Vendicari Nature Reserve: Our most recommended tours and activities

Boat tour from Portopalo to Marzamemi

1. Boat tour from Portopalo to Marzamemi

You will start right from Portopalo, exactly from Scalo Mandrie, and immediately you will be surrounded by a crystal-clear sea, dense vegetation and immense golden beaches. You will admire from the sea the Tafuri Castle, an elegant and majestic structure located right next to the ancient tuna fishery of Portopalo, and from here you will head to your next destination, one of the most beautiful maritime villages of Sicily: Marzamemi. Also characterized by the presence of the Tonnara, Marzamemi covered a very important role in the past thanks to the presence of two small ports from which the commercial ships of southeastern Sicily departed. Today, on the other hand, it is a center of youthful nightlife thanks to the numerous disco pubs. Circumnavigate the Island of Capo Passero, a small island of about 35 hectares that is about 300 meters from the coast, and before returning to the port you can enjoy a swim stop and relax immersed in the crystal clear waters.

From Portopalo di Capo Passero: Marzamemi Half-Day Boat Tour

2. From Portopalo di Capo Passero: Marzamemi Half-Day Boat Tour

You will depart from Portopalo di Capo Passero, exactly from Scalo Mandrie, and immediately you will be surrounded by a crystal clear sea, dense vegetation and immense golden-colored beaches. You will head to one of the most beautiful seaside villages in Sicily: Marzamemi. Characterized by the presence of the Tonnara, Marzamemi played a very important role in the past thanks to the presence of two small ports from which commercial ships from southeastern Sicily departed. Today, on the other hand, it is a center of youthful nightlife thanks to the numerous disco pubs. The panorama will become increasingly unique and interesting as you approach the Vendicari Nature Reserve. You will see dense vegetation alternating with immense golden-colored beaches surrounded by a crystal-clear blue sea, places where the many animal species that inhabit the reserve live. If you are lucky, you will also be able to spot Flamingos, Herons and Storks. Circumnavigate the Island of Capo Passero, a small island of about 35 hectares that is about 300 meters from the coast, and before returning to the port you can enjoy an aperitif on board and a swim stop to relax immersed in the clear waters.

From Siracusa: Vendicari Nature Reserve Guided Tour

3. From Siracusa: Vendicari Nature Reserve Guided Tour

After leaving the meeting place, we will drive to Vendicari reserve. The guide will give you some information about the special wetland environment and about the birds of the reserve (over 250 different species), with proper spotting scope. We will walk along an easy path to get to the beach where the guide will describe you the characteristic vegetation. We will reach the suggestive Tuna factory and the Aragonese tower, there the transfer R/T, guided tour with hiking guide, walking poles use of birdwatching gear guide will get you known interesting information about their history and how tuna fishery worked. Swimming break and transfer back to Siracusa.

Noto: Guided trekking and birdwatching at Vendicari Reserve

4. Noto: Guided trekking and birdwatching at Vendicari Reserve

Defined as the hotel of the birds, Vendicari is today one of the most frequented natural reserves by migratory birds in Europe and its importance, from a naturalistic point of view, is recognized internationally. Walking along its paths you will be able to observe a great biodiversity of plants typical of the Mediterranean maquisamong which the carob, the wild olive, the myrtle and the "Juniperus coccolone" that, in some places, reaches monumental dimensions. Along this naturalistic path you can visit, after having crossed the big quagmire, the ancient Swabian tower built between the end of the three hundred and the beginning of the four hundred; the tuna trap, of which remain substantial structures; the salt pans, today a place frequented by countless migratory and sedentary birds. In the vicinity of the trap you will also find a plant for processing fish, characterized by tanks for the production of "garum", a typical sauce used by the Greeks and Romans to season food. In short, you will live an experience that will allow you to visit a truly unique place.

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Vendicari Nature Reserve

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What people are saying about Vendicari Nature Reserve

Overall rating

3.7 / 5

based on 3 reviews

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the beautiful nature reserve. Our guide Frederico was excellent explaining about the unique habitat and the bird species that inhabit the area and why it is so important for them. The history of the coastline is also very interesting and our guide was able to show us things we wouldn't have seen otherwise. His expertise enhanced the visit enormously. A point to be aware of is how hot doing the walk during the summer can be, without much available shade, so a hat and plenty of drinking water is essential. There is an option to have a swim if you wish to do so whilst there. The excursion is good value for money and the pick-up, drop-off was easy and efficient.