Favignana Boat Tours for Groups: Best Options for 8, 10 & 12+ People

August Makes Private Even More Interesting

If a peak-season shared ticket costs $115 per person — Trapani: Favignana and Levanzo Boat Tour — $115 · 4.9★ (131 reviews):

8 people

$115 × 8 = $920

10 people

$115 × 10 = $1,150

12 people

$115 × 12 = $1,380

Suddenly, a private charter around $790–$1,161 (see our full price guide for every tier) looks very different.

Best Boat Tour for 8 People

Eight is probably the point where we’d start actively favouring private options.

You still fit comfortably within the capacity of many:

• RIBs
• motorboats
• gozzos
• larger private charters

Example

Our pick: From Trapani: Favignana & Levanzo Luxury Private Boat Tour — $790 (up to 12 guests) · 5.0★ (1 review) — a genuinely reviewed entry-level private charter.

$790 ÷ 8 = $98.75 each

Our choice for eight

For a group of friends:

Private RIB

For a mixed-age family:

Private motorboat or gozzo

For a celebration:

Larger motorboat or luxury private charter

Best Boat Tour for 10 People

Ten is an excellent size for a private charter.

Many Favignana private boats are built around the 10–12 passenger market, so you have a relatively wide selection without pushing most boats right to maximum capacity.

At ten passengers, using real current listings on this route:

$790 boat

$79 pp

$929 boat

$92.90 pp

$1,045 boat

$104.50 pp

$1,161 boat

$116.10 pp

Those are very plausible per-person prices for a full-day experience.

Best Boat Tour for 12 People

Twelve is a particularly common maximum capacity for Favignana private charters — several current listings, including our entry-level pick above, cap out at exactly this number.

This means a group of exactly twelve has plenty of theoretical choice.

But there’s one issue:

maximum capacity.

12-Person Capacity Doesn’t Always Mean 12-Person Comfort

This is one of the biggest mistakes groups make.

A boat may legally accommodate twelve passengers.

That doesn’t necessarily mean twelve adults will enjoy spending eight hours on it.

Consider:

• bags
• towels
• food
• snorkelling equipment
• people lying in the sun
• people trying to move around
• shade capacity

Before booking for the maximum number of passengers, look carefully at:

Seating

Can everyone sit comfortably?

Shade

Can more than three people actually get out of the sun?

Deck space

Is there enough space for people to spread out?

Swimming access

Will twelve people repeatedly getting in and out cause congestion?

Toilet

Particularly important on an eight-hour trip.

Storage

Twelve people’s belongings take up more space than you think.

Group of 12: Shared or Private?

Let’s use current per-adult prices from this route.

At $80 pp — Egadi Boat Experience: Favignana & Levanzo from Trapani:

12 × $80 = $960

At $99 pp — Trapani: Favignana & Levanzo RIB Tour with Snorkelling:

12 × $99 = $1,188

At $115 pp:

12 × $115 = $1,380

At $134 pp — From Trapani: Full-Day Sailboat Trip to Favignana & Levanzo:

12 × $134 = $1,608

Private clearly deserves checking.

But don’t automatically book the cheapest private vessel.

At twelve passengers, boat size and comfort matter enormously.

What About a Catamaran for 10–12 People?

Catamarans give you more deck space, greater comfort and a slower, more social atmosphere than a RIB — and for a large group that wants to spend the day together, that can matter more than speed.

There isn’t currently a catamaran tour listed on this route — the private options here are RIBs, motorboats, gozzos and larger inflatable charters. If a catamaran specifically is what you want, ask an operator directly; otherwise, our pick for a group wanting maximum comfort and social space is a larger private motorboat (see below).

RIB or Gozzo for a Group?

Both work well, but they suit different groups.

RIB

Choose a RIB if your group is:

• active
• swimming-focused
• younger
• interested in covering plenty of coastline
• happy with relatively compact seating

RIBs are fast and excellent for moving between swimming spots.

Gozzo

Choose a gozzo if your group wants:

• slower cruising
• traditional atmosphere
• more conversation
• aperitivo and lunch
• less emphasis on speed

For an adult family group or several couples travelling together, we’d seriously consider the gozzo. The site’s one dedicated gozzo charter — Favignana: Private Gozzo Boat Tour with Skipper — has no reviews yet, so treat it as a genuine option rather than a proven pick.

Motorboat for Larger Families

A larger motorboat can be the best compromise for a multigenerational group.

Imagine twelve people including:

• grandparents
• parents
• teenagers
• younger children

A substantial motorboat can offer:

• comfortable seats
• good shade
• toilet
• easier movement
• good swimming access
• sufficient speed for both islands

Our pick: From Marsala: Egadi Islands Boat Tour with Swimming Stops — $1,394 (up to 10 guests) · 5.0★ (2 reviews).

For groups with a broad age range, we’d prioritise comfort over maximum speed.

Luxury Private Charter for Groups

Not every private option is compact or basic.

Our pick for the top tier: From Marsala: Luxury private boat tours of Favignana and Levanzo — $1,161 (up to 12 guests) · 5.0★, though with only 1 review so far.

