5 Hidden Gem Boat Tours and Water Sports in Portofino

Most travelers who visit Portofino stick to the same handful of well-worn paths: they wander the pastel harbor, snap photos of the iconic pink church, and queue up for overpriced spritzes at waterfront cafes that cater almost exclusively to day trippers. It’s a pretty spot, for sure, but it’s only a tiny sliver of what this stretch of Ligurian coast has to offer.

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If you’re willing to skip the crowded main ferry docks and turn down the offer of a generic group yacht tour, you’ll find a whole world of low-key, unforgettable water experiences tucked along the peninsula and the nearby islands. These five hidden gem boat tours and water sports are the kind of local secrets you’ll only hear about if you chat with a fisherman at the small morning market or strike up a conversation with a regular at a hole-in-the-wall focaccia shop.

1. Guided Snorkel Tour of the Portofino Protected Marine Reserve’s Secret Coves

The Portofino Protected Marine Reserve is famous for its clear, calm waters, but most visitors only snorkel the two main coves right off the main harbor, where you’re constantly dodging other swimmers and anchored yachts. The small local cooperatives that run reserve tours have access to half a dozen tiny, unmarked coves along the reserve’s less visited western edge, where the fish are thicker, the rock formations are more dramatic, and you’re almost guaranteed to have the water to yourself.

These trips are led by marine biologists who can point out the small, bright nudibranchs and tiny seahorses that hide in the seagrass, and they provide all the gear you need, including waterproof maps of the coves so you don’t get turned around. It’s perfect for first-time snorkelers, families with young kids, or anyone who wants to see the coast’s underwater life without the chaos of the main tourist spots.

• Best time: Book for late May or early June, when the water has warmed up to a comfortable 68°F (20°C) but the summer crowds haven’t arrived yet, so the coves are quiet and the fish are more active.
• Booking tip: Skip the big harbor kiosks advertising reserve tours, and book directly with the cooperative that operates out of the small wooden stand near the Portofino train station. They cap all groups at 8 people, so you won’t be stuck on a boat with 20 other snorkelers fighting for space in the water.

2. Sunset Paddleboard Excursion to the San Fruttuoso Abbey’s Quiet Beach

Most visitors to Portofino take the big, crowded public ferry to see the 11th-century San Fruttuoso Abbey, but there’s a far quieter, more magical way to reach it: a casual paddleboard trip timed to arrive right as the sun dips below the coastal hills. The route starts from a tiny, unmarked beach just outside Santa Margherita Ligure, and you’ll glide past small fishing boats and quiet rocky outcroppings as you make your way to the abbey’s secluded pebble beach, which is almost empty by late afternoon.

You don’t need any prior paddleboard experience to do this trip—the guides give you a 10-minute crash course before you head out, and the water along the route is almost always calm, even if there’s a light breeze. It’s ideal for couples looking for a low-key romantic activity, solo travelers who want a quiet way to take in the coast, or anyone who hates being stuck on a ferry with a group of loud day trippers.

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• Best time: Late July to early September, when the water is at its calmest at sunset and the air is warm enough that you won’t get cold if you fall in (which most people do at least once, and it’s part of the fun).
• Booking tip: Reserve your spot at the tiny surf shop tucked behind the Santa Margherita Ligure train station instead of booking through Portofino harbor vendors. The shop includes a free shuttle to the starting beach, and their prices are 30% lower than the bigger operators in Portofino, with no hidden fees for gear rental.

3. Small-Group Kayak Trip to the Uninhabited Isola di Gallinara

Just a 20-minute paddle from the Portofino peninsula, Isola di Gallinara is a tiny, uninhabited island that most tourists never even hear about, because there are no big ferries that stop there and no restaurants or shops to cater to visitors. The small-group kayak trips that go here leave from the tiny fishing village of Bogliasco, and you’ll spend the morning paddling around the island’s rocky coastline, stopping to explore hidden tide pools full of starfish and small crabs, and popping into a tiny, unmarked cove on the island’s north side where you can swim in water so clear you can see the sand 30 feet below.

