★★★★★
The Mala cave RIB
A funny guide full of facts, music on board and views worth every cent.
Kasia · Poland · September 2026
Nice: Secret Riviera Boat Tour to Mala cave with Snorkeling
Shared boat, max 12Port Lympia tram stop, NiceSwim stopNobody goes ashore
You meet the crew by the tram stop at the Port of Nice and board a RIB of no more than twelve. It runs east along the capes to a sea cave under the cliffs, stops for about 45 minutes while you swim and snorkel, then brings you home past the villas and the bay with the guide talking you through the coast. Two hours, mask and snorkel in the fare.
Two hours, one cave and a swim
About 45 minutes in the water
The boat stops at the Mala cave for the swim and snorkel.
No more than twelve on board
A small RIB, so everyone gets a seat near the rail.
A guide, not a recording
Live commentary in French and English, with music on the way.
Gear in the fare
Masks, snorkels and a life jacket come with your place.
4.9 from 661 reviews
Travellers single out the guides and the swim.
$74 a person
No fee on board; bring a towel and tip if you wish.
The run east to the Mala cave
You board at the Port of Nice, in front of the Port Lympia tram stop on Quai Napoléon 1er. The RIB heads out of the harbour and turns east. For about 25 minutes you run along the coast with the guide pointing out what you pass: Cap de Nice, the mouth of Villefranche bay and the wooded point of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat.
The swim stop is the Mala cave, beside Plage Mala in Cap-d'Ail. The beach is fine sand and small round pebbles set into the rocks, under steep cliffs. On foot you would come down by the coastal path or the Mala stairs. From the boat you arrive from the sea side, right at the cave, and simply drop into the water.
Forty-five minutes to swim and snorkel
The boat stops for about 45 minutes. Masks and snorkels are on board, and so is a life jacket for each of you. Put your face in the water and look down at the rocks below you. One swimmer on a September morning found it warmer than expected.
Swimming is at your own risk: nobody supervises or monitors the water. If you cannot swim, you may come on the trip, but you stay on the boat. Weather and the state of the sea decide the day, so the crew may move the swim to a calmer spot.
Home past the capes and the bay
After the swim the RIB turns for Nice. You pass below Èze for about 20 minutes, then along Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat and its villas for about 15, then across Villefranche bay for another 15. This is when the guide does most of the talking, about the villages, the houses on the capes and the coast's history, with music on board between the stories.
The boat you board may be blue, black or yellow, depending on the day. It is the same kind of trip either way: an open boat with no shade and no toilet. That is the trade for a small, fast boat that can stop right at the cave.
Your two hours, stop by stop
- Port Lympia tram stop. Be there 15 minutes before; late arrivals are refused.
- Along the coast, about 25 minutes. East past the capes with the guide.
- The Mala cave, about 45 minutes. Swim and snorkel from the boat.
- Below Èze, about 20 minutes. The hill village high above you.
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, about 15 minutes. Along the cape and its villas.
- Villefranche bay, about 15 minutes. Across the bay and back to the port.
Who this suits: you want to swim, and two hours is plenty
Book this if
You can swim, you want to get in the sea rather than just look at it, and you like a small boat with a guide who talks. It suits couples, friends and families with children aged 5 or over who are happy in open water. At $74 a person it is one of the cheaper ways to swim off the coast.
Book something else if
You want shade, a toilet or a drink in the fare: the morning catamaran from Quai Amiral Infernet runs three hours with a stop at anchor, paddleboards and planter's punch, for $84. If nobody in your party will swim, the hour's cruise to Villefranche bay is $33. If you want to set foot in Villefranche, the 3-hour version adds 45 minutes ashore. Every shared trip is on French Riviera boat tour from Nice.
What the fare pays for, and what it leaves out
In the fare
- Small-group boat trip with a guide
- Music on board
- Masks and snorkels
- Life jacket
- Insurance
Not in the fare
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Tips
- Towel
Finding the crew at the tram stop
You meet the crew's agent in front of the Port Lympia tram stop, on Quai Napoléon 1er at the Port of Nice. The stop is the end of tram line 2, which also serves the airport. Be there 15 minutes before your start: the boat leaves on time and late arrivals are not taken.
Your ticket is on your phone, with no printing needed. There is no hotel pickup, and you end the trip at the same quay. Every quay in the port, and which boat uses which, is on the Nice boat tours map. What to know before any boat trip is in the visitor guide.
Know before you go
- Wear swimwear under your clothes. You swim straight off the boat, with no cabin to change in.
- Bring a towel. Towels are not in the fare.
- Pack sun cover. There is no shade on board: hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
- Use a toilet first. There is none on the boat.
- Leave big bags behind. Luggage, large bags and pets are not allowed.
- Check who can come. No children under 5, no one over 75, no pregnant women, and no one with back problems.
- Check the weight limit. It is printed as both 100 kg and 110 kg; if you are near it, ask the operator first.
What travellers say about the swim at the cave
★★★★★
The Mala cave RIB
The boat went to the Mala cave to snorkel, then toured the coast on the way back. The one wish was for more time in the water.
Rachel · United States · September 2026
★★★★★
The Mala cave RIB
Two hours felt right. The skipper gave history and context along the coast, and the swim was the high point.
Jodi · United States · September 2026
Frequently asked questions
Where does the Mala cave boat leave from?
From the Port of Nice, in front of the Port Lympia tram stop on Quai Napoléon 1er. Arrive 15 minutes early, because late arrivals are refused.
How long do we spend in the water?
About 45 minutes at the cave, out of two hours. The rest is the run out and the guided trip home past the capes and the bay.
Can non-swimmers come?
Yes, but they stay on board. Nobody supervises the swim, and people who cannot swim may not enter the water.
Is there shade or a toilet on the boat?
No, neither. For shade and a stop at anchor, look at the morning catamaran on French Riviera boat tour from Nice.
We'd rather have a boat to ourselves. What else is there?
A private boat of your own starts at the solar boat from Beaulieu: see the silent solar boat from Beaulieu. Swim stops come on its 2-hour option or longer.
Can I cancel?
Yes. You get the full fare back if you cancel at least 24 hours ahead. If the weather stops the boat, you are offered a new date or a refund.
Other ways onto the water from Nice
Ready to swim at the cave?
Check the start times still open for your date, with a full refund up to 24 hours ahead if the sea turns.
Check availability