Summit of Mount Solaco and Isle of Capri in Italy
Capri is a small island with craggy coast, turquoise waters, abundant sea caves and beautiful views of the Gulf of Naples in Italy. It’s only 5km (3.1 miles) away from the mainland and you can take a ferry from Naples or Sorrento to visit the island for the day. You can also take a chairlift to summit of Mount Solaco while you’re at it!
Not only that, this island is also where the Blue Grotto hides. It’s a sea cave where sunlight passes through an underwater cavity and shining through the seawater, creates a blue reflection that illuminates the cavern.
My Grandpa and I visited the island for two days and one night to check out the island and visit the Blue Grotto. We couldn’t be any luckier to get an offer to join Caprionline‘s Motoscafisti di Capri boat tour and chairlift to the summit of Mount Solaco.
Besides all that, we were also offered to stay at Hotel Caesar Augustus for a night, so everything was worked out for us before we boarded the ferry to the island from Naples.
In that case, we, by all means, went straight to the hotel before going out into the main town of Capri when we first arrived to get settled with our belongings.
Chairlift to the summit of Mount Solaco
While I was getting myself ready for the chairlift, I found my Grandpa snoring on the bed already. He was just too tired when I tried waking him up to join me on the chairlift. He told me to go without him. It was kind of a bummer for me that he was too tired to join me, but it didn’t bother me.
I kind of understood because he surely spent a lot of his energy lately and for him to arrive in a 5-star hotel was too exhausting and exhilarating for him to not take a nap. Thus, I went off on my own.
It was a fortunate that the hotel was near Piazza Vittoria, where the chairlift was, so it didn’t take me long to walk over and see the Mount Solaco towering 589 meters above sea level over the village of Anacapri.
The chairlift runs from 9.30am to 3.30pm November–February, 4pm March–April and 5pm May–October. It costs €7,50 (~$8.25 US Dollars) one way or €10 ($11 US Dollars) for a return. The ride takes 12 minutes each way. Unless you’re more energetic – or don’t like the look of the chairlift – then there is a walking path leading to the summit which takes about a hour to walk.
Off I go! As I rode the chairlift above Capri, I could see all of the terraced gardens, private homes, and the rugged terrain near the top of the peak. The views as you climb higher would get more and more impressive, until you found yourself at the top with a 360 degree view of the island and the Bay of Naples.
At the top, be sure to spin like a ballerina to enjoy the 360 degree panorama of the many shades of blue from the sea and sky. From this point, you’ll see whitewashed houses which cover the hillsides of Capri Town, the three rock stacks called the Faraglioni lying off the coast, and on out to the Sorrento Peninsula, the Bay of Naples and the islands of Ischia and Procida. The scenery is filled with striking rock faces dipping away into the sea, along with wind-battered trees and scattered wildflowers.
Well, I’m kidding, don’t spin like a ballerina. Just take all the time you can get to absorb the beautiful view they have. Besides, if you happen to get a very clear day, you will be able to see Mount Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast and even the mountains in Calabria.
Overall, the whole thing took me about an hour, even though I didn’t hike up and down but I was taking my time to take photos and whatnot.
Boat tour around the Isle of Capri
On the next morning, my Grandpa and I got up all excited like kids on Christmas morning. We just couldn’t wait to see the Blue Grotto.
…But there are some things we all can control, but sea conditions are not one of them. The tide was high, covering up the cave, and the current was strong and rough, making it impossible for us to see the Blue Grotto.
It was like waking up to Christmas being stolen by the Grinch.
However, we still went on the boat tour regardless. Although the contact person of Caprionline did communicate with us of the rough currents of the water while riding the boat.
We were prepared for the ride as we arrived, but we brought our belongings to the tour office with us because we had to check out the hotel before getting on the boat. We arrived just to find out that they wouldn’t hold our backpacks. We were told to take them with us on the boat. Grandpa and I weren’t sure about that, but we didn’t really have any choice that moment, so we went on the boat. We laid down the backpacks on the floor of the boat.
As we went off into and around the sea from the pier of Marina Grande, Grandpa and I watched the island and the scenery of the sea as we cruised around the island. We saw castles owned by the rich and famous and weaved our way between rock formations in the middle of the ocean. The boat tour lasted about couple of hours and we saw the Blue Grotto as we passed, but we couldn’t get close. =(
Besides all that, Grandpa and I were kind of disappointed that the guide made us brought our belongings on the boat because the strong currents of the water was rough on the boat. A lot of water splashed over the edges of the boat causing a flood. Both my grandpa and I ended up spending some time grabbing our belongings and putting them up on seats. I was utterly worried because I also had other media equipment, accessories and electronic devices in my backpacks. I really wished that the tour was considerate and allowed us to secure our backpacks in their office as we go out on the boat. That’s the only negative that I encountered in this experience, but everything else was quite a pleasure and the whole view of the surrounding and the island.
But I promise you that I will come back and make sure I see the Blue Grotto!
Final Thoughts
You have no idea how beautiful the Isle of Capri is! You have to make time for a day or two to visit this island.
Be sure to take a tour with Caprionline as they offer many different tours on the island besides the chairlift and boat tours. I know you’ll have a positive experience with them. Just like I did!
Caprionline
- Address: Via le Botteghe, 10A, 80073 Capri NA, Italy
- Email: info@caprionline.it
- Website: http://www.capri.net/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insidercapri/