Favignana Boat Tours Compared: Gozzo vs RIB vs Yacht

Favignana Boat Types at a Glance

Boat type	Best for	Main advantage	Main downside
Gozzo	Couples, relaxed travellers	Character and slower pace	Usually slower
RIB / Gommone	Swimming, active travellers	Fast and agile	Less shelter and comfort
Motorboat	Families, mixed groups	Good balance of comfort and speed	Less distinctive experience
Sailing boat	Couples, slow travel	The journey itself	Less efficient for covering many stops
Yacht	Celebrations, premium trips	Space and comfort	High price
Shared tour	Couples, solo travellers	Best value	Less flexibility
Private charter	Families and groups	Privacy and control	Higher total cost

The first thing to understand is that boat type and booking type are separate choices.

You might book:

a shared gozzo
a private gozzo
a shared RIB
a private RIB
a private motorboat
a private yacht

So rather than asking simply, “What’s the best boat?”, it’s better to make two decisions:

What kind of boat experience do I want?
Do I want to share the boat or reserve it privately?

1. Traditional Gozzo: Best for Atmosphere

If you imagine exploring a Sicilian island slowly from a classic-looking Mediterranean boat, a gozzo is probably closest to what you have in mind.

A gozzo is a traditional boat type found around Italy and the Mediterranean. Modern excursion versions are usually motorised and adapted for tourism, often with cushioned seating, shade and easier swimming access.

Why choose a gozzo?

The appeal is the pace.

Rather than feeling like you’re racing between attractions, a gozzo trip tends to make the boat ride itself part of the experience.

Much of the day is about:

cruising along the coast
looking at the water
swimming
talking over an aperitivo
spending time in a cove
enjoying the view between the islands

Gozzo advantages

traditional Mediterranean character
relaxed cruising
often good shaded areas
comfortable for a leisurely full day
ideal for couples
feels appropriate to the setting

Gozzo disadvantages

slower than a RIB
not ideal if covering maximum distance is your priority
comfort and facilities vary considerably between individual boats

The one dedicated gozzo listing we track — Favignana: Private Gozzo Boat Tour with Skipper, $813 for up to eight — has no reviews yet, so treat it as a genuine option rather than a proven pick until it has a track record.

2. RIB / Gommone: Best for Swimming and Covering More Coast

You’ll see the Italian word gommone constantly when comparing boat excursions in Sicily.

In most tour listings, this refers to a rigid inflatable boat — usually abbreviated in English as RIB.

These boats are:

fast
agile
relatively compact
easy to manoeuvre
well suited to frequent swimming stops

RIB advantages

fast between islands and coves
excellent for swimming-focused itineraries
often carries relatively small groups
can feel more adventurous
good access to stretches of coastline

RIB disadvantages

usually less shade than larger boats
less protected from wind and spray
limited onboard facilities on smaller models
can feel less comfortable during longer crossings

Our pick: Trapani: Favignana & Levanzo RIB Tour with Snorkelling — $99 · 4.4★ (4 reviews). More on the format: rib and dinghy tours.

Gozzo vs RIB: Which Is Better?

	Gozzo	RIB / Gommone
Speed	Moderate	Fast
Atmosphere	Excellent	Sportier
Swimming trips	Excellent	Excellent
Shade	Often better	Varies
Comfort	Usually better	More basic
Adventure factor	Moderate	High
Traditional feel	Excellent	Low
Covering more coast	Good	Excellent
Couples	Excellent	Very good
Families	Very good	Depends on boat/children

Choose a gozzo if:

You want to enjoy being on the boat.

Choose a RIB if:

You want the boat to get you efficiently between great swimming spots.

3. Motorboat: The Best All-Rounder?

Motorboats cover an enormous range of vessels, so always look at photographs and specifications rather than relying on the word alone.

Motorboat advantages

good cruising speed
usually more substantial than a small RIB
often better seating
may have toilet facilities
suitable for families
good for full-day trips

Motorboat disadvantages

less character than a gozzo
less adventurous than a RIB
quality varies enormously

A good motorboat is often the safest choice for a mixed group.

Our pick: From Trapani: Favignana and Levanzo Motorboat Cruise — $64 · 4.7★ (5 reviews).

4. Sailing Boat: Best When the Journey Matters

Sailing trips appeal to a different type of traveller.

The point isn’t simply to reach Cala Rossa as quickly as possible.

Sailing boat advantages

peaceful
romantic
more distinctive experience
plenty of time to enjoy the sea
ideal for slow travel

Sailing boat disadvantages

slower
route depends even more on conditions
not ideal for maximising the number of swimming stops

Our pick: From Trapani: Full-Day Sailboat Trip to Favignana & Levanzo — $134 · 4.9★ (45 reviews). Full write-up: our sailboat tour breakdown.

5. Yacht: Best for Comfort and Special Occasions

At the premium end you’ll find private yachts and larger luxury motorboats.

They can offer:

larger sun decks
more seating
cabins
bathrooms
better shade
greater privacy
premium food and drinks
more space to spread out

Is a yacht actually better for Favignana?

Not automatically.

A €2,000 yacht and a €700 private gozzo can both bring you to beautiful water.

You buy the yacht because the time between the stops is more comfortable.

Our pick: From Trapani: Favignana & Levanzo Mini-Yacht Tour with Lunch — $87 · 4.3★ (463 reviews), the most-evidenced yacht listing on the route. Note a €20-per-person skipper fee is collected at the box office, on top of the online price. Full write-up: our mini-yacht tour breakdown.

