Argentario by the Sea
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines! Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover!
(Mark Twain)
There’s no doubt about it! If you’re only on a short visit, the best way to appreciate the beauty of the Argentario sea and discover all its wonderful bays and coves is by boat. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a motorboat, a sailboat or a dinghy: just climb aboard!
For us, the sea is life, work, tradition and “love”. There are many options to rent a boat and set off into the Argentario sea, which this year received the “5 vele” by Legambiente.
The many boat-hire companies offer a wide range of boat types (sailboats, motorboats, inflatables) for any weather and any level of experience. They’ll be able to advise you on itineraries based on the weather conditions and help you choose the right boat for you.
From Argentario by boat or dinghy, you can reach the Island of Giglio or Giannutri (National Park) in about 40-50 minutes, and it’s not uncommon to see the cute dolphins, even at the busiest times of year. By boat, you’ll be able to visit the caves that are only accessible by sea. Some of the most important include Grotta del Turco, Grotta Azzurra and Grotta dei Santi. This last one has been the subject of archaeological excavations and Neanderthal remains have recently been found.
Ferries to Giglio and Giannutri also run from Porto S. Stefano, and from both Porto S. Stefano and Porto Ercole, there are many offers for day trips at sea with different itineraries between the islands.
The following ports are suitable places to dock: Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Vecchio (the most traditional, five centuries of history and suitable for boats up to 80 m), Porto del Valle (for boats up to 130 m), Porto Vecchio di Porto Ercole (boats up to 24 m by the wharves and 14 m for boats in transit), Cala Galera (modern structure for boats up to 50 m) and Santa Liberata (canal port – only accepts boats up to 6 m).
