Capri in 48 hours: the secret route you will not find on Google
Everyone knows Capri. But a yacht charter in Capri offers something no hydrofoil can: nameless coves reachable only by sea, the White Grotto at dawn, the Faraglioni at sunset with the engine off. From the sea, the island reveals its most authentic version — the one that belongs to those who arrive by the right route.
Every year millions of people take the hydrofoil from Naples or Sorrento, land at Marina Grande, ride the funicular up to the Piazzetta and have their photo taken in front of the Faraglioni. It is beautiful. It is Capri. But it is not all of Capri.
There is another island. The one you discover only by gliding along the coast with the hull brushing the limestone rocks, anchoring in the Bay of Mulo before anyone is awake, swimming in the White Grotto as the morning light turns the water into a sapphire mirror.
That Capri is not booked on an app. It is built — with care, with knowledge, with the right boat.
This is our guide to 48 perfect hours in Capri by yacht: a route, a programme, the places only the sea can give you. It is designed for those who want to experience the island differently — more slowly, more authentically, more exclusively.
Those who choose a yacht charter in Capri through Nautica Luxury Corporation can build their own route freely, choosing the anchorages, the timings and the experiences on board.
Capri seen from the sea is not the same island you see from land. It is larger, quieter, more itself.
Day 1 — Arrival, a tour of the Faraglioni and the first night at anchor
The passage to Capri from Sorrento or Punta Campanella takes about an hour with a following wind — one of the most beautiful stretches of the Gulf of Naples. Vesuvius behind you, the coast of Massa Lubrense sloping into the water, and Capri slowly emerging on the horizon with its unmistakable silhouette.
08:30 — Departure from Sorrento or Punta Campanella A quiet harbour, open sea, a direct course to the southern tip of Capri. Coffee on deck with Vesuvius in the background is the best way to start the day.
10:00 — Around the Faraglioni Passing under the natural arch of the Faraglione di Mezzo is one of those moments you remember for ever. With a suitably sized boat you literally pass through the rock. The filtered light, the green reflection on the water, the sudden silence — unrepeatable.
10:45 — Cala di Mulo — a swim in the stone A small inlet on the south-east side of the island, reachable only by sea. Crystal-clear water over a white limestone seabed, with hardly any other boats in the morning. The first stop is here.
13:00 — Lunch at anchor off Marina Piccola The chef on board prepares lunch with the morning’s fresh produce: pasta with piennolo tomatoes, marinated anchovies, octopus salad. The sea at 15 metres, the Canzone del Mare in the background, a Campanian white in your glass.
15:30 — The Blue Grotto — entering by boat The Blue Grotto can be visited by boat: you enter by tender, ducking your head, then the light explodes. The water turns a phosphorescent cobalt blue thanks to sunlight refracting in from below. From inside, swimmers look silver. Visit in the early afternoon to find less traffic.
17:30 — Around the Salto di Tiberio and Punta Carena The bow points west, towards the Punta Carena lighthouse — the second oldest in Italy. Capri’s west coast is wild, vertical, almost unexplored. The afternoon light does extraordinary things on the limestone walls.
19:30 — Anchoring at Cala Marmolata for sunset A quiet inlet on the north-west side, sheltered from the mistral. The island of Ischia on the horizon to the left, the outline of Pozzuoli to the right, the sun slowly going down. A glass of champagne, soft music, no hurry.
21:00 — Dinner on board or ashore at Marina Grande Two options: dinner with the chef on deck under the stars, with the illuminated outline of Capri as the setting. Or go ashore by tender at Marina Grande for a walk up to Capri town and dinner at one of the harbour’s historic restaurants.
Day 2 — Dawn on the island, Anacapri and a farewell at sunset
The second day is the slowest — and the most intense. Capri at dawn, before the ferries arrive, is another island. The morning scents, the sea as calm as a lake, the low light on the Faraglioni still in half-shadow.
