Marettimo is the westernmost island of the Egadi Islands, located just ten miles off Favignana on the W route. Very high and dark, it descends by steep slopes to the sea with very high backdrops. Rocky coasts, inhospitable for all boats, sailboats and yacht who have to anchor. It is a good idea to approach always very carefully. Marettimo is exposed to all winds which, due to its high coasts, suffer unexpected deviations and reinforcements below the coast. Very good weather condition is a necessary condition for sailing to Marettimo. Here there are thermal breezes that undergo considerable reinforcements due to the channeling between the mountains.

The village of Marettimo is at the center of the E side of the island. It divides the port of Marettimo - Scalo Nuovo to S - from the Scalo Vecchio - useful only for approaching with the tender or small rubber boats and forbidden to boats, sailboats and yacht.

The approach to the port needs attention given the presence of shallows and dangerous obstacles. Floating pontoons offer mooring, light and water service to all sailing boats, yacht and charter boats. Alternatively, it is still possible to anchor in rocky seabed of 6 - 8 meters, not far from the Marettimo harbour. All skippers have to consider also the evolutionary area of ​​the hydrofoils that continuously connect Marettimo with Favignana, Levanzo and Trapani. The circumnavigation of Marettimo is about 10 miles, we report the Cretazzo shoal to the SE from the Punta Libeccio lighthouse about 200 meters from the land.

Marettimo anchorages

The only anchorages on the island of Marettimo are on the E side, since there are numerous restrictions on W side of Marettimo due to the Integral Reserve. We suggest you Cala Manione and Cala Martino to anchor your boat, sailboat or yacht in safe.

Not to be missed: the excursion with local guides and small boats to the Marettimo park, along the entire W side of the island, Punta Libeccio and the Marettimo caves.

Dangers of Marettimo: Secca del Cretazzo, rocky reef of 2 meters at about 700 meters S of the Punta Libeccio lighthouse at about 200 meters from the land. Low backdrops on SW Side of Punta Mugnone. The entire N coast is faced with rocks, the boats and saiboats have not to sail below the coast to be on the safe side

Favignana is the largest of the Egadi Islands and also the most inhabited. The town of Favignana, with the only harbour extending around an inlet of the N coast - Cala Principale -, is well sheltered from all winds except those coming from NW, N, and NE direction. The small alleys of the village testify to the ancient wealth of the island, the church square and its cafes make Favignana a nice stopover during your sailng tour in Egadi islands.

From the sea, on board your sailboat or yacht you can easily recognize the town in the center of the island's N coast. The sailboat approach does not present any difficulty and the port entrance is always busy given the continuous connection of Favignana with Levanzo, Marettimo and Trapani. The entrance to the harbour is very very characteristic and unique as this is dammed by an old tonnara which descends into the water.

Port of Favignana

In Favignana there is no real marina for pleasure boats, sailboats, yacht or charter sailboat, only a high dock that allows mooring, and it is clearly even crowded. In alternative you can anchor your sailboat or charter boat near the bay of the harbour, or you can also approach to the numerous fishing boats, keeping in mind their need to enter and leave the port according to their working hours. The only other possibility for all boats, sailboats,charter sailing boats, yachts, is to anchor in a sandy seabed and moor on the dock in front of the old tonnara.

Pay attention to the low sandy seabed going towards the inside of the harbour, as the depths decrease rapidly. it is possible to refuel. The port of Favignana is open to the mistral wind. Therefore with NE, NW and N winds the harbour is not safe. It offers instead an excellent shelter from the SE, S and SW winds.

Favignana anchors

In addition to the main harbour, Favignana offers numerous stopovers and very beautiful inlets that deserve a stop, and also offer good shelters. Always pay close attention to the seabed when approaching. We suggest you Cala Grande, Cala Rotonda, on the W-SW side of Favignana, close to the winds coming from ENE. The southern side of favignana is full of inlets that are not always easy and safe for your sailboat or for sail charter boats, but which offer shelter to the winds of the 1st and 2nd quadrants. The falled stones bay on SE side is considered the safest, although not particularly beautiful. A NE instead we point out Cala Rossa, a splendid bay, bright. excellent sheltered from the SW wind for all sailboats and yachts, sail charter boats.

Dangers of Favignana: the coast is rich in shoals, rocks and insidious dangers, especially on the S side. Always pay close attention and consult the nautical charts. Punta Sottile has shallow waters. do not sail down the coast and round a lot to double the lighthouse.

