SEAS THE DAY

Jump aboard your private boat and enjoy an unforgettable day at sea along a truly spectacular stretch of Sicily’s coastline.

To the west of Palermo, couched between the towns of Scopello and San Vito Lo Capo, lie seven kilometres of unspoiled nature. Over the centuries the most talented of sculptors, the wind and waves, have jointly chiselled a veritable masterpiece of design and colour out of the solid limestone rocks. Rugged silvery cliffs drop into the azure waters, tenebrous caves crouch silently beneath the waves, white pebbled beaches gleam in the dazzling light of the Sicilian sun.

First established as a nature reserve in 1981, Lo Zingaro is a much sought-after travel destination. A paradise for hikers and bathers alike, this protected area also attracts nature lovers, botanists and ornithologists with its unique flora and fauna. A favourable terrain and a humid microclimate allow around 650 species of plants and wild flowers to thrive. These include laurel, thyme, broom, Erica, orchids and the treasured dwarf palm, the symbol of Lo Zingaro itself. Peregrine falcons, kestrels, buzzards and eagles are among the thirty-nine different bird species that nest in the reserve. But Lo Zingaro’s main attractions are undoubtedly its idyllic, pocket-size coves that can only be reached by boat or hiking trails, a fact that has contributed to the preservation of this splendid corner of Sicily.

Your private chauffeur will meet you at your accommodation in Palermo and drive you to Castellammare del Golfo. Here your skipper will be waiting ready to lead you on a full-day boat tour along the coast of Lo Zingaro. Sit back, relax and admire the glorious spectacle of the Sicilian landscape as it unfolds before your eyes. You will sail past marine grottoes, bathe in limpid waters and soak up fabulous views of the nature reserve from your boat. Also on the schedule is a stop for a swim in Scopello, with its gloriously scenic little bay, dominated by the Faraglioni stacks looming sharply out of the sea.

In the afternoon your private chauffeur will pick you up in Castellammare del Golfo and drive you back to your accommodation in Palermo.