How to get to the Alcantara Gorges

By car: the Taormina/Giardini Naxos route

This is the standard route and takes 35–40 minutes. Head south on the A18 motorway, exit at Giardini-Naxos, and turn onto the SS185 (Strada Statale 185) signed toward Francavilla di Sicilia and Gole Alcantara. You will pass through Trappitello and Gaggi, then cross the Petrolo bridge into the Alcantara Valley. Follow signs to Motta Camastra. Parking is available near the entrance to the gorge.

By car: from Catania

A longer journey: about 50 km and 1 hour from Catania. North via the A18 motorway toward Messina, exit at Giardini-Naxos, then follow the SS185 as above. Most Catania visitors book an Etna+Alcantara tour instead; the minibus handles the drive.

Without a car: the full-day tour option

This is why most car-free visitors choose an Etna+Alcantara combo. A minibus picks you up at your hotel in Taormina, Giardini Naxos, or Catania early morning, drives you to Mount Etna for 2–3 hours (lava flows, a crater, a lava cave, lunch), then another 45 minutes to the Alcantara Gorges for roughly 1 hour of free time. The same minibus then drives you home. No timetables, no stress. Cost: around €97 per person.

Alternatively, if you only want to raft, you can book a body-rafting tour that meets you at the gorge (€60–€63). Getting there would require your own transport or a separate transfer.

Public transport (if you insist)

Buses connect the area, but routes are slow and infrequent. You would need to go Taormina → Giardini Naxos or Catania → Messina → Taormina, then catch local buses toward Motta Camastra. This can take 2+ hours and is not practical for most. Taxis from Taormina cost €40–60 each way.

Practical tip

If you are staying in Taormina or Giardini Naxos and have a rental car, the drive is straightforward and the gorge is worth half a day. If you do not have a car and want to see Etna too, an Etna+Alcantara tour with pickup is the simplest choice. See all available tours.

Frequently asked questions