Capri — Marina Piccola
Marina Piccola Capri · Spiaggia di Marina Piccola · Capri SE anchorage
40°32.8'N 14°14.3'E
Depth
4–15m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
100m
Holding
Fair holding
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
100m
100m due to fair/variable holding on mixed bottom — set anchor carefully on visible sand patches. Dive to verify if possible. The bay can be crowded in summer with tourist boat traffic; 100m radius gives safe swing room. Scirocco from SE is the critical hazard — have a departure plan ready at all times. Never overnight here with any Scirocco forecast.
About This Anchorage
Marina Piccola on Capri's southeast coast offers one of the most spectacular anchorage settings in the Mediterranean — anchoring with the Faraglioni (three dramatic limestone sea stacks, 100+ m high) as a backdrop and the towering Capri cliffs above. The bay has a small beach, beach clubs (stabilimenti balneari), and is accessible from Capri town by a steep path. The water is exceptionally clear and typically calm in summer sea breeze conditions. This is primarily a day anchorage — Capri's complex local wind patterns and the SE exposure make overnight problematic. Always check in with the Capitaneria di Porto at Marina Grande (VHF Ch 09) before anchoring anywhere around Capri. The area immediately around the Faraglioni is closed to anchoring.
Protected From
N · NW · W · NE
Exposed To
S · SE · SW
Setting Your Anchor
Anchoring on Posidonia oceanica meadows is prohibited throughout Italian waters and is actively enforced — fines range from €500–€3,000. Always snorkel to verify the bottom is clean sand before setting. In the AMP Parco Sommerso di Baia (Pozzuoli area), Zone A prohibits all entry, Zone B requires mooring buoys only, and Zone C permits limited anchoring on sand only. Check AMP zone maps before anchoring anywhere near Baia or Cape Miseno.
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free (outside prohibited Faraglioni zone). Beach club mooring buoys for dinghy available from beach operators (fee applies).
- Maximum stay
- 1 days
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring within the Faraglioni exclusion zone (marked). No anchoring on Posidonia (€500–€3,000 fine). Check in at Marina Grande Capitaneria before anchoring. Day anchorage recommended — overnight only in settled conditions with no Scirocco forecast. Beach clubs require booking; public beach (Spiaggia di Marina Piccola) accessible by dinghy.
Hazards
- !Scirocco (SE): The bay is directly exposed to Scirocco — swell builds quickly to 2–3m in strong Scirocco; anchors often drag on mixed bottom in any significant swell; departure at first Scirocco forecast is mandatory
- !Posidonia meadows: Extensive Posidonia throughout the bay — anchoring on Posidonia is strictly prohibited and enforced; verify clear sand patch before setting
- !Tourist boat congestion: July–August — the bay is overwhelmed with day-trip boats, speedboats, jet skis, and tourist launches; maintaining safe swing room is extremely difficult in peak season
- !Falling rocks: The Capri limestone cliffs above Marina Piccola are prone to rockfalls, particularly after rain — maintain 100m+ clearance from all cliff faces
Skipper's Tips
- →Arrive early (07:00–09:00) in summer to secure a sand patch before the day-trip boats arrive — by 10:00 the bay can have 30+ boats
- →The path from Marina Piccola to Capri town (30 minutes uphill) passes through the Via Krupp gardens — an alternative to the expensive funicular from Marina Grande
- →Capri's Grotta Azzurra is best visited by the authorized rowing boats from Marina Grande (early morning when the light through the cave entrance is most intense)
- →VHF Ch 09 for Porto Turistico di Capri (Marina Grande) — call ahead for any stern-to berth availability if the anchorage conditions deteriorate
Facilities
Beach restaurants and bars at Marina Piccola — expensive but spectacular setting. La Fontelina and Da Luigi ai Faraglioni are the famous beach clubs with restaurant service. Capri town (above, by path) has all facilities.
Nearest provisions: Capri town (by path) (1nm)
Best Months & Season
May, June, September, October
May–June and September–October for manageable conditions. July–August: extremely crowded, Scirocco risk elevated, tourist boats everywhere — experienced crews only. Best avoided July–August in favour of Ischia or Procida.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 100m
In the Gulf of Naples, the Scirocco can build swell rapidly and ferry wash is constant. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously — alerting you the moment your anchor starts to drag.
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