Alcantara Gorge

The Alcantara Gorge is a narrow basalt canyon cut by the Alcantara river near Motta Camastra, about 65 km north of Catania. By car the trip takes about one hour via the A18 (Fiumefreddo or Giardini Naxos exit) and SS185, with paid parking at the gorge entrances. No public bus from Catania was verified, so the practical alternative is a train or coach to Giardini Naxos or Taormina followed by a taxi of about 25 minutes. Organised excursions combining the gorge with Taormina or Etna are sold in Catania. The municipal entrance was reported at about EUR 2 per person for 2026, and a private park offers lift access to the canyon floor for about EUR 8.

The canyon walls reach about 50 metres in height and were formed when lava from Etna cooled into prismatic basalt columns that the river later carved. The water is cold throughout the year, as it comes from mountain springs. Visitors can wade through the shallows, usually with rented waders and water shoes available at the entrances, and walk deeper into the narrow sections. Paths and steps lead down from the road, and the private park adds a lift, changing rooms, a small botanical garden and picnic areas. The municipal entrance is regulated from 4 April to 31 October in 2026.

A typical day starts with a morning drive so that the gorge is visited before the afternoon crowds. The wade takes about one to two hours depending on how far visitors go. Lunch can be taken at a restaurant near Motta Camastra or in Taormina, which lies about 25 minutes away. The afternoon is well used for Taormina or Giardini Naxos, making the gorge easy to pair with the coast.

May to September is the best period for river walking because the cold water is more tolerable. Visitors should bring a towel, swimwear, a change of clothes and water shoes, and avoid the gorge after heavy rain when levels can rise. The rocks are slippery, so waders with grip are advisable.