Crystal coves, in a small dinghy. This is a smooth, small-group day on the Egadi Islands, running from Trapani to Favignana and Levanzo, with plenty of water time and a crew like Alessandro and Luana who explain what you’re seeing. It’s offered in English, and the vibe feels relaxed but well organized.

I love how the ride itself sets the tone. The trip out from Trapani is paced for comfort on a dinghy, and the captain and crew bring local detail as you cruise past the islets. That kind of context makes the day feel more than just swimming spot hopping.

I also love the hands-on set up once you’re anchored. You’ll have snorkeling equipment, a convertible kayak SUP board, and a floating carpet, so you can choose between snorkeling, stand-up paddling, or just floating and taking in the water. One possible drawback: the itinerary is packed with multiple 40-minute stops, so if you prefer long stretches on land, you get only about an hour in Favignana.

Key highlights at a glance

• Max 12 people means the dinghy stays comfortable and the day feels personal.
• Multiple swim breaks at different coves, each with its own look and feel.
• Snorkeling gear, SUP board, and floating carpet are included, so you’re not stuck watching.
• Grotta degli Innamorati gets guided attention and includes a visit to a small beach inside.
• An included welcome aperitif and non-alcoholic drinks keep things easy on the water.

Why this dinghy tour works on the Egadi Islands

The Egadi Islands are famous for water that looks too good to be true, but most people experience them from the far side, staring at coves they can’t reach easily. This tour flips that. You leave Trapani by dinghy, get close to the rock faces and small bays, then anchor again and again.

What you get, in plain terms, is time where it matters. Instead of only “seeing” Favignana and Levanzo, you spend your day at water level. And because it’s a small group, you’re not doing a slow-moving line dance every time you want to snorkel or climb back on board.

Price and what you’re really paying for ($120.41)

At $120.41 per person for about 8 hours, this isn’t the cheapest way to cover distance on Sicily’s coast. But the price makes sense when you look at what’s included.

You’re getting:

• Snorkeling equipment
• Convertible kayak SUP board
• Floating carpet
• Bottled water
• Welcome aperitif and non-alcoholic drinks
• Fuel surcharge
• And the itinerary lists admission tickets as free for the stops included on the route

In other words, you’re paying for a day that mixes transport, gear, and guided stops. The extra costs you might see are only for optional professional media: drone photos and videos (€50), and professional underwater photos and filming (€50). If you’d rather not pay for upgrades, this still functions as a full day experience.

The day plan: timing, group size, and how not to feel rushed

This tour starts at 10:00 am and runs around 8 hours, ending back at the meeting point in Trapani. The meeting point is Vento Di Maestrale Srl, Via dei Gladioli, 16, 91100 Trapani.

You also have a major comfort factor: the group limit is 12 travelers. That matters. With fewer people, the dinghy ride stays calmer, and boarding or water breaks are less chaotic.

Still, you should know the schedule style: the itinerary uses several short stops. Each anchored swim window is about 40 minutes, and Favignana itself gets one hour on land at the port. It’s a smart way to hit multiple coves, but it’s not built for slow travel.

Leaving Trapani: the smooth dinghy start to Favignana

Your day begins with a short navigation that’s designed to feel comfortable. The ride from Trapani to Favignana takes about 30 minutes, and the crew focuses on making it pleasant, plus explaining the islets you pass.

This early part matters more than you’d think. If you arrive tense or seasick-prone, you’ll struggle to enjoy the water time later. Here, the goal is a gentle start and quick comfort, so you can shift into “vacation mode” before the first swim stop.

Cala Azzurra: the first chance to get in the water

First anchored stop: Scogliera Cala Azzurra. You’ll have about 40 minutes here, and the water is the headline. The bay is named for the sea’s color, and the stop is built around trying different ways to enjoy it.

Expect options like:

• Snorkeling
• SUP time on the convertible kayak SUP board
• Floating on the floating carpet

A practical tip for your mindset: treat Cala Azzurra like your warm-up. The first minutes are for finding your rhythm, checking how the water feels, and getting comfortable with the snorkeling gear before moving to the next coves.

Caletta del Bue Marino: turquoise contrast and old tuff quarries

Next up is Caletta del Bue Marino, another 40-minute swim break. This stop is described as turquoise water with dark blue patches, and it’s framed by old tuff quarries around the area.

That combination is useful for snorkelers because it creates variety in what you see close to the rocks. You’re not just swimming in one color of water. You’re working with changing depth and different rock texture, which can make the underwater viewing more interesting.

If you love “spot-to-spot” variety, this is where the tour’s structure pays off: repeated short stops, each with its own look, rather than one long swim in the same place.

Cala Rossa: crystal-clear water and fish near the rocks

The pattern continues with Scogliera di Cala Rossa, again about 40 minutes. This stop is positioned as one of the standout swim areas, described as a beautiful beach in terms of water clarity, plus the presence of fish around it.

What I like about this approach is that the crew doesn’t just anchor anywhere. Each stop name signals a different water personality, so you’re not repeating the same scenery for hours.

If you’re new to snorkeling, this stop can be a confidence booster. Fish near the rocks are exactly what you hope for when you want quick visual rewards without having to swim far.

Grotta degli Innamorati: a guided visit to the Lovers Cave

After the swim stops, the day shifts toward a more iconic sight: Grotta degli innamorati, the Lovers’ Cave. You’ll spend about 40 minutes here, and you’ll be guided to discover a small beach inside the cave.

