Cruise for a week in the Aeolian Islands by sailboat

This week we propose a 7 day itinerary in the god’s island: Vulcano, Salina, Lipari, Alicudi, Filicudi, Panarea and Stromboli!

FIRST DAY- SATURDAY - Lipari
Betty and Mauro will be happy to wait for you in Marina Lunga, just 5 minutes from the landing. On board you will meet Ronik and his crew and a fresh glass of wine will welcome you while you place your bags (soft) in the assigned cabins. Fins, masks, snorkel and water games will be available on board for guests during the week. A short Skipper briefing will allow the group to become familiar with the boat and crew and to know the itinerary of the week. The evening continues with dinner in a typical Lipari restaurant, enjoying excellent dishes of the Aeolian cuisine. After dinner you will be free to visit the historic center of Lipari and enjoy walking through Marina Corta, with its shops and live music and Sicilian specialties... granita, cannoli and cassate! Night on board, moored and cradled in the Buona Fonda.

SECOND DAY - SUNDAY - Panarea
On Sunday mornings we leave the moorings and start navigating with Ronik who will accompany us throughout the week sailing between the islands. Shortly after the departure (about 30 minutes) we will have our first stop at the Pumice Quarries of Lipari. A unique place for the turquoise blue of the sea and the dazzling white of the pumice sand, derived from a quarry of the stone, now in disuse, but no less fascinating. The first bath is a must! The navigation continues to reach Panarea, the most "cult" among the islands, with its white houses and its sandy beaches. A stop in Lisca Bianca, for a pleasant snorkeling between the underwater sulphurous bubbles and the rocks rich in Mediterranean fauna. Then we arrive at Cala Zimmari next to Punta Milazzese. Quiet anchorage on the sand, in a natural amphitheater in the hills of the island. A unique place to spend a quiet night in the natural harbor. A descent to the ground for a visit to the village and a drink at the Raya is a must.

THIRD DAY - MONDAY - Stromboli
We set sail from Milazzese for a swim in Basiluzzo. Splendid islet of cooled lava, in an intense blue sea. Describing the beauty of this place is impossible, you have to see it for yourself! In the afternoon navigation to Stromboli is resumed, where we arrive after a couple of hours' sail. We anchor in the water mirror between Punta Lena and the Strombolicchio islet, right under the looming figure of the volcano, still active. Second peak of the Aeolian Islands, with its 926 meters of height. Down to earth with the dinghy for a visit to the village and an aperitif based on pizza, focaccia and fried fish and shrimp on the terrace of Ingrid, where we can admire a beautiful sunset on the rock of Strombolicchio and the mountains of Calabria in the background. Unfortunately since July 2019 it's forbidden to hike the vulcan (900 mt high) because of safety reasons.

FOURTH DAY - TUESDAY - Salina
Starting early in the morning, we skirt the northwest side of the island of Stromboli, with the "sciara del fuoco". Natural casting of volcanic rocks and lava, which we can admire from the sea but at a safe distance. We pass the village of Ginostra and continue sailing towards Salina, with a proper stop for a swim to the rock "la Nave" of Panarea (opposite slope the day before). After a couple of hours sailing we reach the island of Salina. The green heart of the Aeolian Islands, with the characteristic line created by the figures of the two extinct volcanoes: the third (Monte dei Porri - 860 mt) and the first peak of the Aeolian Islands (Fossa delle Felci - 962 mt). Among vineyards of excellent Aeolian Malvasia and characteristic villages (Santa Marina - Malfa - Leni), we stop for a break and a visit to the land in the beautiful village of Santa Marina, port of docking on the island. A walk of just over a kilometer on a scenic road overhanging the sea will lead the crew to Lingua. Southern tip of the island, with the beautiful lake separated from the sea by a thin tongue of land and surmounted by a characteristic lighthouse. You will find Ronik and his crew at anchor waiting for you, not before having tasted the typical and excellent "pane cunzato" and the exquisite granitas of Alfredo. Night at anchor.

