What Porto Palermo Cave Actually Is
Porto Palermo Cave is a natural sea cave on the rocky shoreline of Porto Palermo Bay, the deeply protected inlet south of Himara that holds Ali Pasha's castle and Albania's most famous Cold War submarine tunnel. The cave is one stop on a southbound coastline tour that bundles the bay's three main attractions — castle, tunnel, cave — into a single half-day from Himara.
The cave itself is modest. What makes the visit memorable is the density of context: in 90 minutes you see a 19th-century Albanian-Greek fortress, a 650-metre concrete submarine tunnel, and a natural sea cave, all in the same sheltered bay.
Position in the Bay
Porto Palermo Bay opens at coordinates 40°3′36″N, 19°47′6″E (40.06°N, 19.785°E), about 12 km south of Himara by sea. Inside the bay:
- The peninsula — sandy beach, camper parking, and Ali Pasha's triangular castle with three round corner bastions
- Northern end — submarine tunnel entrance (650 m long, 12 m high, sealed since 1998)
- Eastern shore — Porto Palermo Cave and rocky coastline
- Five inner coves — small private bays often included on private charters
- Porto Palermo Beach — at the bay's south end
What the Cave Stop Is Like
Standard treatment on a Porto Palermo half-day tour: the boat passes the castle, runs to the submarine tunnel entrance, then doubles back to the eastern shoreline where the cave sits. Allocated time at the cave is typically 10–15 minutes for photos.
The cave faces inward into the protected bay, so the water at the entrance is consistently calm — better than Pirate's Cave for photography on a windy day. Sea-condition cancellations on Porto Palermo tours are rare for this reason.
Why Take the Southbound Tour
If a Tramontana is blowing and northern Karaburun routes are off, southbound Porto Palermo tours often run normally. The bay's geometry shields it from northwesterly swell. Operators frequently recommend Porto Palermo as the all-conditions fallback to Pirate's Cave or the Grama Bay long-haul.
| Condition | Pirate's Cave / Grama | Porto Palermo |
|---|---|---|
| Calm sea | Both run | Both run |
| NW wind 15–20 kt | Northern routes shorten | Porto Palermo unaffected |
| NW wind 20+ kt | Cancelled | Usually still runs |
| S wind (Sirocco) | Northern routes OK | Bay still mostly sheltered |
Combining the Three Bay Attractions
A typical Porto Palermo half-day from Himara hits, in order:
- Departure from Himara — ~25 min run south along the coast
- Approach the bay — peninsula and castle come into view
- Castle viewing from the water — peninsula circumnavigation
- Submarine tunnel — boat to the entrance, photos, brief explanation
- Porto Palermo Cave — 10–15 min photo and listening stop
- Swim stop — Porto Palermo Beach or one of the five inner coves
- Return — ~25 min back to Himara
Total tour duration: 3–4 hours. Pricing typically €20–40 per person on shared tours.
Practical Notes
- Pair this tour with overland visits on the same trip — the boat covers angles you can't see by car
- Castle entry fee is paid separately if you go ashore (not always included)
- Swim gear pays off — the bay's inner coves have some of the calmest water on the south coast
- The submarine tunnel cannot be entered by boat — see our overland tunnel guide for interior visits