This is a big reason the tour feels like a mix, not just a beach day. Favignana is all about water and rock formations, and this cave adds a human-scale experience. You’re walking or being guided into a place with its own enclosed atmosphere, then heading back to open water afterward.

A consideration: because it’s not described as a long, linger-on-land visit, you’ll want to go in ready to enjoy it fully in a short window.

Favignana port for an hour: make it count

At 1:30 pm, you dock in Favignana. Then you get about one hour on land, walking through the streets of the seaside village.

This is your chance to shift gears from water time to real village atmosphere. Think of it as a reset: grab a drink, take quick photos, and stroll without needing to commit to a full meal plan.

A small detail that shows the tour’s flexibility: some departures include an eating break in town, and at least one partner bar brunch was mentioned in the experience style. Since that isn’t listed as a fixed item in the basics, I’d treat food timing as “likely helpful,” not guaranteed in the strictest sense.

Levanzo after lunch: leaving Favignana with better views

At 3:30 pm, you head to Levanzo. The navigation is about 20 minutes, and the experience includes relaxing while you enjoy the panorama as you move away from Favignana.

That short cruise is a nice breather between the busy anchor stops. It’s also where the day stops feeling like a checklist and starts feeling like a sequence of moments, because you can look out instead of thinking about water gear.

Levanzo itself is smaller than Favignana, and the tour leans into that by using stops that emphasize views over long on-land stays.

Cala Fredda: the only inhabited part view plus terrace-town color

Arrival on Levanzo brings you to Cala Fredda for about 40 minutes. You’ll pass to the Levanzo port with a view of the only inhabited part of the island.

The tour also points out the village look: simple white and blue terraced houses that recall a Greek style. So even if you’re focused on water, you’re also getting a quick visual sense of how people actually live here.

Again, you’ll have your familiar water-time options. If you like snapping photos as you transition between snorkeling and floating, this stop gives you both.

Spiaggia di Cala Minnola: final snorkeling stop before heading home

Your last anchoring swim area is Spiaggia di Cala Minnola, about 40 minutes. Like the earlier water stops, this is built around snorkeling, SUP on the convertible board, and relaxing on the floating carpet.

This is the moment where you’ll feel whether you kept energy earlier in the day. If you paced yourself, you’ll enjoy the last water window fully. If you tried to do everything at once from the start, this stop might feel shorter than it should, even though the timing is the same.

Back to Trapani: closing out the Egadi day

At 5:30 pm, you depart Levanzo and return to Trapani by 6:00 pm. The day closes in time for you to still have evening flexibility, and it helps that the tour ends back at the meeting point.

This matters if you’re using Trapani as your base hotel. You’re not adding another complicated transfer on top of a long day at sea.

What the included snorkeling and SUP setup means for your comfort

The big value in this tour is not just that equipment is available. It’s that the day is built around it.

Because snorkeling equipment and the floating carpet are included, you’re not dependent on finding rentals or waiting for instructions. The convertible kayak SUP board gives you an option beyond snorkeling, which is great if conditions make snorkeling less comfortable at a specific moment.

And because there are several stops, you don’t get punished for a single short window. If one anchoring spot is calmer, you can spend more time there. If you want a change, you can switch to a different activity at the next stop.

If you’re traveling with mixed comfort levels in the group, this kind of “choose your own water activity” setup also makes life easier.

The kind of traveler this tour fits best

This tour is a strong fit if you want:

• A small-group day on the water
• Multiple short swim windows instead of one long stop
• A mix of coves and one guided cave visit
• English guidance and a crew that explains details

It’s not the best match if your top priority is long walking time in villages or you dislike short stop itineraries. You’ll get one hour in Favignana port, and the rest of your day is about sea time and quick island exploration.

One more note from the experience style: the tour depends on good weather. If you’re planning around a strict schedule with no flexibility, I’d plan to keep at least a little cushion in your Trapani days.

Should you book Deep Blue Escape’s Favignana and Levanzo dinghy tour?

My take: this is the kind of day that’s worth it when you care about being actually on the water, not just looking at the islands from shore. The combination of small-group comfort, included gear like snorkeling equipment and the floating carpet, plus the Grotta degli Innamorati guided stop makes it a solid value for $120.41.

Book it if you:

• Want repeated chances to swim and snorkel at different coves
• Like the idea of SUP time without extra rentals
• Enjoy when the crew adds local context, not just directions

Skip or swap it if you:

• Want hours of uninterrupted on-land sightseeing
• Are uncomfortable with weather-driven changes, since good weather is required

If you’re flexible and you want a classic Egadi experience with real water time, this one is an easy yes.

FAQ

How long is the Favignana and Levanzo dinghy tour from Trapani?

It’s listed as about 8 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 10:00 am.

How much does it cost?

The price is $120.41 per person.

How many people are in the group?

The maximum group size is 12 travelers.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, it is offered in English.

Where do we meet in Trapani?

The meeting point is Vento Di Maestrale Srl, Via dei Gladioli, 16, 91100 Trapani TP, Italy.

What snorkeling and water gear is included?

The tour includes snorkeling equipment, a convertible kayak SUP board, and a floating carpet.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water is included, and there is a welcome aperitif plus non-alcoholic drinks.

Are admission tickets included for the stops?

The itinerary lists admission tickets as free for the stops included on the route.

What if there are problems due to weather?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Is there an option to buy professional photos or videos?

Yes. Professional photos and videos with drone cost €50, and professional underwater photos and filming also cost €50.