Knowing what to bring on a boat trip in Sicily is mostly a matter of subtraction. Nearly everyone who turns up at the pier for the first time has packed too much of the wrong thing and too little of the two that matter — sun protection and water.
Here is the list we would give a friend flying into Catania in August, in roughly the order it matters.
The things that actually matter
Sunscreen, more than you think. The sea reflects light back up at you from underneath, so a day afloat burns you at roughly double the rate of a day on a lounger. High factor, applied before you board and again after every swim. If you can find a reef-friendly one, use it — you are swimming in a protected stretch of coast.
A hat that survives wind. Broad-brimmed straw looks wonderful in the departure photograph and is in the water twenty minutes later. Something with a strap, or a cap you do not mind losing.
Sunglasses, ideally polarised. Polarised lenses cut the glare off the surface and let you see into the water — you will spot the bottom of a cove, and sometimes fish, that other people on board simply cannot.
Water. More than you would drink on land. Sun, salt and swimming dehydrate you quietly, and the headache that arrives at four in the afternoon is almost always this and not the wine at lunch.
A light layer. Even in August, the breeze that fills in over the Ionian in the afternoon has an edge to it once you are wet. A linen shirt or a thin windproof makes the ride back pleasant instead of a test of character.
The things that make the day better
- Water shoes. This coast is pebble and rock, not sand, and sea urchins live in the crevices. The single most useful item in this list.
- A mask and snorkel. Even a cheap one transforms a swim stop off Isola Bella or Capo Sant’Andrea into something you remember.
- A dry bag. For phone, keys and documents. Boats are wet places and spray does not care what your phone cost.
- A quick-dry towel. Small, packs flat, dries between swims. Hotel towels do none of these things.
- Motion-sickness tablets, if you are prone to it — taken before departure, not once you feel it. On a calm morning along this coast most people are entirely fine, but they weigh nothing.
What to leave in the room
Hard-soled shoes, glass bottles, oversized bags and anything valuable you would be upset to lose. Stiff soles mark decks and slip on wet fibreglass; bare feet or soft soles are what everyone on board will be wearing.
Leave the drone at home too, unless you have checked what the rules are — much of this coastline sits within a protected area and the reserve around Isola Bella is not the place to find out you needed permission.
Dressing for it
Swimwear under light clothes, so nobody is performing an undignified change on a moving boat. Cotton or linen over the top. If you plan to eat in town afterwards, bring one dry change of clothes in a bag — coming off the water salted, sun-flushed and starving, and then walking straight into a restaurant, is one of the small pleasures of a Sicilian summer, and it is better in dry clothes.
What is provided on board?
It depends on the trip you have booked. Rather than guess, ask when you book — the crew will tell you plainly what is on the boat and what you should bring yourself, including whether food and drink are part of the day.
What should I bring on a boat trip with children?
Sun protection first: rash vests are far more reliable than reapplying cream on a wriggling child. Then snacks, spare swimwear, a towel each and something quiet for the ride back, when a tired child usually falls asleep against somebody.
Do I need to bring my own snorkelling gear?
Bring a mask if you own one that fits you well, since fit is the whole game with masks. If you do not, ask when booking — and either way, tell us that snorkelling matters to you, so the route is planned around the clearest water on the day.
When your dates are settled, the reservations page is the place to start, or you can message the crew on WhatsApp at +39 342 110 9242 with what you have in mind. More about the excursions along this coast is on the Taormina Boat Service homepage.