For a birthday or special group trip, this kind of upgrade can be a sensible one.

What If There Are More Than 12 of You?

This is where planning becomes more difficult.

For 13–20 people, you generally have three options:

1. Find a larger excursion vessel

Potentially the simplest and cheapest.

2. Charter two boats

For example:

• 8 people on one RIB
• 8 on another

The boats can follow the same itinerary and meet at swimming stops.

Advantages:

• everyone gets plenty of space
• you retain the small-boat experience
• faster boarding/swimming

Downside:

• the group is physically split while cruising

3. Request a custom group charter

If there are 15–20 of you, it’s often better to contact operators directly rather than forcing everyone into whatever appears in a standard booking widget.

Two Boats vs One Large Boat

One larger boat

Advantages

• everyone stays together
• easier socialising
• one skipper/crew
• one departure

Disadvantages

• potentially less intimate
• slower
• fewer small-cove options

Two RIBs

Advantages

• more space
• faster
• more swimming-oriented
• small-boat atmosphere

Disadvantages

• group splits while travelling
• two skippers
• possibly higher combined cost

For a group of friends, we’d often choose two smaller boats.

For a family celebration, one larger vessel may make more sense.

Can a Group Save Money With a Private Boat?

Absolutely possible.

Take our $790 entry-level private charter pick as an example:

The boat hasn’t become cheaper.

You’re simply dividing the cost more efficiently.

This is why the per-person price of private travel falls as group size increases, while the shared-ticket price stays almost unchanged.

But Don’t Forget Fuel

This can completely alter the calculation.

When someone quotes:

$790 private boat

ask:

“Is that the final price for our group?”

Then specifically check:

• fuel
• skipper
• port fees
• marine-reserve fees
• food
• drinks
• cleaning

A $836 all-inclusive charter may be better value than a $700 boat with $250 of extras.

Group Pricing: Per Boat or Per Person?

Never assume.

Private charters on this route are commonly priced per boat, while shared excursions charge per passenger.

Before paying, verify:

“Is this $900 total for all ten of us?”

Does Everyone Need to Pay the Same Amount?

That’s your group’s decision, but larger trips become much easier when you calculate the per-person cost immediately.

For example:

$1,045 charter ÷ 10 = $104.50 each

This is much easier to present to a group than:

“The boat costs just over a thousand dollars.”

Children and Group Calculations

Shared tours often offer reduced children’s rates.

That means a family group shouldn’t simply multiply the adult fare by everyone.

Compare the real totals.

Private boats usually don’t become cheaper because some passengers are children — you’re still reserving the whole boat.

Does a Baby Count Towards Boat Capacity?

Typically, passenger capacity includes everyone aboard, including children, but you should confirm this with the operator.

Don’t assume:

10 adults + 2 small children = “10 people.”

Give the operator the group’s exact composition before booking.

Is Private Better With Children?

Often, yes.

The main advantage isn’t luxury.

It’s control over pace.

With your own boat you can usually:

• shorten a swim
• stop earlier for food
• give tired children more downtime
• change the balance between swimming and cruising
• return earlier if necessary

Does a Group Need a Skipper?

For a large private boat, we’d generally choose one — see our skipper guide for what’s typically included.

A skipper allows everyone in the group to be on holiday.

Without one, a member of your party remains responsible for:

• navigation
• other vessels
• anchoring
• weather
• returning to port
• the boat itself

Self-drive rental isn’t currently part of this site’s bookable inventory — see our rent a boat guide for the full self-drive vs skipper comparison if that’s on your shortlist.

Can the Group Choose the Route?

A private charter normally provides considerably more flexibility than a shared tour.

You may be able to tell the skipper:

“We want lots of swimming and very little time ashore.”

or:

“We have children, so we’d prefer longer relaxed stops.”

or:

“We’ve already visited Favignana town — can we spend more time around Levanzo?”

But the skipper still makes final decisions where weather, sea conditions, safety and marine-reserve rules are involved.

Favignana + Levanzo or Favignana Only?

For a full-day private group charter, we’d generally include both islands.

But a Favignana-only tour can make more sense if:

• you’re already staying on Favignana
• your group wants a very relaxed day
• there are young children
• swimming matters more than sightseeing
• you’re booking half day

Full Day or Half Day for Groups?

For larger groups, we’d usually choose full day.

Getting ten or twelve people assembled, checked in, onboard and organised takes time.

A full day gives you enough time for:

• several swims
• lunch
• cruising
• Favignana
• Levanzo
• some flexibility

A half day works better for:

• wedding groups
• pre-dinner outing
• families with small children
• sunset cruises
• people already staying on Favignana

How Much Food Do Groups Get?

This is worth checking carefully.

“Aperitivo included” may be excellent for two people but relatively modest when spread among twelve.

Ask what’s actually served.

Depending on the tour, you may get:

• fruit
• snacks
• local wine
• prosecco
• soft drinks
• sandwiches
• pasta
• full lunch

Bringing Your Own Food and Drinks

Some private boats allow this.

