The round trip of the island by boat starts from Marina Grande.
Travelling west, we flank the beach of Marina Grande and of Bagni di Tiberio. The next stretch of coastline consist of the high calcareous cliff with fissures and grottoes covered by lush, indigenous vegetation. After passing Punta Gradola, we reach the Blue Grotto.
Continuing our trip westwards, we pass by Cala del Rio, the largest creek on the western side of the island, and Cala Tombosiello, better known as Cala di Limmo. After rounding the Lighthouse of Punta Carena, we proceed until we reach: the Saint‘s Grotto, inside which calcareous erosion and action of the sea have created schapes that resemble statues with a religious theme; the Red Grotto, so named because of the dark colour of the water produced by the seaweed and underwater influorescence; and the Green Grotto, with its multitude of colour and light effects.
In the next stretch of coastline with the broad inlet of Cala Ventroso, dominated by sheer and steep cliffs, there are no more grottoes until we reach the end of the coastal area of Marina Piccola.
A little further on, after passing Cala di Torre Saracena, beneath Via Krupp, appears the Arsenal Grotto, which was used as a temple and nymphaeum in Roman times.
Its name is derived from the military use to which it was put during the Middle Ages and even more recently.
About 200 m. fuhrter to the east, below the Carthusian monastery of San Giacomo, we find the Dark Grotto, access to which was obstructed by a landslide, that it the tower guarding the Chartusian monastery in 1808. A little further on, in a small protected inlet, lies the grotto known as the Sailors‘s Hotel, which was used by fishermen as a schelter during sudden storms.
After rounding Punta di Tragara with the Faraglioni rocks, we soon arrive at the small harbour of Tragara. The solitary rock on the opposite side is known as the Monacone; a few remains of Roman constructions are behind the legnd that Masgaba, the African architect of Octavian Augustus, was buied on this rock.
Proceding towards Cala del Fico, in front of Punta Massullo, on which Villa Malaparte stands, and after rounding Cala di Matermania, at the foot of the large amphiteatre covery in greenery, we reach the White Grotto and the Marvellous Grotto. One can be reached from the sea, and the other by steps with a landing stage. They both provide extraordinary light effects due to the reflections of the water on the weird stalactit formations.
The coastline, which until here previously fell sheer into the sea from about 200 m. of altitude with severely eroded and degraded walls, here becomes high and barren featuring a sparse Mediterranean brush and erosions in the calcareous rock.
Until the next promontory Punta del Monaco, there are no grottoes opening up of any importence.
After passing Cala del Salto, below the “Salto di Tiberio”, we reach the small automatic lighthouse perched on a low rock protruding forwards, known as “Longa di Basso”. Higher up, the original woodland of Capri can be seen, consisting mainly of holm oaks (Quercus Ilex).
Beyond Punta del Capo, we flank a stretch of coastline with large rocky boulders after which the „ Scoglio della Ricotta“ emerges.
After passing Punta Fucile (Rifle Point), thus named due to the characteristic shape of the fissure cut into its rocks, we reach the Grotto of the Sea Ox, a refuge of the “Monaca” seal, once a common sight in the Mediterranean.
This is followed by the last inlet before returning to Marina Grande, Marina di Caterola, whose reef was produced in 1971 by the crumbling of the overlyng calcareous ridge.
The excursion (about 2 hours) cannot be made in adverse weather conditions.
