The Isle of Sicily is part of Italy and is located in the Mediterranean Sea. It is renowned for a beautiful coastline and landscape and historic towns, as well as great food. There is a lot for outdoors fans to enjoy on the island.
To reach Sicily you need to travel by ferry. You can compare all ferries to Sicily from many different places including Northern, Central and Southern Italy, as well as Sardinia, Malta and Tunisia.
Sicily: 8 of the best outdoors things to do
Parco Fluviale dell’Alcantara. Pic credit: Massimo Salmeri
Hike 224 steps into a gorge
Parco Fluviale dell’Alcantara is a 25 metre deep gorge that has the Alcantara River flowing through it. The impressive symmetrical rock formation was created by lava flow from the volcano Etna as it hit the water and caused a splintering effect. You can see beautiful lava prisms at this natural wonder. There is a 224-step staircase to reach the bottom or you can take a lift.
Path over the volcano crater on Mount Etna. Pic credit: Mstyslav Chernov
Volcano walking
The famous Etna Volcano is located in Etna Natural Park and many people are keen to take a walk or a tour here.
Treks leave from Piano Provenzano on the northern slopes, which lead to Pizzi Deneri and the volcanic observatory at a height of 2800 metres or up to the main crater at 3200 metres.
Treks on the southern slopes leave from Rifugio Sapienza, where you can take the cable car and walk 2km uphill to see four craters. Etna volcano things to do.
Stomboli.
See the Stromboli crater
Stomboli Island is located off the north coast of Sicily and is home to an active volcano. A three-hour hike one way and one-hour return is well worth the effort to see the Stromboli volcano crater.
It is a stunning sight with its spray of liquid magma and crater explosions that take place every 20 minutes or so. At night-time, the explosions offer a natural fireworks display against the dark sky.
Walk amid the trees
Nebrodi Park is the largest protected area on Sicily with a landscape that ranges from 1200 metres to 1500 metres. Hike beneath an array of trees including elm, maple, beech, cork and yew. Keep your eyes peeled for many different birds of prey.
Latomia del Paradiso. Pic credit: Sailko
Visit Latomia del Paradiso
The limestone quarry is a wonder to see with an array of vast hollows and caves. It has become known as the “speech” cave because the echoes around the quarry create an unusual acoustic effect.
The roof of the quarry collapsed during an earthquake in the late 1600s and it’s now open to the sunshine. Gorgeous olive and orange tress have been planted, which lends the quarry a fabulous fragrance.
Mud bathing on Vulcano. Pic credit: Bill Johnson.
Try mud bathing
Discover large sulphurous mud areas at Laghetto di Fanghi on the small island of Vulcano, off Sicily’s north coast. The mud is claimed to be beneficial for the skin and for arthritis.
The aim is to smear yourself in the mud and leave it for about 15 minutes before enjoying a bath in a natural hot bubbling spring.
Climb at San Vito Lo Capo
San Vito Lo Capo is a large climbing area, where climbers come to scale the walls of Monte Monaco and Monte Cofano. There are around 400 routes that are open for al kinds of climbers, form children to experts.
A climbing festival takes place here every year, usually in October when temperatures are ideal for climbers.
Enjoy Zingaro Nature Reserve
Sicily founded its first nature reserve, Riserva Naturale dello Zingaro, inn 1981 and the peaceful place is now a popular destination for outdoors fans.
The length of wild coastline is great for swimming, walking and wildlife watching. You can spot more than 40 species of bird and many hundreds of types of plants.
