Spend 7 days exploring land and sea on this epic guided snorkelling tour
Immerse yourself in the land and sea of southern Italy’s Puglia region as you snorkel your way through Salento on this 7-day guided tour. Grab your snorkelling gear and discover the undersea wonderland of Puglia’s Adriatic and Ionian coasts.
Daily snorkelling destinations in the Salento area combine magically with inland walks where you’ll experience the culture and spirit of the fascinating towns and villages that make up the heel of Italy.
Your start point of Lecce paves the way for snorkelling adventures in Roca Vecchia, Torre Sant’Emiliano, Porto Selvaggio, Porto Cesareo and more! Discover the underwater archeological site of Porto Cesareo. Snorkel the ancient sea caves of Santa Cesare Terme. Navigate crystal-clear waters, spotting anemones, sea tomatoes, limpets, and of course, plenty of beautiful fish!
Overnight stays in Lecce, Otranto, Santa Cesarea, and Gallipoli will provide ample opportunities for exploring beautiful old towns and enjoying spectacular seafood straight from the sea to your plate!
Dive into this mesmerizing adventure of Puglia’s Salento as you snorkel your way through some of the best underwater scenery southern Italy has to offer.
Highlights of the Puglia Snorkelling Adventure
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Puglia Snorkelling Adventure Itinerary
Day 1 Arrive
Welcome to Salento, the land of sun, sea, and wind! Making your way from the airport to Lecce, the enchanting Baroque capital of Puglia, you’ll settle into your accommodations before a welcome briefing with your guide.
A stroll through the elegant old town of Lecce is up next, followed by a welcome dinner accompanied by your guide.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lecce
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Roca and the Cave of Poetry
This morning, a private transfer will take you to the breathtaking sea caves of Grotta della Poesia (Cave of Poetry) at Roca Vecchia. Dive into your first snorkelling adventure of the tour as you experience the surreal landscape of this magical and mystical place.
Made up of sea caverns and a natural swimming pool linked to the open sea, the deep blue waters have some unique stories to tell. Make sure to ask your local guide about the beautiful princess rumoured to have bathed here and the poets that travelled from near and far to write prose to her.
Snorkelling through the cave, you’ll arrive under a cliff where you’ll continue to snorkel along the beautiful coast, spotting local sea life under the surface!
Back on land, a short walk will take you to Torre dell Orso, where you’ll enjoy a well-deserved lunch featuring local seafood specialties.
Continuing the coast on foot, you’ll have the opportunity to admire the sea stacks of Sant’Andrea. Beautiful rocky towers that rise from the sea have been sculpted by centuries of wind and waves and are indeed a sight to behold.
A private transfer will then take you to Otranto, where you’ll settle into tonight’s accommodations.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Otranto
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Discover beautiful Otranto
Today, the beautiful village of Otranto is yours to discover as you enjoy a free day to explore it at your leisure! Otranto is the easternmost town in Italy and home to a stunning collection of castles and churches ideal for exploring on foot.
If you prefer to spend your day snorkelling instead, visit Mulino d’Acqua bay, where you’ll find a picturesque waterfall, towering cliffs, and cove ruins.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Otranto
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Snorkel Porto Badisco and Santa Cesarea Terme
This morning a private transfer will take you to Torre Sant'Emiliano, from where you'll follow the rugged coast to Porto Badisco. Equally loved by divers, fishermen, and swimmers, Porto Badisco boasts a beautiful cove with ample hidden jewels below the waters' surface.
Navigating the cove, you'll swim among mullets, algae, and numerous colourful fish, followed by a local lunch at one of the small, homey restaurants of the bay. The sea urchins (fresh from the sea) come highly recommended!
This afternoon, a private transfer will take you to your next snorkelling destination of Santa Cesare Terme. Onboard a boat, you'll set out into the expansive sea, where you'll snorkel among karst stone caves and sea cavities that stretch the coast. Keep your eyes peeled for tuna, groupers and sea turtles!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Santa Cesarea
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Snorkel Porto Selvaggio Reserve
Moving towards the western side of Puglia this morning, you’ll navigate a path through beautiful pine forest before arriving at the cove of Porto Selvaggio. Crystalline sea weaves with freshwater here, coming from the subsoil below.
