be always remembered.
The options made available by the tour operator are many to meet everyone’s needs, both in terms of budget and destinations.
In addition to Capri, for example, it is possible to rent a boat with a skipper to admire the beauties of Ischia, visit Amalfi, Positano and discover the many things to see in Procida, the Italian Capital of Culture 2022.
You could then take advantage of a private tour to be amazed by Pompeii, the city overwhelmed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD: by renting the boat for a trip to Pompeii and Capri, you will arrive at the port of Marina di Stabia and, with a transfer , you will reach the famous excavations. Later, after this journey back in time, you will return on board to set sail for the island of Capri.
Sorrento Trips private tours are also very popular for organizing romantic wedding proposals on a boat (with an itinerary chosen according to your preferences) or to experience an unforgettable honeymoon.
The alternative to the boat tour: renting a rubber boat
However, renting a boat is not the only option. Another interesting solution, especially for those who wish to manage their own trip independently, is the rental of a rubber boat. In this case, in fact, you will be driving the boat: you will then organize the trip as you prefer to reach all the destinations you want. The skipper is present only on request and with an extra charge.
Sorrento Trips offers different models of inflatable boats, all comfortable, spacious and equipped with the necessary safety standards. Many of them can also be driven without a boat license, as the engine does not exceed 40 horsepower, a limit beyond which this requirement is instead necessary.
If you would like more information on rubber boat rentals or boat tours, you can contact the Sorrento Trips staff directly, who will be happy to provide you with all the details you are looking for.
Furthermore, keep in mind that there are many way to visit the coast, in particular to comfortably reach the villages and the numerous beaches.
Do you want to know more about how to get around? Find out how to get around the Amalfi Coast by bike, the most beautiful itineraries on the coast to do by car and the unmissable routes on two wheels!
