Snorkelling in Porto Conte and Capo Caccia: Which Boat Tour to Choose?
Updated October 19, 2026 · 6 min read
For most visitors the best snorkelling trip from Alghero is the mini yacht excursion with snorkelling and food: 4 hours, €80 per person, rated 4.9 from 473 reviews. If snorkelling is the whole point and you want it guided for every level, the snorkelling boat tour in Porto Conte and Capo Caccia is the specialist, at €83.50 for 3 hours.
The coast west of Alghero, from Capo Caccia into the bay of Porto Conte, is a marine protected area, and that is why the water is worth looking into. It is also why the choice of operator matters: the reserve has zones with different levels of protection, and a skipper knows where you may swim and where you may not.
The four trips compared
| Tour | Duration | From | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini yacht excursion, boat tour, snorkelling and food | 4 hours | €80 per person | 4.9 from 473 reviews | Snorkelling plus local food on board |
| Snorkelling boat tour in Porto Conte and Capo Caccia | 3 hours | €83.50 per person | 4.9 from 296 reviews | Guided snorkelling for all levels |
| Porto Conte hidden-cove snorkel cruise with aperitif | 3.5 hours | €83 per person | 4.9 from 141 reviews | Small group, coves reached only by sea |
| 3-hour motorboat excursion with skipper and environmental guide | 3 hours | €75 per person | 4.9 from 29 reviews | The lowest price, with an environmental guide |
Prices and ratings are those shown on the booking pages. All four score 4.9, so the reviews that separate them are the numbers, not the stars.
The mini yacht: the most reviewed, and the longest
The listing promises relaxation, snorkelling, local food and an aperitif on a trip through the clear water off Alghero. With 473 reviews it has the longest record of any snorkelling boat here, and at €80 for 4 hours it works out cheaper per hour than the 3-hour specialist. It does not name the bays or say whether the group is small, so check the booking page for both before you commit.
Check dates and availability for the mini yacht trip
The specialist: guided snorkelling for every level
The description says guided snorkelling for all levels along the coast of the Porto Conte Park, with a variety of marine landscapes. It is the one to book if you are a nervous swimmer or have never snorkelled, because guiding is the point of the trip. At 3 hours and €83.50 it is not the cheapest, but the focus is clear. The listing does not say whether equipment is included, so confirm that on the booking page.
See dates for the guided snorkelling tour
The hidden-cove cruise: small group, drinks on board
This trip visits coves that can only be reached by sea, with swimming, snorkelling and a Sardinian aperitif on board, in a small group. It lasts half an hour longer than the specialist for €0.50 less, so the extra time and the aperitif come practically free. The 141 reviews are a good record, if not as long as the first two.
Check availability for the hidden-cove cruise
The motorboat with an environmental guide: the cheapest, the shortest record
At €75 this is the lowest price, on an 8-metre motorboat with a skipper who is also an environmental guide, two swim stops with snorkelling gear at your disposal and an aperitif included. It is the only one of the four whose summary mentions gear. The 29 reviews are a small sample, which is the one reason to hesitate.
View dates for the motorboat excursion
What the marine reserve means for you
The reserve of Capo Caccia and Isola Piana was set up by a ministerial decree of 20 September 2002. Its core zone, where the protection is strictest, covers Punta Sant’Antonio to Cala Porto Agre and the western part of Isola Piana, and the bay of Porto Conte is the least restricted zone. You do not have to learn the map: the operator decides where to stop. In practice that means: do not enter the water anywhere your skipper does not.
Snorkelling is not Neptune’s Grotto
None of these listings says that it visits the grotto at the foot of the cape, and entry to the cave is sold separately. If the grotto matters to you, read Neptune’s Grotto from Alghero: by boat or down 654 steps before you pick a trip.
Which one to book
- Most people: the 4-hour mini yacht trip at €80.
- First-time or nervous snorkellers: the guided 3-hour trip.
- A small group and a nice aperitif: the hidden-cove cruise.
- Lowest price, gear stated: the motorboat with the environmental guide.
For the wider choice of boats, see boat tours in Alghero.