Porto Selvaggio is an exciting snorkelling destination that will introduce you to a wide variety of marine organisms, including damselfish, starfish, and sea urchins, all brimming with vibrant colours.
Back on land, you’ll head to Santa Caterina to enjoy an afternoon aperitif before taking a private transfer to tonight’s stay in Gallipoli.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gallipoli
Distance: 55 km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Snorkel Porto Cesareo
The pristine waters of Porto Cesareo await your discovery today! This protected area offers stunning well-preserved marine habitats, including the Roman Columns. A short swim will take you to five fascinating monolithic columns with a depth of 4.5m, dating back to the 2nd century AD- a spectacular encounter with Puglia’s rich history.
Snorkel among cerianthus and other sand anemones here, getting to know the animals that populate the sandy floor of the sea.
A transfer will take you back to Gallipoli where you can soak up your final evening of the tour in this ancient island-like town.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Gallipoli
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Depart
Return to the airport to depart and say “addio” to beautiful Puglia!
Overnight Location: None
Meals: Breakfast
Puglia Snorkelling Adventure Tour Price and Dates
This guided snorkelling tour in Salento is always run as a private tour for your group and the price depends on the time of year you visit, as well as the size of your group.
Prices below are per person.
- Guided Groups of 5: from $1,125 USD* per person
* - Please note that the pricing might change depending on the size of your group, as well as the travelling season.
Book NowAccommodation on the Puglia Snorkelling Adventure tour
This tour is based in 4-star hotels and B&Bs. Accommodations are excellently located, tastefully decorated, and offer modern amenities to make your stay a pleasant one. Enjoy private rooms and an ensuite bathroom during your stay.
Rooms are double occupancy and single travellers will pay a supplement.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other, comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel.
Hotels on Standard Tour
Palazzo dei Dondoli in Lecce ★★★★
Enjoy this charming historic B&B located in a converted manor house right next to the historic center of Lecce, surrounded by a myriad of shops and restaurants. Enjoy modern amenities and breakfast served daily, as well as private rooms with ensuite bathrooms.
Palazzo de Mori in Otranto ★★★★
This ancient and elegant residence with a stone-paved entrance has been restored into a beautiful B&B that will welcome you with its warm hospitality and serene setting.
Est Hotel in Santa Cesarea ★★★★
This modern seaside hotel located on the Adriatic coast of Salento is set in the heart of Santa Cesarea Terme, surrounded by beautiful pine forests and close to the town.
Relais Corte Palmieri in Gallipoli ★★★★
This gorgeous hotel set in a historical house dating back to 1700 is located amidst Galipolli’s maze of streets and squares. The unique building provides a charming stay, with sunny terraces and walls covered in beautiful bougainvillea.
What’s Included in the Puglia Snorkelling Adventure Tour?
Meals
6 breakfasts and 1 dinner are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 6 nights is included.
Transportation during the Tour
Private transfers on Days 2, 4 and 5 are included on this tour. Luggage transportation is included each day.
Also Included
- Snorkelling equipment:
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- Fins
- Mask
- Snorkel
- Local English-speaking guide/snorkelling guide
- Welcome dinner
Not included
- Flights to and from Italy
- Airport transfers
- Visas if required
- Travel insurance
- Tourist taxes if applicable
- Entrance fees
- Meals and drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
Optional Extras
- Activities and excursions unless otherwise mentioned as included
- Single room supplements
- Solo traveller supplements
- Any additional nights before or after the tour
Frequently Asked Questions about Puglia Snorkelling Adventure
Slow Active Tours is a tour operator specializing in "slow pace" outdoor activities, which mainly concern cycling, trekking and snorkeling in beautiful Italy. Based in Puglia, the wonderful heel of Italy, Slow Active Tours was born from a long experience in responsible and sustainable tourism, combined with a love for culture and a strong passion for traditions, history and respect for nature.
Dynamic holidays "at a slow pace", because in this way it is possible to savor every moment of a great journey, full of adventure, hearty breakfasts, moments of peaceful well-being, food and wine tastings, fresh dips in the most beautiful seas of Italy, smiles and chat with the locals.
Each trip includes everything you need to make the experience comfortable and to be free to travel safely.
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