From Ucagiz: Day Trip to Kekova by Boat

Kekova is best seen from the water, and this seven-hour boat trip gives you plenty of time to do exactly that. You’ll swim in clear coves, pass the ruins of the Sunken City, stop at Pirates Cave, eat lunch onboard, and spend an hour at old Simena, now called Kaleköy.

I especially like the long swim breaks and the chance to combine ancient ruins with a relaxed day at sea. The grilled lunch, fruit, morning snacks, and Turkish tea make the $45 price strong value. One thing to watch: early-season schedules can change, so confirm the boat is running if you travel outside the main summer period.

Key points to know before you go

• One full hour at Aquarium Bay: Swim, snorkel, and enjoy Turkish tea with biscuits in a scenic cove.
• The Sunken City is viewed from the boat: You cannot walk through the underwater ruins, but the shoreline and submerged remains are easy to see from the water.
• Captain Mehmet’s Memedim boat: Check the exact boat name and meeting spot at the harbor, since the name may appear as Memedim or Mehmedim3.
• Lunch is served onboard: Expect fruit and snacks as well, with grilled meat included in the meal according to the experience details.
• One hour at Simena Castle: Walk uphill to the ruins and necropolis, shop in Kaleköy, or stay near the harbor for another swim.
• Bring swimwear and a towel: Several stops are built around swimming, and the water at Burç Bay can feel cooler because of underwater springs.

Why this Kekova boat trip offers good value

At $45 per person, this is not simply a short sightseeing cruise. You get roughly seven hours on the water, several swimming stops, lunch, fruit, morning snacks, and time to visit Simena Castle. Comparable boat outings can feel expensive when they offer only a few hours and one swim stop. Here, the day is packed, though not rushed at every stop.

I like the balance. You get enough ancient history to give the journey a purpose, but this is not a formal archaeological tour with hours of lectures. Much of the day is swimming, eating, resting, and looking at the coast from the deck.

The boat is identified as the Memedim boat, with Captain Mehmet. English and Turkish support is available, along with an English and Turkish audio guide. The spoken guiding arrangement may vary, so if you want detailed explanations in English, ask for help early in the trip. A guide named Mustafa has been particularly helpful with English explanations and questions.

The schedule begins at Ucagiz harbor between 10:20 and 10:40 in the morning. The activity returns to the same meeting point after the day on the water. That makes it easy to reach dinner in Ucagiz afterward or continue to another destination.

Starting at Ucagiz harbor

Ucagiz is a practical departure point for exploring Kekova. Arrive with enough time to find the boat and confirm the name with the crew. The meeting details identify Captain Mehmet and the Memedim boat, though the boat name can also appear as Mehmedim3, so do not rely on a quick glance at one sign.

The start is not a luxury marina experience. It is a working village harbor, and boat operators may be gathered close together. That is part of the local feel, but it also means you should keep your booking details handy and ask directly where the boat is waiting.

The day starts with an action-packed rhythm. You leave Ucagiz, move from bay to bay, and spend most of the time outdoors. Bring a towel, swimwear, sun protection, and something dry to cover up between swims. The supplied information does not confirm that snorkeling equipment is provided, so bring your own if you have a preferred mask.

Aquarium Bay gives you the first long swim

Aquarium Bay is one of the strongest parts of the outing because you get a full hour here. That is long enough to swim without feeling that you must scramble back aboard after a few minutes.

You can swim and snorkel in the cove, then enjoy morning refreshments, including Turkish tea and biscuits. This small touch matters. A cold drink and a biscuit after swimming make the stop feel more like a relaxed day on a Turkish gulet than a basic transport ride.

The bay is also a good place to settle into the boat’s routine. If you prefer sitting in the shade, use the swim period to find your comfortable spot. If you want to be in the water, you have time for more than one quick dip.

