Egadi Islands by land and water sailing with catamaran

This small archipelago stretches on the sea in front of Trapani and Marsala and it is formed by three bigger islands: Favignana, Levanzo and Marettimo and the islet of Formica. The Egadi islands, close to the Sicilian coast, offer to visitors an "easy travel", with the serenity and peace of the countryside of Trapani.
It is easy to reach, visitors can take ferries or hydrofoils ( 20 min. are needed in order to reach Favignana by hydrofoil, while an hour is needed to reach Marettimo). Different offers of accommodation can be found from hotels, for more exigent tourists, to  bed &breakfast and private houses to camping structures. The islands have different personalities, Favignana is quite comfortable and "family size", Levanzo has the charm of its soft minimalism and Marettimo is for people who love trekking.

Western Sicily, with the Egadi Islands, offers exceptional itineraries for those who want a holiday that has it all, between lands that are still far from the hustle and bustle of the continent and a sea of heavenly shades of blue. The convenient embarking from Trapani is ideal to discover in seven days the triangle of the Egadi Islands formed by Favignana, Levanzo, Marettimo and some reefs, including the Asinelli, Maraone and Formica, the only stretch of sea in Italy to host a stage of the American Cup due to the favorable wind conditions. So what awaits you is a special week for the lovers of the sea and emotions that only a sailboat and years of experience sailing in these waters can offer.

THE EGADI ISLANDS
The islands have been inhabited since ancient times, as the name of the archipelago testifies: it hails from the greek Aegates, which means “the island of goats”. In ancient times these animals lived in abundance in the wild feeding on the rich vegetation that grew luxuriantly on these islands. Although their morphological appearance has evolved greatly over the past few decades due to increased tourism, the Egadi still represent an area that is naturalistically interesting. But mostly these islands are known for their incomparable coastal and underwater beauties that hopefully will be better appraised in the future, thanks to the recent establishment of the Marine Protected Area. The Egadi are characterized by its depths that are some of the most species-rich in all the Mediterranean, due to the presence of innumerable caves and the variety of marine environments present. For this reason they have been declared a Marine Natural Reserve and are subject to special protection.

PROGRAMME
Monday: embarking in the morning, briefing and settling in cabins, then everybody will go shopping for the week. Before casting off, the tip is to eat a grenadine in Piazza Garibaldi. If we’ll be fast it’ll be possible to leave the same afternoon for Levanzo where we can cool down with a nice refreshing bath in one of the rocky coves that characterize its coasts. In the evening after dinner we can let ourselves be rocked by the waves while chatting and laughing with friends or go into town with the tender.

Tuesday: we prepare breakfast with the beautiful Levanzo as our background, then we take a walk to the Grotta del Genovese, where we can see graffiti and drawings dating back to the Paleolithic Era , when the Egadi were still attached to Sicily. After the hike we go back on our boat for lunch and a quiet sail up to Marettimo, a wild island where the Dolomite landscapes merge with waters that have deep hues of blue. From a naturalistic point of view it is the most interesting island of the Egadi, given the rich Mediterranean vegetation among which you can find rare plant species that have disappeared in the rest of the Archipelago and spot some of the mouflons recently reintroduced on the island. In the evening we make arrangements for a tasting of tuna products.

Wednesday: we deepen our knowledge of Marettimo visiting some of the over than 300 caves full of stalactites, reachable only on small local boats. Do not miss Grotta del Cammello and the Grotta del Presepe, unbeatable caverns of crystal clear water. Who wants to walk can start from Cala Maione and reach Punta Troia along paths surrounded by Mediterranean vegetation, which in many places thins out to let your gaze wander over the whole Archipelago. Coming back from the hike, we restore the palate with a delicious Tramontana grenadine. Upon our return to the boat we can choose the most beautiful bay for a regenerating dip, before relaxing with a drink at sunset in the company of our new friends. For dinner, we suggest the Timone or the Veliero, or a delicious lobster bisque at the Carrubo (please make a reservation).

Thursday: with the favor of the God of the winds, we put the bow of our boat in the direction of Favignana for the traditional dives. In the afternoon we temporarily leave the Egadi for an incursion in Sicily, from where Garibaldi left to unify Italy. In the evening we land at Marsala, home of the famous DOC wine, for a dinner of Sicilian specialties, a walk in the historical center and to step on the dancefloor in one of the clubs of the coast.

Friday: before leaving the marina, it is a must to visit the historic Cantine Florio or, optionally, one of the archaeological sites of the area: Mothia, Selinunte or the Satyr of Mazara. We have become skilled enough in the movements on the boat and navigation so that the ride to Favignana is a real pleasure. We sail to Cala Rossa, symbol of the island and famous for the color of its turquoise waters and tuff stone quarries near the reef. The sea is the preferred way to reach this corner of paradise as who arrives by foot has to walk down a steep path through the rock wall that borders the beach. Evening under the stars in the enchanted bay of Preveto: party on board and a midnight swim.

Saturday: last day of sea and sun in the Egadi Archipelago, but there are still so many things to see. After breakfast we move to the Tonnara Florio, one of the oldest Tonnara (the place where the fishermen brought the tuna they’d have caught) in Sicily and certainly one of the most important, beautiful and best preserved in the region, where from April to June it is possible that the famous mattanza (the massacre of the tuna) takes place. A curiosity: the art nouveau building, former home of the Florio family (the Agnelli family of Sicily) and now seat and Municipal Museum, that adorns its coast was so loved by the Tsarina of Russia she built an identical one in St. Petersburg. We climb for a short walk to the former traffic light, the ancient seat of sighting of the navy now in disuse, to see Favignana in all its glory. Alternatively there’s the possibility to rent a bike or scooter to tour the island. We spend the evening wandering around the town for a last wild night in Sicily: we suggest you try “La Bettola” for dinner.

Sunday: early call, sail back to Trapani and disembark within 12.00 pm. If you wish to extend your stay in the city we suggest you try the Cantina Siciliana at the old fish market.

Please note: the itinerary and excursions are subject to change according to weather, sea and wind conditions. The commander, therefore, reserves the right to modify the cruise itinerary, taking into account that the real "commanders" are always Poseidon and Aeolus.

Quotation on demand for small groups max 10 people and families with children under 12 years old 

• The Aeolian Islands Gran Tour

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