Gaeta & Sperlonga: Boat Excursion, Swim Stops & Grottos

4.98

(125 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We slid away from the dock in Gaeta just after breakfast — not too early, not rushed. Dario was already joking with us about sunscreen (“You’ll thank me later!”), and honestly, I did. The water here is this odd blue-green that almost looks fake until you lean over and see your own reflection wobbling back. We passed the old fortress walls first; Dario pointed out where cannonballs once hit, his hand tracing scars in the stone from the boat. I tried to imagine what it sounded like back then — now it’s just waves smacking gently against the hull.

The stretch along Monte Orlando surprised me. The cliffs are so sheer they almost look angry, but then there’s birds everywhere and wildflowers clinging on like they know some secret. Dario slowed down by Grotta del Turco and told us a story about pirates hiding there (he swears it’s true). You could smell salt and something almost metallic in the air near the rocks. I butchered “Montagna Spaccata” trying to say it right — Dario laughed so hard he nearly dropped his phone.

Swim stops were my favorite part of this day trip Gaeta to Sperlonga — especially at that little cove called 40 Remi. The water was cold enough to make me yelp but clear enough to see tiny fish darting around my toes. There’s a ladder for climbing back up (trust me, you’ll need it) and plenty of shade if you burn easily like me. They handed out snorkeling masks — no mouthpiece, which was honestly fine since I mostly floated staring up at the cliffs anyway.

Last stop was near Sperlonga, at this cave locals call the Blue Grotto. Sunlight came through in stripes and made everything inside glow weirdly turquoise. We swam again even though I was shivering a bit by then — couldn’t resist. On the way back I sat under the awning watching the coast slide past, thinking how different these places look from the sea than from land. Still can’t get that color out of my head.