The Sunken City is a view from the sea

The Sunken City of Kekova is the historical centerpiece. The ancient settlement of Dolchiste was flooded after an earthquake in the second century, leaving parts of the old city beneath the water.

You see the ruins from the boat during a cruise of about 20 minutes. That distinction is important: this is a protected underwater site, not a place where you get out and walk among the remains. The boat gives you a clear way to follow the shoreline and look for submerged walls, stone structures, and the traces of the old settlement.

I find this stop works best when you keep your expectations realistic. The ruins are not presented like a fully excavated city. You are looking through the water and along the coast, with the guide or audio information supplying the historical context. The pleasure comes from connecting the quiet sea with the fact that an ancient town lies below it.

Have your camera ready, but remember that glare and movement can make underwater details hard to capture. Looking carefully from the deck is often more rewarding than trying to photograph every stone.

Burç Bay and the cooler water

The next swim takes place in Burç Bay, described as a quieter stop where natural underwater springs make the sea feel cooler. That cooler water can be refreshing after sitting in the sun, though it may surprise you after the warmer feel of Aquarium Bay.

This is another swimming and snorkeling break rather than a major sightseeing stop. Use it to cool off, float, or simply enjoy the change in scenery. The itinerary allows around 40 minutes at this part of the route, so you have enough time to swim without giving up the main historical stops.

If you dislike cold water, you can stay aboard and enjoy the views. You are not required to make every swim stop your own personal endurance test.

Pirates Cave is short but memorable

Pirates Cave is a natural cave with a large size and a curved entrance. The boat pauses for sightseeing rather than a long shore visit.

This is the kind of stop that works as a visual break. After the open water and broad bays, the cave gives the route a different shape. Its name adds a little drama, but the main attraction is the natural formation, not a guaranteed pirate story.

Because the stop is brief, pay attention when the boat approaches. You may not have much time to set up a perfect photograph, and the best view could be from a particular side of the deck.

Gökkaya Bay combines lunch and water sports

Gökkaya Bay is the midday pause, with lunch served onboard and another chance to swim. The scheduled stop lasts about 45 minutes, so lunch and swimming share the same window.

The food is one of the better value points of this experience. The meal includes lunch, with fruit service and morning snacks also included. The boat can serve meat grilled onboard, which gives the meal a more satisfying feel than a prepacked sandwich.

Several water sports may be available at Gökkaya Bay for an additional activity, but the supplied details do not specify which ones or what they cost. Treat those as optional extras rather than part of the $45 package. If you mainly want a quiet swim, you can skip them and enjoy the bay.

The timing can feel tight if you eat slowly and want a long swim. Still, the day includes several other water stops, so you are not losing your only chance to get in the sea.

Esmeralda Bay slows the afternoon down

Esmeralda Bay, also written as Esmaralda Koyu, is another swim and snorkeling stop. The scheduled time is about 40 minutes.

By this point, the repeated pattern of swimming, cruising, and eating can be either the best part of the day or a little repetitive. I like it because the boat does not force every stop into a historical lecture. You can simply enjoy the coast and let the day remain easy.

If you have been swimming at every earlier bay, this is a good moment to rest on deck. The boat cruise itself gives you a chance to see more of the Kekova area without rushing ashore.

Simena Castle is the main land visit

The boat anchors at Kaleköy, the modern village beside ancient Simena, for one hour. This is the only major land visit on the route, and it deserves your full attention.

You can walk uphill to Simena Castle, where you will find castle ruins and a necropolis. The climb gives you wide views over the Kekova region, the islands, and the blue water below. The entrance fee is listed as 1 euro, not included in the tour price.

The walk is the best choice if you want the historical side of Kekova to feel substantial. You will not have hours to explore, but one hour is enough to reach the castle area, look around, and return if you keep moving. Wear shoes suitable for uneven ground. The tour information does not promise a gentle paved path all the way up.

You can also remain near the harbor. Kaleköy is a small, authentic village with places to browse and enjoy the setting. If the heat has caught up with you, staying below and taking another swim may be the wiser plan.

