Alcantara Gorge Excursions
Discover the spectacle of a lava canyon
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Questions & Answers
Visit Alcantara Gorge: essential tips and useful information to explore the area and choose the perfect activity for you.
The Alcantara Gorge are a lava canyon of volcanic origin, and their exact age is uncertain. Some estimates say they formed about 10,000 years ago after a lateral eruption of Mount Etna, while others believe they are much older and were created by tectonic plate movements that lifted parts of the Earth’s crust, bringing to the surface the beautiful columnar basalt formations that now line the canyon walls. Over time, the waters of the Alcantara River began the erosion that carved the canyon. Today, the canyon is about 500 meters long, with walls between 20 and 30 meters high, and in some places it is only about 3 meters wide.
There are many things to do at the Alcantara Gorges, both with a guide or on your own. The best guided activities include body rafting inside the main and most famous canyon, horseback riding to the small gorge, quad tours through the river park, e-bike tours to explore natural and historic sites, river trekking, and canyoning for more experienced visitors.
If you prefer a self-guided itinerary, you can enjoy an easy hike along the river to discover beautiful natural pools and small waterfalls called Gurne, as well as the ruins of the old mill and the Castle of Francavilla. You can also visit the main gorge by walking through the botanical garden and entering the first section of the lava canyon, or explore the medieval village of Castiglione di Sicilia and the Lauria Castle overlooking it.
Entrance to the Alcantara Gorges has two options:
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€2 for the public entrance via a staircase of about 200 steps. This includes access to the Gorge park.
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€10 for the private entrance via an elevator. This includes access to the Gorges and entry to the botanical garden.
Tickets can be purchased on site.
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To visit the Alcantara Gorges, you should plan to spend between 4 and 6 hours. This allows you to explore the canyon from the inside or take part in guided excursions of different lengths. You can also visit the Gorges on your own and then stop by nearby medieval villages such as Castiglione di Sicilia, or plan a wine tasting at the nearby Etna wineries and visit the Alcantara Gurne basins and waterfalls.
The Alcantara Gorges are open from late March to late October, every day from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. No advance booking is required to visit the Gorges on your own, as tickets can be purchased on site.
The Alcantara Gorges are located in the municipality of Motta Camastra, in the province of Messina, about 35 minutes from Taormina and around one hour driving from Catania.
You can reach the Alcantara Gorges by car via the A18 motorway from Messina or Catania, taking the Giardini Naxos exit, or driving along State Road SS185 if you are coming from the north coast of Sicily or from inland areas. If you prefer public transport, you can take the Interbus bus service from Via Luigi Pirandello in Taormina, Giardini Naxos town, or from the Taormina-Giardini Naxos train station.
For more details, read the guide on How to get to Alcantara Gorge edited by The Island of Wonders.
The Alcantara Gorges are absolutely worth visiting. The main canyon of the Alcantara Gorges is one of the few places in the world where columnar basalt formations can be seen above ground. In addition, there are many other attractions nearby, such as Mount Etna and its wineries, Taormina with its beautiful hisoric centre and Isola Bella beach, and the nearby medieval villages of Castiglione di Sicilia and Randazzo.
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