River Trekking in the Alcantara Gorge

River trekking in the Alcantara Gorge (Gole dell'Alcantara) takes visitors on foot into a basalt canyon carved by the Alcantara river through an old lava flow from Mount Etna. The gorge lies at Motta Camastra in the province of Messina, Sicily, Italy, about 65 km north of Catania and east of Etna, near Taormina. The activity involves wading in cold, shallow river water between narrow dark walls, so it needs no technical skill and suits most visitors who can walk on slippery stones and tolerate cold water. Children can take part where water is shallow, though the current and depth change with the season and age guidance should be confirmed locally. There are two separate entrances in Motta Camastra: the municipal stairs, with a modest entry of roughly EUR 2, and the private botanical and geological park with a lift, at about EUR 10. Sources differ on prices, so they should be confirmed on parcoalcantara.it. The area is managed by the Parco Fluviale dell'Alcantara and the private Gole Alcantara park. Water shoes or waders are usually rented at the entrances, and visitors bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection and a waterproof bag for phones and cameras. The safety rule is simple: the river can rise too high to enter after heavy rain, and closures apply after storms or in autumn and winter floods. Staff monitor the water level, and visitors should follow posted limits on how far to walk upstream. In an emergency, the stairs or the lift provide exit points at the entrances. The best season runs from June to September, when the water is warmest and the heat of the Sicilian summer makes the cold river welcome, although spring and autumn are possible. Conditions to avoid include recent heavy rain and strong currents. A typical visit lasts 1 to 3 hours, and it combines easily with a day at Taormina or an Etna excursion.