Gargano Sea Caves, carved by wind and sea

Gargano Sea Caves is one of the most exciting excursions in Vieste and the Gargano Peninsula, in the Italian region of Puglia.

The caves (Grotte Marine del Gargano) have been carved by wind and sea for thousands of years.
A boat ride along the coast, dramatic cliffs, secret caves, and various rock formations will make your trip unforgettable!

So, if you are planning a trip to Vieste, save this guide with tips about Gargano’s unique natural wonders.

Gargano Sea Caves

A few words about the Gargano Sea Caves

Gargano Sea Caves are situated on the southern coast of the Gargano peninsula, stretching between Vieste and Mattinata. There are about twenty caves that can be visited from the inside by small boat, larger motorboats, or kayak.

By the way, the Gargano Sea Caves were discovered in 1954 by Michele Trimigno, a fisherman from Vieste.
During the sea storm, he found refuge in the caves. So, he started to combine fishing and guiding a small number of visitors to the caves. Enrico Mattei, then president of ENI, was among them. Together with Cavaliere Trimigno in 1958, he decided to build a tourist complex in Pugnochiuso, marking the beginning of tourism development in the Gargano area.

We can say that Michele was the first who gave specific names to the caves.
Some of them are: Grotta Campana (Bell cave), Grotta Sfondata (Broken Cave), Grotta dei Contrabbandieri (Smugglers Cave), Grotta dei Due Occhi (Two Eyes Cave), Grotta dei Colombi (Dove Cave), Grotta delle Sirene (Mermaid Cave), or Grotta dei Sogni (The Dream Cave).

Today, Michele’s son, Graziano and grandson Francesco continue his work. Their famous company, Motorboat Desirèe, is organising tours of the Gargano Caves and to the nearby Tremiti Islands. 

What to know before you go on the Gargano boat tour

 🚤When to go on a boat tour

The perfect period for the Gargano Sea Caves boat tour is the late spring and early autumn. The weather is nice, the sea is pretty calm, and there are fewer crowds. For sure, the exact days depend on sea conditions.
It is recommended to be at the boarding area of the port around 30 minutes before departure.

📌 Practical Tips

♦ Bring a hat or cap, sunscreen, and water. Some small boats have awnings, but there’s no shade on the bigger motorboats.
◊ Wear swimwear if the tour includes a beach stop for swimming.
♦ Depending on the period, the sea breeze can be cool, so take a light jacket.
◊ Bring your camera or phone to capture stunning views of cliffs and caves.
♦ If you have a problem with seasickness, bring some medicine, like Dramamine.

Where to buy tickets for the Gargano boat tour?

So, you can book a tour online, or you can buy tickets directly at the port of Vieste or nearby Peschici town.
Several companies offer daily departures. Some of the popular local operators are: Grotte Marine Gargano-Desirèe, Motobarche Leonarda, Vieste Grotte Tour, and Motobarca Adriatica.

If you come to Puglia with a travel agency, then the agency will buy the tickets for you.
Otherwise, check with your hotel in Vieste to help you with tickets and transfers.

Boat Tour Options

Boat tours to the Gargano Caves could be private or group tours.

Private tours are typically organised for groups of up to 6 people, in a small boat with a professional skipper.
It lasts around 3-4 hours and costs from 150 EUR or more for the whole group.

Group tours can last 2 or 3 hours, depending on whether the tour includes a swimming spot or not.
Typically, the departure times are from 9 AM to 12 PM, and from 2.30 PM to 5.30 PM.
There is a multilingual guide on the tour, as well.
The ride costs around 25 EUR per person.
We went on a boat tour with the Motorbarche Leonarda, and it was very crowded (the end of June 2025).

Bear in mind that the large motorboats could not enter all caves.
So, if you can, take a private tour, and you will have a fantastic experience.

What to see during the boat tour around the Gargano Sea Caves

Our journey to the sea caves started at the commercial port of Vieste town in the morning.

Vieste port

Vieste coast and the Lighthouse

First, we passed by the Vieste Lighthouse, located on the islet of Santa Eufemia.
It was designed in 1867, and the tower is situated on the former lighthouse operator’s home. Today, it is completely automated and managed by the Lighthouse Zone Command of the Navy based in Venice.

Vieste Lighthouse

Then, we passed by the old town of Vieste and a few trabuccos (wooden platforms used for fishing).

A view of Vieste Old Town and a trabucco from the sea

Near the Castello seafront (La Scialara), and at the end of the beach, you can see Pizzomunno, the white monolith.
There is an interesting love story between the fisherman Pizzomunno and the beautiful girl Cristalda, connected to this rock. But, I will talk about it in one of the posts about the town of Vieste 🙂

Vieste beach, Pizzomuno monolith

We continued our trip along the southern coast of the Gargano, passing by the Porto Nuovo beach,  hotel, and the Porto Nuovo rock, as well.

Porto Nuovo, beach and rock

Arch of San Felice (Architiello di San Felice)

Even though the Arco di San Felice is not a cave, it is one of the most famous landmarks of the Gargano coast.
This natural rock arch looks magnificent!

Vieste, Arch of San Felice

The sea and wind made a huge hole – a window in the rock, with a fantastic view of the blue-turquoise sea and an Anti-Saracen tower – Torre San Felice, in the distance. This arch is one of the favourite stops for photo shooting during the boat tour.