RIB vs Yacht

	RIB	Yacht
Speed	Excellent	Excellent
Comfort	Basic–moderate	Excellent
Space	Limited	Excellent
Swimming access	Excellent	Usually excellent
Shade	Variable	Usually better
Price	Lower	Much higher
Adventure	Excellent	Moderate
Luxury	Low	Excellent

Shared Boat Tour or Private Charter?

Shared Boat Tour

Advantages

considerably cheaper for one or two people
easy to book
good for solo travellers
often follows a proven full-day itinerary

Disadvantages

timetable isn’t yours
swimming stops have predetermined lengths
strangers share the boat

Our pick: From Trapani: Favignana and Levanzo Egadi Island Day Cruise — $64 · 4.8★ (830 reviews), the most-booked and best-evidenced tour on the whole route. Full write-up: our day-cruise breakdown.

Private Boat

Advantages

only your group on board
more flexible pace
easier with children
ideal for celebrations
can adapt swimming time

Disadvantages

high total price
poor value for one traveller

Our pick: Luxury Boat Tour to Favignana and Levanzo — $836 (up to 4 guests) · 4.9★ (9 reviews), the best-reviewed private boat on the route. See our full private charter guide for the per-person arithmetic on larger groups.

Shared vs Private: Which Gives Better Value?

Suppose a shared tour costs €90 per person.

For two people:

€90 × 2 = €180

For eight people:

€90 × 8 = €720

A €700–€900 private boat can therefore become competitive for groups.

Private RIB or Private Gozzo?

Private RIB

Choose it for:

speed
lots of swimming
active groups
covering more coast

Private gozzo

Choose it for:

atmosphere
comfort
couples
leisurely lunches and aperitivo

Which Boat Is Best for Families?

Usually either:

a comfortable motorboat
a gozzo with good shade
a larger private boat

Important questions include:

Is there shade?
Is there a toilet?
Is it easy to get back aboard after swimming?
How many people will be aboard?

Which Boat Is Best for Couples?

Best value: Small shared boat

Most atmospheric: Gozzo

Best for a special occasion: Private charter

Which Boat Is Best for Groups?

For approximately six or more people, start seriously comparing private options. See small-group tours for the twelve-guest shared boats, or private boat tours for the full charter arithmetic.

Which Boat Has the Best Swimming Stops?

Potentially all of them.

Tours commonly explore places around Favignana such as:

Cala Rossa
Cala Azzurra
Bue Marino
Cala Rotonda

and around Levanzo:

Cala Fredda
Cala Minnola
Cala Calcara

For most visitors, three excellent swimming stops with enough time to enjoy them are better than eight hurried stops.

Is a Faster Boat Better?

Not necessarily.

Speed matters mainly if:

you’re departing from Trapani or Marsala
you’re trying to cover both islands
you have limited time
you want many swimming stops

If you’re already staying on Favignana, speed becomes less important.

Full Day or Half Day?

For Favignana + Levanzo together, we’d generally favour a full day.

Half-day tours make more sense if:

you’re staying on Favignana
you’ve already explored one island
you mainly want swimming
you’re travelling with small children

What Matters More Than the Boat Type?

Before choosing between a gozzo and RIB, check:

Group size
Shade
Swimming access
Skipper
Actual itinerary
Inclusions
Departure point

Our Choice by Traveller Type

Solo traveller

Shared small-group boat

Couple on a budget

Shared RIB or small motorboat

Couple wanting something romantic

Shared or private gozzo

Honeymoon or anniversary

Private gozzo or yacht

Family with young children

Motorboat or shaded gozzo

Family of 6–10

Compare private charters

Group of friends

Private RIB

Strong swimmers / active travellers

RIB

Traveller who hates rushing

Gozzo or sailing boat

Luxury traveller

Private yacht

So, Which Favignana Boat Tour Should You Book?

Choose a small shared tour if value matters most.

Choose a gozzo if atmosphere and a relaxed pace matter most.

Choose a RIB if swimming and covering coastline matter most.

Choose a motorboat if you want a comfortable all-round option.

Choose a sailing boat if you want to enjoy the journey rather than maximise stops.

Choose a yacht if comfort and the boat itself are important parts of the experience.

Choose private if you’re travelling as a family or group, or simply don’t want to share your day — our private boat charter guide covers the skipper, price and inclusion questions in full.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a gozzo better than a RIB for Favignana?

Neither is objectively better. A gozzo is generally better for relaxed cruising and atmosphere, while a RIB suits travellers who prioritise speed and swimming.

What does “gommone” mean on Italian boat-tour websites?

A gommone is an inflatable or rigid inflatable boat.

Is a private boat worth it in Favignana?

It can be particularly good value for families and groups.

Is a yacht worth paying extra for?

Only if you value the extra space, comfort and premium experience.

Can you visit both Favignana and Levanzo on one boat tour?

Yes. Combining the two islands is a common full-day itinerary.

Compare Favignana & Levanzo Boat Tours

Before booking, compare more than the headline price.

Look at:

boat type
maximum passenger count
shared vs private
departure point
trip duration
shade and onboard facilities
swimming stops
included food and drinks
fuel and skipper
cancellation terms

→ Compare Favignana & Levanzo boat tours, boat types, prices and current availability.