What to do · Lake Como
Kayak Around the Point of Bellagio from Pescallo
Information
- Duration
- 1 h 30
- Who it's for
- Ages 8 to 65, able to swim
You set out from the small beach at Pescallo, east of Bellagio, cross the bay under the cliffs and round the tip of the peninsula, with the Alps to the north and Villa Serbelloni above. It is about 90 minutes of calm water in a small guided group, at lake level, where no terrace or boat reaches.
What it involves
The tour is run by Bellagio Water Sports, a local kayak and paddle-board company with a meeting point in Pescallo square. The route leaves the beach, crosses the bay, passes beneath the cliffs known as the Rockefeller ones and beneath the gardens of Villa Serbelloni and reaches La Punta, the end of the Bellagio peninsula, where the three arms of the lake meet. From there you see at the same time the Como arm, the Lecco arm and the north towards Varenna and Menaggio. Then you return along the same side to Pescallo.
Times and groups
- 9:00 departure: be at the meeting point at 8:45. Up to 8 people.
- 11:30 departure: be there at 11:15. Up to 6 people.
Departures are every day, with compulsory advance booking. There is also a sunset departure, the Golden Hour Tour; check the days on their website. The website does not publish the price on the tour page: you see it when booking.
What is included and what to bring
Included are the kayak, life jacket, a small dry bag, bottled water, a place to leave your rucksack, a map of the area and the guide. Not included are transfers, food or changing rooms and toilets.
Wear comfortable sports clothes that can get wet, shoes you do not mind getting in the water, sunglasses with a strap, a cap and sun cream. Phone inside the dry bag.
Who can go
It is designed for people aged 8 to 65. Children go with an adult and everyone must be able to swim. The company does not recommend it for anyone with back or heart problems or other serious conditions. The listing does not ask for previous experience: it is a guided group paddle, not a sporting crossing.
Getting to Pescallo
Pescallo is on the other side of the peninsula, about ten or fifteen minutes' walk from the centre of Bellagio, uphill and then down along streets and steps. If you arrive by boat from Varenna or Menaggio, get off at Bellagio quay and walk across. By car, Bellagio has paid car parks, but in season they fill early: better to arrive on the mid-lake boat.
Weather and cancellations
In strong wind or bad weather the tour is cancelled and the amount refunded. If you are the one who cancels, the company refunds nothing: all sales are final. So it is worth checking the forecast before booking. The first departure, at 9:00, usually finds the lake calmer than the mid-morning one, when the breeze begins to blow.
To book
You book on the Bellagio Water Sports website or by phone or WhatsApp on +39 340 39 49 375 or +39 334 19 29 303.
Tips
- Choose the 9:00 departure The water is usually flatter first thing and there are fewer boats in the bay.
- Leave the big bag at the hotel In the kayak only what fits in the dry bag goes; there is space to leave a rucksack, not suitcases.
- Combine it with the afternoon in Bellagio You finish around midday and have time for the village and for crossing by boat to Varenna.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need experience for kayaking in Bellagio?
No. The tour goes with a guide in a small group and the water on the route is usually calm. You do have to be able to swim.
From what age can you go?
From age 8, always accompanied by an adult. The stated limit is 65.
What happens if it is windy?
If there is strong wind or bad weather the company cancels the departure and refunds the money. If you cancel, there is no refund.
As a familyWith teenagers
Who runs it
- Bellagio Water SportsSmall-group kayak tour from Pescallo Visit their website