Arco di San Felice and Torre di San Felice

Also, in the beautiful bay of San Felice, you can enjoy a wide beach with golden sand and long shallow water.

Close to the San Felice Bay, we passed in front of the Grotta dei Contrabbandieri or Smugglers’ Cave. It got its name because some smugglers escaped the Guardia di Finanza by crossing the cave itself.

Going further, you can see the “Testa del Gargano“, the rock on the most eastern point of the Gargano.

Testa del Gargano

Grotta Campana – The Bell Cave

Close to the Arch San Felice, there is Grotta Campana or the Bell Cave.
The impressive rocks surround the entrance to the cave, and we had a feeling that we were going down into the cave!

Gargano Cave entrance

It got its name from the impressive dome, which looks like a huge bell, and natural acoustics.

Gargano Sea Caves, inside the Grotta Campana

Grotta Sfondata or the Smashed Cave

Inside the Grotta Sfondata

You can see the sunlight through the hole in the cave, creating a fantastic view of the stones, trees, and the blue sky. Well, this is one of the most famous caves on the Gargano coast.

Stunning Grotta Sfondata

Grotta dei Due Occhi  – Two Eyes Cave

We continued our journey to the next cave, Grotta dei Due Occhi. And this cave takes your breath away!

Entrance to the Grotta dei Due Occhi

Two holes, similar to eyes, are situated on the ceiling of the cave. The wind and the sea made this unique cave, making space for the sunlight to pass through them. In a word, you have a feeling that someone is watching you 🙂

Gargano Caves Grotta Due occhi

Grotta dei Pomodori – The Pomodoro Cave

Grotta dei Pomodori or Tomato Cave

This interesting cave got its name after the red sea tomatoes. Actually, there are red sea molluscs that hang on the rocky walls.
But, they look like real pomodori – cherry tomatoes!

Grotta dei Pomodori

Arch of Porto Greco – Greek Door

We continued our boat trip, passing under a stone arch known as the Arch of Porto Greco, or the Greek Door.

Gargano Sea Caves, Arco Porto Greco

It looks amazing, carved by the wind and sea, and it is a perfect spot for taking great photos.

Porto Greco Cave

After the Porto Greco, there are Grotta delle Viole, Grotta delle Sirene, and the bays of Pugnochiuso and Portopiatto, with the popular Pugnochiuso resort.

Also, you can see there the Pergola Tower, a lighthouse tower, located above a small and rocky inlet. It was built in the 16th century as part of the defensive system. But there is an interesting fact about it.
For the first time in history, its guardian was a woman, Maria Rita di Loreto. She was the only female lighthouse keeper in Italy, hired in 1976 by the Ministry of Defence. Maria lived for years next to the tower, but today, access is prohibited because it is a military zone.

Gargano Sea Caves, Faro di Pugnochiuso or Pergola Tower

Grotta delle Due Stanze – Two Rooms Cave

Another fantastic cave is Grotta delle Due Stanze.
As the name says, this cave has two rooms, separated by one rocky archway.

Grotta delle Due Stanze

We entered one room, then sailed slowly to another room, and left it, going out to the sea.

Grotta delle Due Stanze or the Two rooms Cave

Grotta dei Sogni – The Cave of Dreams

Another magnificent cave is the Grotta dei Sogni, or the Dream Cave.

Grotta dei Sogni

There is a small beach inside the cave. The reflection of water on the rocks makes an amazing view.
This cave is also known as the Grotta dei Innamorati, or the Cave of the Lovers.

Grotta dei Sogni or Dreams Cave

Generally, the boat tour finishes with the view of the Baia delle Zagare, with its faraglioni, the specific rocks raised from the sea.

Baia delle Zagare Beach

In the photo below, you can see what the rocks look like, watching them from the road on the nearby hill.

Baia delle Zagare Beach

Stop for swimming: Vignanotica Beach

A boat trip is not complete without enjoying the beach ☺️

Vignanotica Bay and beach

So, we stopped on the Vignanotica Bay, at the Vignanotica Beach. It is about 500 m long, with mixed sand and pebbles, surrounded by several small caves and white limestone cliffs.

Vignanotica Bay and beach

The beach is partly organised with sunbeds and umbrellas, but there is a lot of free space to put your towels and umbrella. The water was refreshing and crystal clear, but it quickly descended to the depths.

There are two small canteens on the beach with refreshment drinks and snacks. The prices are a little bit higher than in Vieste (a freddo cappuccino 5 EUR, a sandwich 8 EUR, etc).

By the way, this beach is accessible via a curved road (from Vieste, about 45 minutes). From parking (10 EUR per day), you have to walk about 15 minutes down a steep path to the beach.

Vignanotica Beach

We were on the beach for about 45 minutes. Then, we returned to the port of Vieste, passing by the incredible Gargano sea caves and white cliffs, surrounded by trees.

Sailing along the Gargano Sea Caves

Enjoy the trip around the Gargano Sea Caves

Well, I hope you enjoyed the story and photos of the amazing Gargano Sea Caves.

Sailing along and through the Gargano caves is an excellent way to discover the beauty of the Adriatic coastline. And the feeling of wind, sun and sea drops on the face is perfectly combined with stunning scenes of caves and cliffs.

So, enjoy the ride, and let the wind and the Gargano sea caves make your vacation in Puglia unforgettable!

Gargano Sea Caves