Taormina Bay Sailing: Snorkeling, Isola Bella & Sicilian Aperitif

4.64

(143 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

We slipped off our shoes at the little dock in Giardini Naxos, sun already warming the boards underfoot. The skipper — Carmelo, who grew up here — tossed us a grin and a quick “Andiamo!” before we even had time to second-guess our sunscreen. As we pushed away from shore, I caught that salty air mixed with something herbal — wild fennel maybe? There was this low hum of Italian chatter from another boat nearby, but mostly it was just us, the sails flapping and the water slapping against the hull as we headed out into Taormina Bay. I’d seen photos of Isola Bella before but watching it slide into view over the bow felt totally different — smaller than I expected, somehow more secretive.

Carmelo pointed out little coves along the coast where he said his nonna used to bring him for picnics (“before tourists found them,” he joked). When we anchored for our first swim, I hesitated — not gonna lie, that first dip is always colder than you think. But once you’re in, it’s like your skin wakes up. The snorkeling gear was waiting for us; I fumbled with my mask (always do), but underwater it was all flickers of silver fish and these weirdly hypnotic patches of sea grass. Someone on board tried to say “grazie” in Sicilian dialect and got a laugh from Carmelo — apparently it’s trickier than it sounds.

After swimming near Isola Bella, we dried off in the sun while Carmelo set out chunks of bread and cheese on a wooden board. The salami had this peppery kick that surprised me (in a good way), and the local white wine tasted almost cold enough to make you forget about the heat. There was no rush — just waves rocking us gently and that kind of lazy afternoon light that makes everything feel softer around the edges. Honestly, I still think about how quiet it got sometimes between stories or sips. You don’t get that kind of silence everywhere.