Lipari by Mahogany Boat: the Pumice Quarries and Cala Fico

The boat is mahogany, eight and a half metres, with cushions along the bow for the sun and a table under shade at the stern for everything else. It is a private charter, so the only people aboard are yours and the crew. The route goes round Lipari, following the beaches, the bays and the inlets where the rock drops straight into the water. The swimming stops are the point. The water off the old pumice quarries is the clearest of them, because the white sand on the seabed throws the light back up. Pietra Lunga and Pietra Menalda, two old volcanic necks, stand straight out of the sea further round. Praia di Vinci has no road to it. Cala Fico is green, with prickly pears growing down to the edge. On board there is a ladder for getting in and out of the water, an anti-UV awning, beach towels and snorkelling gear. Water, seasonal fruit, snacks and a chilled bottle of wine come with the day.