FIFTH DAY - WEDNESDAY - Filicudi
We are in the "heart" of the Aeolian Islands. We sail from Lingua to skirt Salina on the south side. We admire Rinella (second landing of the island) and reach the anchor of Pollara. In this place of devastating beauty, chosen by Troisi and Noiret as the main scenography of the splendid "Il Postino". Massimo's last effort, which at the end of the shooting has been passed away to the world of Cinema and the beloved islands. You can swim in these waters, in a wonderful amphitheater of steep coasts, surmounted by the rare Aeolian houses. We start in the afternoon for a short sail that will lead us to Filicudi, perhaps the most "mystical" island of the archipelago. A bath at Punta Graziano (one of the 10 best beaches in Italy) and we arrive at the small fishing village of Pecorini a Mare. We dock at a buoy reserved for us in front of the village and go down to the ground to breathe the magical atmosphere of the place and the culinary delicacies of Nonna Rosa, with its feast full of arancini, sea fries and local vegetables. All this is washed by the excellent wine of the Saloon, between laughter and chatter about the seafaring adventures of the skippers, in a spontaneous and lively meeting place. Those who wish can end the evening at the Sirena, historic (and excellent) restaurant with sea view, on the village. A turtle reception and assistance center will be able to give indications and advice on how to recognize and respect them. Often one can be admired, which could be assisted and cured in the center before being released.

SIXTH DAY - THURSDAY – Vulcano
Leaving Pecorini a Mare is always close to the heart, but other beauties await us. A short navigation and we arrive at the cave of Bue Marino, with a beautiful beach of pebbles rounded by waves inside. A few hundred meters and we arrive at the "Canna," a lava column of 71 meters that rises from nothing in the blue sea, with Alicudi in the background. Alicudi is a very beautiful island but without any landing (excluding the pier for hydrofoils) or anchorage. Accessible only with perfect weather, it does not present any particular interest from the sea so we can dedicate ourselves to the baths between the Canna and the Montenassari rock, a splendid example of lava sculpture with a diabolical appearance. A 4-hour sail takes us to Vulcano. The meteorology of the day will advise us whether to anchor on the West or East side. Two symmetrical anchors divided by the narrow tongue of black sand that connects Vulcano to Vulcanello. Once two distinct islands, now joined by the isthmus of sand and a paved road that crosses it, Vulcano is an island with two faces. The northern part, low and arid, with numerous mouths of sulphurous vapors and thermal baths of sulphurous mud. The southern part, the so-called "plateau", full of trees and crops among the roads and beautiful Aeolian houses characterized by fresh and classic colonnaded porticoes, decorated with white curtains. In the far south, the closest to Sicily, a winding road leads to the fishing village of Gelso, with its black beach and the beautiful lighthouse that marks the southern limit of the archipelago. For those who wish, a pleasant walk of an hour and a half leads to the crater of the extinct volcano but with numerous "fumaroles", from which you can admire a splendid view of all the other islands. End the day with aperitif at the Black Sands where we will spend a pleasant evening and possibly organize a BBQ on the beach, in collaboration with the crews of other friendly boats.

SEVENTH DAY - FRIDAY - Lipari
Unfortunately, the last day of the week has arrived. Tonight you return to the Lipari mooring, but we still have a long day to spend between sun and sea. A short navigation to admire the Cave of the Horse and the pool of Venus on the west side of Vulcano. We then cross the strait of Vulcano, for a swim and lunch in Valle Muria, along the west coast of Lipari. In the afternoon we move to the south side for a last weekly swim in front of the beach in Vinci. From this position, we have a wonderful view of the Faraglioni di Lipari and the green banks of Vulcanello, beyond the narrow one. In the late afternoon we sail for a short navigation to our "refuge" of the Good Fonda, at the Marina Lunga di Lipari. We end the week in an excellent restaurant in the historic center of Lipari, with the eyes, mind and heart full of the wonderful emotions we have experienced together between the islands of Aeolus. Night on board and landing on Saturday morning. Ronik and his crew are waiting for you for a next cruise, giving you renewed emotions, sailing, sea, history and culture.