For a group, that can be very useful.

But ask about:

• glass bottles
• coolers
• storage space
• alcohol
• rubbish

before arriving with several bags of supplies.

Does the Boat Have a Toilet?

With twelve people over eight hours, this matters.

Some private boats do; some don’t.

For a group containing children, older relatives or anyone uncomfortable spending a full day without facilities, we’d make a toilet a priority.

How Much Shade Is Enough for 12 People?

Probably more than the photographs make you think.

Ask:

• how many passengers can sit under shade simultaneously?
• is there permanent shade or just a small bimini?
• are there indoor areas?

For peak-summer groups, we’d put shade near the top of the checklist.

Group Celebrations: Birthday, Hen Party or Anniversary

A private boat is especially well suited to celebrations because you control the social environment.

Useful upgrades might include:

• prosecco
• cake
• music
• premium lunch
• sunset return
• decorations where permitted
• photographer
• larger luxury vessel

Tell the operator what you’re celebrating before booking.

Booking for 12: How Early?

For peak summer, we’d avoid leaving it to the last few days.

Private boats have a simple availability problem:

once someone reserves that boat for the day, all 12 spaces effectively disappear at once.

Groups needing the entire capacity don’t have much flexibility.

Should You Book Two Smaller Boats Instead?

Sometimes.

This is particularly worth considering if your group reaches 12–16 people.

Two boats can offer:

• significantly more space
• faster swimming access
• more comfortable passenger distribution

The downside is obvious:

you won’t all be together while moving.

Common Mistakes Groups Make

Booking 12 people onto a boat without checking comfort

Comparing private headline price with one shared ticket

Forgetting children’s ticket discounts

Ignoring fuel

Assuming skipper is included

Splitting payment too late

Choosing by boat appearance alone

Trying to satisfy twelve different itinerary preferences

Leaving booking until August arrival

Questions to Ask Before Booking for a Group

1. Is the quoted price for the whole boat?
2. What’s the maximum passenger capacity?
3. Is our group size comfortable, not just legally permitted?
4. Is the skipper included?
5. Is fuel included?
6. Are marine-reserve/port fees included?
7. Is there a toilet?
8. How much shaded seating is available?
9. Is food included?
10. Can we bring our own food/drinks?
11. Does the tour visit both Favignana and Levanzo?
12. Can the itinerary be adjusted?
13. Are towels/snorkelling equipment provided?
14. What happens if weather cancels the trip?
15. Can everyone pay separately, or is one payment required?

For children, also confirm:

• life-jacket sizes
• minimum age
• whether babies count towards capacity

Our Choice by Group Size

6 people

Compare shared with private RIB

8 people

Private RIB or motorboat

10 people

Private charter

12 people

Compare larger RIB, gozzo and motorboat

13–16 people

One larger vessel vs two smaller boats

17–20+ people

Custom group excursion

Is a Private Favignana Boat Worth It for a Group?

Once your group reaches roughly eight people, very often yes.

Not necessarily because it’s cheaper.

Because the additional per-person cost may buy a disproportionate improvement in the experience.

Instead of:

• strangers aboard
• fixed timetable
• fixed swimming stops
• everyone buying individual tickets

you can have:

• your own group
• your own space
• flexible pace
• one shared experience

For a group of 10–12, we’d never book shared seats without first requesting at least one private quote. Our private boat charter guide covers what a charter typically includes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a private Favignana boat for 8 people?

A $790 private charter works out at approximately $98.75 per person for eight, while more premium boats may cost more.

How much is a boat for 10 people?

At $790 total, the cost is $79 per person. At $1,045, it’s $104.50 per person.

Can 12 people take one private boat to Favignana?

Yes. Twelve is a common maximum capacity among many current RIB, gozzo and luxury private tours on this route.

Is a private boat cheaper than a shared tour for 12 people?

It can be. Always compare the exact total for your date.

What is the best boat for a group of 12?

For active groups, a large RIB can work very well. For mixed ages, we’d favour a larger motorboat or gozzo.

Can more than 12 people book a Favignana boat tour?

Yes, but you may need a larger vessel, two boats or a custom group arrangement.

Should a group book private or shared?

For fewer than six people, shared usually offers better value. From roughly 6–8 people onward, compare both. For 10–12 passengers, private frequently becomes very competitive.

Compare Group Boat Tours Before Booking

If you’re travelling with eight or more people, don’t start by searching for eight individual tickets.

Start by comparing:

Total shared-tour cost

versus:

Total private-charter cost

Then look beyond the price.

For a full-day group trip, we’d prioritise:

• comfortable rather than maximum capacity
• adequate shade
• toilet
• skipper
• clear fuel policy
• easy swimming access
• enough room for everyone
• Favignana + Levanzo itinerary
• sensible cancellation terms

For a group, the right boat isn’t necessarily the cheapest one.

It’s the one where everyone can still find somewhere comfortable to sit once all ten or twelve of you actually climb aboard.

→ Compare private Favignana & Levanzo boat tours for groups, capacities, prices and current availability.