Sailing at Sunset on Lake Como: How to escape from daily routine

The best part of this Lake Como outing is its change of pace: you leave the shore behind, watch the light shift from a sailboat, and pause mid-lake for a swim and aperitivo. It’s a summer-evening plan built around the simple pleasure of being on the water.

I like two details in particular: the small group, capped at six, keeps the boat from feeling like a floating bus, and the included food and Prosecco make the swim stop feel like part of the evening, not an extra errand. Hosts Isabella and Mauro have also helped arrange rides for a family, a useful kindness if you need help reaching the dock.

One consideration is the price: $296.66 per person is a serious spend for three hours, especially since transfers and extra drinks or food cost more. You’ll get the most value if a quiet, hosted sailing experience matters more to you than covering a lot of ground.

At a glance

• A three-hour evening sail: Set off at 7:00 pm and return to the same meeting point.
• A swim in open water: The boat stops mid-lake for swimming and relaxation; life vests are available.
• Aperitivo is included: Expect Prosecco and food to share, rather than a full restaurant dinner.
• A small group: The maximum is six people, with at least three needed for the tour to run.
• An eastern-shore route: The listed places include Lecco, the lakeside promenade, Monte Resegone, and Abbadia Lariana.
• Plan for the elements: Bring a swimsuit and towel in hot weather, plus a windproof jacket, water, sunglasses, and comfortable clothes and shoes.

Sailing from Malgrate as the evening begins

The tour starts at 7:00 pm at Amici del Vento Porto di, in Frazione Parè, Valmadrera. You’ll head north from Malgrate along Lake Como’s eastern side, with the boat as your base for the next three hours. The point is not to rush from one landmark to the next. It’s to spend an evening outdoors, with the lake and its changing light setting the pace.

That slower rhythm is what makes this outing different from a shore-side dinner or a quick sightseeing cruise. You’re not just looking at the lake from a terrace. You’re out on it, with time to pause, swim, and share food. The advertised sunset setting is especially suited to summer, though the exact light will depend on the date and weather.

The group limit of six is a meaningful feature. This is still a group tour, not a private charter, but a small head count can make the experience feel more relaxed and give you room to talk with the hosts. Isabella and Mauro are named as the people on board, with one serving as skipper and one as assistant. Their warm approach comes through in the way they’ve helped arrange transport for a family, though you should treat that help as something to request in advance, not as an included transfer.

A swim stop, then aperitivo on the water

The main pause comes in the middle of the lake. You can swim, relax on board, and share an aperitivo before sailing on. Life vests are available, so you don’t have to go into the water without a safety option. If you’re not a swimmer, you can still enjoy the break from the boat.

Bring a swimsuit and towel if you’d like to swim, particularly on a hot summer night. Pack them where they’re easy to reach, rather than buried under everything else. The operator also recommends water, sunglasses, comfortable clothes and shoes, and a windproof jacket. Even in warm weather, a layer can be useful once you’re on the water.

The included food is described as an aperi-dinner, with Prosecco and food to share. That sounds like a generous evening snack rather than a formal, multi-course meal, so don’t book it expecting a full dinner. Extra food and drinks are not included. If anyone in your party has a food allergy or intolerance, contact the operator well in advance.

There’s a small practical point here: swimming and eating are both part of the plan, but the precise length of the stop isn’t specified. If you’re booking mainly for a long swim, ask the operator what to expect on your date. The lake can be the star of the evening without every part of the schedule being tightly timed.

What the listed route means from the boat

The route includes several names along the eastern side of the lake. Treat these as places the sail is designed to pass or visit from the water, not as a promise of extended shore stops. No landing time or walking tour is described, and the central experience remains the sail, swim, and aperitivo.

Lake Como and Lecco

Lake Como is the setting for the whole trip, while Lecco is one of the named route points. Setting out from the Malgrate area gives the outing an eastern-shore focus, rather than a tour that starts in Como town and heads north from there. Check the departure address carefully: Lake Como is a large lake, and the meeting point is in Valmadrera, not simply anywhere in the Como area.

You’ll see the lake from a different angle than you get from the road or promenade. The boat’s movement and the open-water stop are the draw. If your priority is visiting several towns on foot, this is not the right format; if your priority is spending time on the lake, the route makes sense.

Il lungolago

Il lungolago means the lakeside promenade, and it appears among the route’s points of interest. From the boat, the promenade is a reference to the built-up edge of the shore, not necessarily an invitation to disembark and stroll. That distinction matters if you’re comparing this with a walking tour or a shore excursion.