06:30 — Dawn at the White Grotto Accessible only by sea, on the eastern side of the island. The water is incredibly clear in the early morning. You enter by swimming or by tender, and the light filtering through the entrance creates opalescent reflections on the limestone vault. One of the most beautiful places in the Mediterranean, visited by very few.
08:00 — Breakfast on board with a view of the Faraglioni The crew has prepared fresh fruit, Neapolitan brioche, juices and coffee. The boat lies at anchor in the early-morning silence. The Faraglioni are right there, a few hundred metres away, still without tourists.
10:00 — Excursion ashore: Anacapri and Villa San Michele The tender takes you to Marina Grande, then the local bus to Anacapri. Villa San Michele, built by the Swedish writer Axel Munthe, is one of the most evocative places in Italy: gardens suspended 150 metres above the sea, Roman columns, white peacocks, a loggia from which Capri looks like a model.
13:00 — A swim at the Bay of Pollio — the emperor’s pool On the northern side of the island, accessible only by boat, lie the remains of the Roman pool built for Emperor Tiberius. Emerald-green water, submerged tuff blocks, absolute peace. One of the most extraordinary swims in the Mediterranean.
15:30 — Aperitif in the Piazzetta Ashore at Marina Grande, the funicular up to Capri town, the Piazzetta. A limoncello at Bar Tiberio, sitting at the little tables as island life flows past. Twenty minutes, no more.
17:30 — Back on board and a last tour of the Faraglioni The sun is low, the light golden, the Faraglioni cast long shadows on the water. You anchor for the last time in the Bay of Mulo. Champagne. Silence. The Amalfi Coast on the horizon.
20:00 — Course back to Sorrento or Naples A night passage with Capri receding, lit up behind you. The lights of the Gulf of Naples ahead, Vesuvius against the dark sky, the stars above. An hour of sailing that is worth the trip on its own.
Everyone knows the Blue Grotto. The White Grotto at dawn, with the light turning the water to mother-of-pearl, is known only to those who arrive by boat.
Unmissable places from the sea
The places we have described cannot be reached by scheduled ferries or organised tours. Nameless coves, grottoes reachable only by swimming, night-time anchorages in total silence: this is the privilege of those who sail their own boat with the most exclusive yacht charter in Capri in the Gulf of Naples.
Faraglioni — Three iconic rocks on the south side. Passing under the arch of the Faraglione di Mezzo is only possible by boat. The light changes every hour.
Blue Grotto — Cobalt-blue water created by sunlight entering from below. Entry by tender, ducking your head. Visit in the morning to avoid the queue.
White Grotto — On the east side of the island, by sea only. Opalescent light, almost no one. Capri’s best-kept secret.
Bay of Pollio — Emperor Tiberius’ swimming pool. Submerged Roman remains, emerald-green water, accessible only by boat.
Punta Carena — The oldest lighthouse in the Gulf. The wild west coast and the sunset blazing on the dark water.
Cala Marmolata — A quiet, sheltered anchorage with a view of Ischia. The perfect place for a sunset aperitif without the crowds.
When to go: the right season for Capri by yacht
A yacht charter in Capri works all year round, but each season has its own character. May and June are the connoisseurs’ months: water already pleasant, anchorages still empty, picture-postcard light. July and August are the months of energy and long nights, but the anchorages fill up. September is perhaps the most beautiful month: full summer, half the crowds, warm water. October brings days of extraordinary light and almost private seas.
For those who want to extend the experience beyond 48 hours, Capri is the natural hub of a wider route towards the Amalfi Coast, the islands of Ischia and Procida, or the Cilento. To learn more about the island’s history and nature, the website of the Gaiola Underwater Park offers information on the marine protected areas of the Gulf of Naples.
Would you like to experience this Capri?
Nautica Luxury Corporation designs your Capri experience in every detail — from the boat to the route, from the chef on board to secluded anchorages. Tell us your dream: we will reply within 24 hours with a tailor-made proposal, with no obligation.
