BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Boat Rental Portorosa: Sicily’s Gateway to the Aeolian Islands
Renting a boat at Portorosa, near Milazzo: reaching Vulcano, Lipari, Salina and Stromboli, the Cape Milazzo marine reserve, and what an Aeolian day trip costs.
A few miles from Milazzo on Sicily's north coast, Portorosa marina serves as a springboard to one of the Mediterranean's most striking archipelagos: the Aeolian Islands, a UNESCO World Heritage site for their active volcanism.
Seven islands, seven moods
The shortest crossing leads to Vulcano, known for its fumaroles and sulphur mud baths visible from the anchorage. Lipari, the largest of the group, packs in shops and cliffs of white pumice. Salina, greener, draws crews to its quiet coves, while Stromboli, one of the most continuously active volcanoes on Earth, puts on a show from offshore at nightfall over the Sciara del Fuoco — a trip best planned with an operator used to the longer distances involved.
The Cape Milazzo reserve, just before open water
Before heading out to the Aeolians, the Cape Milazzo marine reserve enforces strict anchoring rules in its protected zones. A landmark study on the effectiveness of Italian marine reserves found that the real level of on-the-ground enforcement, far more than the formal protected status itself, determines whether these zones actually work (Guidetti, Milazzo, Bussotti & Molinari et al., Biological Conservation, 2008, see the study on Google Scholar) — one more reason to stick to marked anchoring zones rather than dropping anchor wherever looks convenient. Our guide to anchoring and posidonia seagrass covers the right habits, valid here as anywhere in the Mediterranean.
Which boat to choose
A RIB suits a day trip to Vulcano or Lipari depending on the day's weather; a catamaran or sailboat booked for the week allows the whole archipelago to be linked, island-hopping along the way. Our neighbouring guide to Milazzo and the Aeolian Islands covers the crossings and distances.
Budget
Expect €200–600 a day for a RIB, €250–900 a day for a motorboat, and €3,000–7,000 a week for a catamaran in high season. Boat-Comparator compares live offers available on Portorosa, with no affiliation to any platform.
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