Levanzo is the smallest of the Egadi islands. It is very close to Favignana, about 2 miles, so much so that if the weather conditions are not supported, all boats, sailboat, sail yacht charter, can easily return into the harbour in Favignana. Levanzo is completely uninhabited, except the little village and the few people who are all near to the port. Levanzo does not present any difficulty approaching for the boats and sailboats, only the depth of the seabed.. so all skipper have to pay attention during theri anchoring. It is possible to anchor near the harbour, stopover for hydrofoils, which continuously link Levanzo with Favignana, Marettimo and Trapani. The island is accessible only from its SE side.

Not to be missed: Cala Fredda, Cala Mindola, Cala Dogana by the sea, an excursion by land to all the caves of Levanzo dating to the Neolithic age

Dangers of Levanzo: rocky and shallow waters around the Faraglione in SW side of Levanzo, shallow waters around Punta tramontana and Capo Grosso

Trapani, a beautiful city, rich in history and ancient buildings, is the only serious harbour and safe marina for all boats, sailboats charter and yachts who sail to the Egadi Islands. It is only ten miles about from Favignana and Levanzo. Trapani is basically a commercial harbour, but has developed and dedicated large spaces to pleasure boats, sailboats , charter boats and yachts. It’s necessary to study and consult the nautical charts to entry into the harbour, not easy for the presence of rocky and sandy shallows sometimes not reported. For those sailing from the Egadi islands especially from Favignana, with their sailboat, or sail yacht charter, pay attention to the islet of Formica, and to the island of Maraone right on the route.

Trapani harbour

The approach to the harbour of Trapani has a large number of rocks and shallow waters. All boats, charter boats , sail yacht charter and yachts have always to cross very close to the center of harbour, pointing further north, to avoid the shallow waters. For the boats and sailboats coming from the north, however, it is prudent to leave the Asinelli rock to the left of the navigator, as the coast is rich in shallow waters. It is then necessary to make a wide tour near the tip of Trapani, before heading to the port entrance. It can help you to look at the route traced by ships and hydrofoils that continuously cross the entrance of the harbour of Trapani and connect it with Favignana, Marettimo, Levanzo.

Once in the trapani harbor, you can choose the moor among numerous pontons, both to the right of the Lazzaretto and to the left, proceeding towards the shipyard area. We recommend the latter, as they are much closer to the city.

Not to be missed: the islet of Mozia, Erice, the salt marshes

San Vito Lo Capo deserves a stop. Basically it is a seaside resort, with an unattractive country, but the port offers a good shelter to all boats, charter boats, sailboats, and yachts from all winds, except for the strong SE. More the boats can anchor as well as the bay in front of the port entrance which is truly enchanting. San Vito lo Capo is enclosed by the summit of Monte Monaco, 500 meters high and bordered to the W by the lower Capo di San Vito, with its tall white cylindrical lighthouse. It has backdrops of clear sand that make the waters even clearer and it is a beautiful stop for all boats,sailboats and yachts.

In the harbor there are several floating pontons that offer mooring, light and water services. The refueling service is guaranteed to all boats, sailboats and charter boats by the Agip distributor on the right upon entering the port.

Dangers: Punta San Vito is surrounded by shallow unmarked seabeds that go up a mile from the coast. For those who coming from W by sailboat, make a large round before heading to port. Always keep an eye on the seabed which, from 100 meters, rapidly decreases to a rocky cliff of 5 meters. The continuous sandy shoals that are formed according to the currents and the shallow waters are the cause of wave breakers even with little wind. In bad weather condition keep well off.

Punta Solanto in E side of San Vito has shallow waters too. Do not sail down the coast and keep wide to double the head. The entrance to the port is subject to cover-up especially on the left side. Pay attention

Not to be missed: the local pastry shop, but above all the cannoli.

Enclosed between Capo Gallo and Capo Zafferano, Palermo, the capital of Sicily, appears from the sea as a vast commercial and industrial city whose smokestacks now cover the entire S coast of the bay. The marina of Palermo develops within the commercial harbour and this means very unattractive impact while you go to the moorings with your sailboat, yacht ot charter sail yacht. But just disembark you realize the immense heritage and exciting wealth of this city, scattered within a radius of 1.5 km around the harbour. The approach by boats, yacht or sail yacht charter to the port of Palermo and the entranceof the harbor  do not present any difficulty. Alternatives to the moorings the boats, sailyachts, charter boats, yachts in the commercial area are small marina as Santa Flavia, Acquasanta, Villa Igiea, Arenella all further away from the city center.