What to bring on a private boat tour from Monterosso
Packing for a few hours on Ghibli is simpler than most guests expect, mostly because the boat already carries the things people worry about forgetting.
What to Pack
Swimwear goes on under regular clothes before arriving at Molo dei Pescatori — every tour, from the two-hour Five Villages to the five-hour Portovenere day, includes at least one stop to swim, and getting changed on board isn't practical. A towel is worth bringing along. Sun is the other constant: the Ligurian coast in season is bright and reflective off the water, so sunscreen, a hat that will survive some wind, and sunglasses earn their place in the bag. A light layer for the ride back matters too, especially on the later departures — the Coast & Coves at 14:00 and the Sunset Aperitivo at 18:00 both end with the air cooling as the boat runs toward shore.
Skip the Mask
What not to bring: a snorkel mask. Ghibli carries masks for guests on all four tours, along with life jackets, so there's no need to pack or rent one beforehand. That's one less thing to carry down to the harbour, and one less thing that ends up half-used in a suitcase.
Camera Ready
A phone or camera is worth having out, not stowed — the approach to Vernazza's harbour, the cliffs above Manarola, and on the Portovenere tour the striped façade of the San Pietro church are the kind of thing better caught from the water than from the train platform above. A dry bag or simply a zip-lock sandwich bag keeps a phone safe near the swim stops without needing to leave it behind entirely.
Cash isn't necessary — booking is confirmed instantly online with no prepayment required, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, so there's no need to carry anything for the boat itself. Closed shoes aren't necessary either; deck shoes or sandals that can get wet are more useful than trainers.
In short: swimwear, a towel, sun protection, a layer for the ride home, and a way to keep a phone dry near the water. Everything else — masks, life jackets, the boat itself — is already waiting at the harbour.