Tours from the mainland
If you are on holiday along the Costa degli Dei, the Aeolians are the finest boat trip within a day's reach. From Tropea the crossing looks straight out to Stromboli, the island closest to Calabria. Here are the trips, the prices and what to expect from the sailing.
Tropea is the Aeolian boarding point on the Calabrian side. The crossing is longer than from Sicily, about an hour and a half of sailing, but it is precisely this distance that makes a tour from Tropea a proper day at sea, not just a transfer.
From the Costa degli Dei the closest island is Stromboli, the always-active volcano of the archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage site: that is why tours from Tropea almost always aim for it, often on an evening trip to watch it from the sea as dark falls. It is the choice for those spending their holiday between Tropea, Capo Vaticano and Pizzo who want to add a day in the Aeolians. Every one of these trips runs with a crew on board, so no boat licence is needed.
Crossing to reach Stromboli from Calabria
The island closest to Tropea and the main destination of the tours
Per person, average price of a shared tour from Tropea
Two itineraries, depending on whether you want the volcano or the full loop of the nearest islands.
The natural destination from Tropea. You sail toward the closest island, skirt the cone, and on the evening trip you wait for dark to watch the lava spilling down the Sciara del Fuoco from the sea. The signature experience of the Aeolians seen from Calabria.
With a full day you can push on to Lipari and Vulcano, the islands at the heart of the archipelago, with stops for a swim at the coves. The longer crossing is part of the journey: you leave early and are back in the evening.
The average cost of a shared tour from Tropea runs from around 45 to 70 euro per person: it is one of the most affordable departures toward the Aeolians. These are average market prices, they vary by season and availability. Fuel and extras on board are usually charged separately.
What to keep in mind for a day out to the Aeolians from the Costa degli Dei.
An hour and a half out and the same back: the day is a full one, but the time under way is part of the experience. If you are prone to seasickness, pick a day of calm sea and sit toward the stern.
Trips toward Stromboli often leave in the afternoon so they can return after the volcano's evening show; the Lipari and Vulcano loops sail early in the morning. Ask the operator for the meeting time when you book.
If your stay is between Tropea, Capo Vaticano and Pizzo, it is the most direct way to add the Aeolians to your trip without moving your base to Sicily.
Prefer to rent a boat already in the Aeolians? See the average prices for dinghies and skippered boats, or the tour from Milazzo on the Sicilian side.
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