The water-level view is part of the appeal. You get to watch the shoreline from the boat while the evening unfolds, with no need to fit a separate walk into the schedule. But the details do not specify how long the boat spends beside any particular section of promenade.

Monte Resegone

Monte Resegone is another named point on the route, adding a mountain landmark to the mix of water and lakeside places. The experience promises a broad evening setting rather than a close-up mountain visit. Don’t expect a hike or a stop on land; this is a sailing trip.

Light and weather shape what you can see. The operator describes the eastern side as a place for nature and sunsets, but cloud cover can change the view. The tour itself also requires good weather, so conditions are worth checking as your date approaches.

Abbadia Lariana

Abbadia Lariana rounds out the listed route. Its inclusion gives you another point along the eastern shore to look for as you sail north, but no specific stop duration is provided. The value here is less about checking off a destination and more about seeing the shoreline from the water during an evening sail.

The boat returns to the original meeting point when the activity ends. Since the route is about three hours, plan your evening around a return to Valmadrera rather than assuming you’ll finish in another town.

Is $296.66 a fair price?

At $296.66 per person, this is a premium activity. The price covers about three hours aboard a sailboat, a skipper and assistant, and an aperitivo-dinner with Prosecco and food to share. Transfers to and from your accommodation, plus extra food and drinks, are separate costs.

The value depends on what you want from Lake Como. If you’re looking for a low-cost way to see the lake, this is not it. If you’re after a small-group evening with a swim, hosted food, and time under sail, the inclusions make the price easier to understand. A maximum of six also means the cost is buying a more limited group setting, rather than a seat on a large boat.

Still, check the total for your party before booking. A couple will pay close to $600 before any transfer or added drinks. The experience is best suited to a special evening, a family outing that values time together, or anyone who would rather trade a formal dinner for a few hours on the water.

Getting there and preparing well

The meeting point is Amici del Vento Porto di, Frazione Parè, 23868 Valmadrera. The tour ends back there. Public transportation is nearby, but the operator stresses that you should confirm the departure point in advance. If you need help getting to the dock, contact them well ahead of time; transfers are available on request for an extra charge, not included in the price.

Pack lightly and use a bag or backpack that closes fully. On a boat, loose items can be awkward, and the operator specifically recommends a bag that can be sealed. Bring water and sunglasses, wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and add a windproof jacket. In hot summer weather, take a swimsuit and towel as well.

The activity is not recommended for people with mobility impairments. If you’re considering bringing a child under eight, contact the operator first. Most people can participate, but the setting is a boat, and it’s sensible to ask about any needs that could affect boarding or moving around on board.

The tour needs at least three people to run and takes no more than six. If the minimum is not met, the operator offers a different date or experience, or a full refund. Poor weather can also lead to a different date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time; changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this sailing trip?

I’d consider this tour if you want a calm, personal evening and are happy to let the lake set the agenda. It suits couples, small groups of friends, and families who enjoy being outdoors and can make use of the swim stop. One family found the food worked well for their group, and the hosts helped arrange transport to and from their hotel. That’s a useful example of the outing’s flexible, personal side, but you should arrange any transport needs in advance.

It may be a poor fit if you have limited mobility, want a guaranteed long swim, need a full dinner, or hope to visit several towns on foot. The 7:00 pm departure and roughly three-hour duration make this an evening activity, not a quick add-on before an early dinner. And since weather matters, you’ll need some flexibility in your plans.

The strongest reason to book is the combination: small group, sailboat, mid-lake swim, and shared aperitivo with Isabella and Mauro on board. The main reason to pause is the cost, especially once you add transport or drinks. If the experience itself is what you’re paying for, not a long list of attractions, it can be a memorable way to spend a summer evening on Lake Como.

FAQ

How long is the sailing tour?

The tour lasts about three hours. It starts at 7:00 pm and returns to the original meeting point.

Where does the boat depart from?

The meeting point is Amici del Vento Porto di, Frazione Parè, 23868 Valmadrera, in the Malgrate area. Check the exact departure point in advance.

Is swimming included?

There is a stop in the middle of the lake for swimming and relaxation. Life vests are available on board.

What food and drinks are included?

The tour includes an aperi-dinner with Prosecco and food to share. Extra drinks and food are not included.

Are transfers to and from my accommodation included?

No. Transfers are available on request for an extra charge. Contact the operator in advance if you need help reaching the dock.

What happens if the weather is poor or the tour does not meet its minimum group size?

If poor weather cancels the tour, you’ll be offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum of three people is not met, you’ll be offered a different date or experience, or a full refund.