You can rent a boat with or without a skipper in all the towns along the Amalfi Coast. We suggest you opt for a boat rental with skipper or an organized boat tour if you do not have any experience at sea.
For most of the boats available for rental in Positano, you do not need a boating license. However, we suggest that you have at least some experience at sea if you choose to rent a boat without a skipper as the currents along the Amalfi Coast can be tricky.
A private boat tour gives you the freedom of having a boat all to yourself, while a small-group boat tour means sharing the boat with other passengers. Usually, small-group boat tours have a maximum of 10 to 15 passengers. Prices for private tours are per boat (all inclusive), which small-group boat tours are prices per person.
These tours use a wooden gozzo which can fit up to 10 or 15 passengers, so each passenger pays a portion of the rental cost for the entire boat rental with skipper.
During the busy months of July and August when boat tours are in high demand, you should book as far in advance as possible. During the remainder of the year, you can book up to a couple of days in advance.
Often, the fastest way to travel from one village on the Amalfi Coast to another is by water. In the summer, a number of small boats and ferries make runs between the beaches and waterfront restaurants that are only accessible by sea. These transfers cost just a few euros, and is free for restaurant patrons.
With an average sized boat, it takes a bit more than 30 minutes.
No, the islands are private though you can moor nearby to swim offshore.