Pantalica Tours
walking tours | archaeological hikings | nature trekkings
Our Pantalica tours
Since 2005, when this area became part of Unesco's World Heritage List, the tourist guides and nature guides of Hermes Sicily take tourists from all over the world to discover the necropolis of Pantalica. The area is very wide and it's part of the nature reserve of the Anapo Valley and also of the archaeologic park of Syracuse. To come to meet the different interests and needs of the visitors time going by we developed several options for the visit which permit to satisfy demands of bigger groups travelling by bus, individual tourists with an own or rented car or small groups who need also transport by minivan. Also regarding your interest we have different options for those who mainly want to explore the archaeological mains and for those who prefer trekking in nature. Below you'll find the different options for tours at Pantalica. Click on the single ours for details. Most of the tours with focus on the archaeological feature start near Ferla while the naturalistic trekking tours start at the entrance at Sortino. All the below described experiences are private tours wherefore our guide leads only you and your group.
Pantalica and CalcinaraVisit of the Unesco site
This itinerary is thought for individual travellers or small groups. It is an archaeological tour which shows you the most important archaeological remains of the Unesco site Pantalica: part of the necropolis, the rock cut oratory of San Micidiario, the Anaktoron. Optional you can also descend through the nature reserve until the charming Calcinara creek.
DetailsNecropolis of PantalicaVisit to the Unesco's sites
This itinerary for visiting Pantalica is thought for school groups or bigger groups which travel by bus. Indeed the starting point of the visit can be reached also by a big bus. The visit focuses on history and archaeological details. You can admire the Filiporto necropolis, the rock village San Micidiario and the anaktoron.
Trekking Pantalica & AnapoFull-day hiking in the nature reserve
This itinerary is recommended for those who love trekking. It consists in a round trip. Passing the northern necropolis you will arrive at the Calcinara creek. You'll walk up on the south side and from there reach the Valley of Anapo river enjoying the flourishing nature. This private tour can be booked by individual travellers or groups of max. 20 people.
Pantalica northSerramenzana & bat's grotto
A half-day tour to discover Pantalica's nature and archaeology on the side of Sortino. This tour is fitting for small groups or individual travellers and permits to admire the impressive northern necropolis, the suggestive cavern of the bats and the charming Calcinara creek, where you can also make a refreshing break. In this itinerary you have to overcome some height differences.
Anapo valley reserveAlong the former railway route
An itinerary to discover the Anapo Valley nature reserve. Starting at the Fusco entrance near Sortino you will hike along a suggestive route without any height differences or difficulties, passing some of the tunnels of the former railway which connected Siracusa to Vizzini, following the course of the river Anapo. The tour is bookable by big or small groups or individual travellers and is fitting for everybody.
Tours with transport from Syracuse
Some tours of Pantalica for small groups with additional transport service from Syracuse.
Pantalica half-dayThe Unesco site
The most classic visit of Pantalica's sites in the Unesco World Heritage list starts on the side of Ferla and shows you the necropolis, the Anaktoron and the rock village. Additional transport from Syracuse included. This tour is bookable by private groups with min. 5 participants.
Pantalica & Anapo full-dayTrekking, archaology and nature
A full-day trekking itinerary with medium difficulty. The itinerary starts at the entrance near Sortino, passing the northern necropolis arrives at the Calcinara creek and continues in the valley of the Anapo river until the Fusco or Cassaro exit. Additional transport from Syracuse included. Bookable by small private groups with min. 5 people.
Tour categories
The area of Pantalica and Anapo Valley is very wide and can be visited in several itineraries which permit to focus only on the archaeological remains or to enjoy also the beauty of one of the most important nature reserves in Sicily. Some of the itineraries can be done without any difficulties and consist only in short walks along earth beaten paths while for some others you need good conditions. Therefore in the schedules above we have inserted the following icons to permit a quick overview.
- walking tour Itineraries fitting for everybody. Consists in short walks without any difficulties. In some itineraries more difficult routes are optional.
- hiking These itineraries consist in a medium long trekking with some height differences. There are no tecnical difficulties, but they are not fitting for elder persons or anybody with walking problems.
- archaeology The tour is focused and the archaeological remains and the history of the site and there will short breaks to explore the archaeological sites.
- nature These tours are focused more on the naturalistic aspect. More time is used for walking and informations about plants and animals.
Shared group tours in Pantalica
At present we do not organize shared groups at Pantalica regularly or following a prearranged calendar because the requests are too few. It is only possible to book a private guide for the above mentioned itineraries. Shared group tours are organized only as special events, mostly with Italian speaking guides, few times a year and following some particular itinerary. You will find those tours when organized in our calendar of seasonal excursions.
Weather conditions for the visit at Pantalica
Summer: During the summer month the plateau of Pantalica is nearly without any shadow and temperatures in Sicily are usually always high (often between 95°-105°F). Although it is possible to book the visit at any time you prefer, we suggest to choose late afternoon hours for the half-day tours in a way to do the visit when sun is going down and temperatures slightly lower.
Weather alert: The sicilian civil protection department publishes every day the weather forecast and advices about possible risks for open air activities. Our team continuously checks the forecast and in case of possible risks we will contact you for changing the date or delete your booking. In special way the entrances to the Anapo Valley and the entrance Pantalica/Sortino/Serramezzana are closed when there is orange or red level weather alerts. The route Pantalica, Ferla, Filiporto is always open, but for security reasons (risk of stone fall, slippery path) the guide might decide to change or shorten the itinerary in case weather conditions are getting worse.
In special way at the end of summer, end of September or October we sometimes have heavy thunderstorms which might cause the above mentioned limitations.
More about terms and conditions for our guided visits on this page.
Information and Booking
Contact us to book a walking tour or for information about rates of tailored tours. To answer your questions please let us know: how many people you are, date or period of the year for the visit, requested language.
Cancellation
Our private tours can be canceled free of charge until 7 days before the tour. See the complete terms and conditions for our private tours on this page.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
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In which days and hours are the tours running?
These tours, being private tours, are bookable all over the year. Also the starting time is flexible, but for some tours we will suggest the starting time according to the opening hours of the entrance gate. -
What means a half-day tour? And a full-day tour?
Half-day tours take place in the morning, ending not later than 2 pm, or in the afternoon, starting not before 2.30pm. Full-day tours last the whole day. -
What is the recommended clothing?
The visit at Pantalica is along earth beaten, sometimes impervious paths. For the walking tours we suggest comfortable shoes (sneakers or trekking shoes, avoid high-healed shoes). For the excursions, trekking shoes are highly recommended. A sun hat will also be useful as the plateau has nearly no shadow. Trekking sticks are not strictly necessary but could be useful. -
What else shall we take with us?
Don't forget to take enough water with you, depending on the duration of the tour, the season and your personal need. For the full-day tours you will also need your packed lunch. On demand it's possible to agree with the guide about buying sandwiches in the nearby village before starting the tour. -
Can the itineraries be done by children? and by elderly persons?
The difficulties are various between the tours we suggest. Please contact us for more informations. Generally the itineraries we call 'walking tours' can be adapted to any kind of participant, but nevertheless in anyone part of the visit must be done by walking. More information you will find in the details of the tours.