This stop is where the tour becomes more than a beach day. The castle and necropolis add a physical connection to the area’s past. At the same time, the one-hour limit means you must choose between a serious uphill look and a slower village visit.

What the boat day feels like in practice

The boat used for this experience has room inside and on the upper deck, with mattresses available for relaxing. That detail is useful on a seven-hour trip. You will want a place to stretch out between stops, especially after lunch or several swims.

The schedule is active, but it is not a nonstop guided march. The boat cruises between stops, and those stretches are part of the experience. You can watch the coast, rest in the shade, listen to the guide, or prepare for the next swim.

The guide’s English support can make a difference. The main boat speech may be in Turkish, while Mustafa has provided English explanations and answered questions. If you care about the history, tell the guide early rather than assuming every announcement will be repeated in English.

The itinerary lists an audio guide in English and Turkish. Bring a little patience with the presentation, since the exact balance between live commentary and audio information may depend on the day’s crew.

Timing, cancellations, and shoulder-season caution

This is a morning-to-late-afternoon outing, with departure around 10:20 to 10:40 and a total duration of about seven hours. Starting times should be checked when you select a date.

The most important scheduling warning concerns the shoulder season. A boat trip can be listed before the local operating season has fully begun, and the planned departure may not run as expected. A previous booking problem was resolved with a private replacement boat at the same price, but I would not count on every situation unfolding that generously.

If you are visiting early or late in the season, contact the provider directly and confirm the trip is operating. The activity allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later, which gives you some flexibility.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would choose this outing if you want to see the main Kekova sights without arranging several separate boat rides. It suits you particularly well if you enjoy swimming, prefer a full day outdoors, and want a mix of ruins and relaxation.

Families and couples may appreciate the flexible rhythm. One person can swim while another rests on deck, and at Simena you can choose the castle walk or stay near the water. The trip also works for history-minded visitors who are happy with a short, boat-based introduction rather than a long archaeological tour.

You may want a different experience if you dislike repeated swim stops, struggle with uneven uphill paths, or want a quiet private cruise with a custom schedule. The day is shared and structured around the listed bays, lunch, and the one-hour stop at Simena.

Should you book the Ucagiz Kekova boat trip?

Book it if you want strong value at $45, several chances to swim, a meal onboard, and the essential Kekova sights in one day. The long Aquarium Bay stop, grilled lunch, scenic coves, and Simena Castle visit give the outing more substance than a simple coastal cruise.

I would be careful only with the operating date and boat identification. Confirm the Memedim or Mehmedim3 boat and Captain Mehmet at Ucagiz harbor, especially in the shoulder season. Bring swimwear and a towel, set aside 1 euro for the castle, and decide in advance whether your priority at Kaleköy is the uphill ruins or another swim.

FAQ

How long does the Kekova boat trip last?

The activity lasts about seven hours. Departure from Ucagiz harbor is scheduled between 10:20 and 10:40 in the morning, with the boat returning to the same meeting point.

What is the price?

The listed price is $45 per person.

What food is included?

Morning snacks, lunch, and fruit service are included. Turkish tea and biscuits are served at Aquarium Bay, and the lunch may include meat grilled onboard.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The route includes swimming and snorkeling stops at Aquarium Bay, Burç Bay, Gökkaya Bay, and Esmeralda Bay. Aquarium Bay has a one-hour swim break.

Can I visit Simena Castle?

Yes. The boat stops at Kaleköy, ancient Simena, for one hour. You can walk uphill to the castle ruins and necropolis. The entrance fee is 1 euro and is not included.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear and a towel. You may also want sun protection and snorkeling equipment if you prefer to use your own, since the provided information does not confirm that equipment is supplied.

What languages are available?

English and Turkish support are available. An English and Turkish audio guide is included, and the boat’s host or greeter is listed as English and Turkish speaking.