Porto Palermo Beach from the Boat
Porto Palermo Beach is the swim stop on the southbound Porto Palermo half-day tour from Himara. About 12 km south of Himara by sea, the beach sits at the southern end of Porto Palermo Bay — protected by the bay's geometry, with notably blue water and very few crowds.
Standard swim allocation: 20–30 minutes.
Why It's the Half-Day's Swim Stop
The Porto Palermo half-day tour from Himara hits castle, submarine tunnel, cave, and beach in 3–4 hours. The beach is the relaxation segment of the tour — after 90 minutes of history-dense viewing, you spend 20–30 minutes in the water before the return run to Himara.
| Tour segment | Time |
|---|---|
| Himara → bay approach | ~25 min |
| Castle circumnavigation | ~15 min |
| Submarine tunnel | ~10 min |
| Porto Palermo Cave | ~10 min |
| Porto Palermo Beach swim | 20–30 min |
| Return to Himara | ~25 min |
What's Notable About the Water
Porto Palermo Bay's protected depth gives the water an unusual deep-blue saturation — the beach is described in tourism literature as having "bluer" water than its neighbours. The visual is striking from the boat as you approach for the swim stop.
The beach surface is mixed sand and pebble — comfortable for lying on but uneven enough that water shoes help. The water deepens quickly close to shore.
Boat vs. Overland
Porto Palermo Beach is one of the few stops on this list that's just as accessible by car as by boat. Many visitors do both — overland for the castle interior visit (300 ALL entry), boat tour for the seaward angles and the cave.
For a comprehensive overland day, see the day trip guide and the castle guide.
Full Beach Detail
For overland access, parking, and beach amenities, see the full beach guide and the companion article.
