Boat hire on Lake Como: why choose a boat with a skipper

When people search for boat hire on Lake Como they usually mean one of two things: a small self-drive boat they steer themselves, or a private boat that comes with a skipper. Both put you on the water, but the day is very different.

With a self-drive boat, someone in your group spends the trip driving: watching the ferries, the wind, the other boats and the rules near the shore. Small rental boats also have limited range, so the centre of the lake and Bellagio are often too far for a short hire.

With a skipper, everyone on board is a guest. The skipper knows the lake, the landings and the villas, chooses the route for the light and the conditions, and handles mooring if you stop. That leaves you free to look, take photographs and enjoy the time together.

The boat matters too. Our tours use classic wooden boats with an open deck and a covered area, for up to eleven guests plus the skipper. Skipper, fuel and water are included; villa entrance fees and meals ashore are not.

Every tour starts and ends in Como. One hour covers the villa shoreline near Como and Cernobbio, two hours reach Nesso, three hours the centre of the lake, and longer tours add stops in villages such as Bellagio and Varenna.

Booking works online: pick the tour, the date and the time from real availability, see the total for your group and confirm with a deposit. If you prefer to ask first, you can write to us on WhatsApp.