The guides on these trips are almost always local fishermen who know every nook and cranny of the island, and they’ll often point out pods of dolphins that swim past the island in the early morning. This trip is perfect for adventure seekers, wildlife lovers, or anyone who wants to get off the beaten path without doing anything too physically demanding.

• Best time: Early September, when the summer crowds have thinned out and the water is still warm enough for a long swim, but the island’s nesting seabirds are still active so you can spot gannets and cormorants up close.
• Booking tip: Choose a tour that includes a packed Ligurian focaccia lunch from a small bakery in Bogliasco. Operators that include locally sourced food almost always have smaller group sizes and more experienced guides who know the island’s best hidden spots, instead of sticking to the main tourist areas.

4. Coasteering Adventure Along the Portofino Peninsula’s Rocky Shoreline

Coasteering— a mix of rock climbing, cliff jumping, swimming, and scrambling along rocky coastlines— might sound like an extreme sport for hardcore thrill-seekers, but the guided trips offered along Portofino’s quieter eastern shoreline are actually totally accessible for beginners with moderate fitness levels. The hidden route these guides use avoids the main tourist-packed beaches and takes you along a stretch of rocky coast where you’ll scramble up low cliffs, jump off 10-foot rock ledges into deep, clear water, and explore hidden sea caves that are only accessible by foot (or by swimming into them).

The guides provide all the safety gear, including wetsuits, helmets, and buoyancy aids, and they’ll adjust the difficulty of the route to match your group’s comfort level. It’s perfect for groups of friends looking for a fun, active day out, or anyone who’s tired of the same old boat tours and wants to get a little splashed and muddy.

• Best time: Mid-October, when the summer crowds have gone home, the water is still mild from the summer heat, and the rocky shoreline isn’t slippery from thousands of tourist foot traffic like it is in peak season.
• Booking tip: Ask your guide if they offer a free waterproof camera rental when you book directly through their small local company, instead of booking through a third-party travel site. Almost all independent coasteering guides will throw the camera in for free if you skip the middleman, and you’ll get far more personalized attention on your trip.

5. Private Traditional Gozzo Boat Trip to the Hidden Fishing Village of Pieve

While most boat tours in Portofino take you to the big, famous spots like the Bay of Paradise and the main harbor, a small handful of local boat owners run private trips on traditional wooden gozzo boats to the tiny, unmarked fishing village of Pieve, tucked between Portofino and Camogli, that doesn’t appear on most tourist maps. The village has no restaurants catering to visitors, no souvenir shops, and only a handful of small, pastel-colored houses where local fishermen still live and work.

Your boat owner will usually drop you off at the village’s tiny pebble beach for a few hours, where you can wander the quiet streets, buy fresh-caught anchovies and local wine directly from the fishermen’s homes, or swim in the totally empty cove right off the beach. These trips are fully customizable, so you can ask your boat owner to stop at quiet swimming spots along the way, or to bring a packed lunch from a local Portofino bakery to eat on the beach. It’s perfect for foodies, solo travelers who want to avoid crowds, or anyone who wants a totally authentic, low-key taste of Ligurian coastal life.

• Best time: Late August, when the village hosts its annual small fishermen’s festival, with pop-up seafood stands selling fresh grilled anchovies and local white wine that aren’t advertised to tourists at all. The water is still warm enough for swimming, and the weather is almost always sunny and clear.
• Booking tip: Negotiate a half-day afternoon trip instead of a full day, instead of booking a pre-packaged tour through a travel agency. Most local gozzo owners will give you a 20% discount for an afternoon slot, and many will throw in a free sample of local anchovies or a glass of wine if you ask nicely.

Portofino gets a reputation for being a fancy, overcrowded spot for wealthy yacht owners, but these hidden water experiences show that there’s a whole quieter, more authentic side to this stretch of coast just waiting to be found if you skip the main tourist traps. Whether you’re looking for a low-key romantic afternoon, a fun active day with friends, or a quiet way to connect with the local landscape, these trips will give you a taste of Ligurian coastal life that most visitors never get to experience.