The sea of Salento has once again captured the world’s heart, this time with mask and fins: Porto Selvaggio has been named by SamBoat, the largest European boat rental platform, as the number one destination for snorkeling in Europe. It beat dreamlike spots such as Malta’s Blue Lagoon, Makarska in Croatia, Ayia Napa in Cyprus, and the Medes Islands in Spain.
This recognition won’t surprise anyone who has had the privilege to dive into these waters, where the blue blends with the green of Aleppo pines and the seabed tells a tale of primordial beauty: sea caves that hold millennia of silence, freshwater springs cooling the sea, clouds of colourful fish dancing among the rocks, starfish resting like jewels on the seabed.
The Porto Selvaggio and Palude del Capitano Regional Natural Park is more than just snorkeling — it’s a sensory experience that begins in the thyme and juniper-scented woods, leads along paths opening onto intimate, less crowded coves, offers natural pools nestled among the rocks, and sunsets that set the sky ablaze before plunging into the waves.
Every corner of this rocky coastline invites you to lose yourself, breathe slowly, and be lulled by the rhythm of Salento. And so, while SamBoat crowns Porto Selvaggio as Europe’s snorkeling queen, anyone who arrives here knows this place is not just a destination — it’s an emotion that stays with you, wild and unforgettable like its sea.
