Side Boat Rental Route: Saluting the Temple of Apollo from the Sea and Swimming with Caretta Turtles

Side may be one of the most crowded centers of Antalya tourism; however, the moment you sail out to sea, there is no trace of that crowd. Unlike the bay cruises of the Aegean, this is a rare route where the trilogy of "History, River, and Sea" converges.

As Limancepte, with 10 years of experience, we say: A Side yacht charter is not just swimming, but looking at a 2000-year-old history from the most exclusive lodge. Approaching the Temple of Apollo, where you cannot take photos due to the crowd when going by land, with your private boat and raising a glass is a completely different privilege.

1. In Front of the Temple of Apollo: Golden Hour

This is undoubtedly the "signature" point of the Side route. When your boat leaves the port and comes to the tip of the peninsula, magnificent columns from the 2nd century AD welcome you.

Experience: This is one of the few places in the world where an ancient city extends to the sea in such a dramatic way. Especially in sunset charters, we anchor your boat here while the sun sets between the columns. While thousands of tourists on land try to capture this view, you watch the most romantic frame of history from the sea, without any obstacles in front of you.

2. Manavgat River Mouth: Battle of Fresh and Salt Water

The most exotic stop of Side boat tours is the "Bosphorus" location where the Manavgat River meets the Mediterranean.

Activity: When your boat anchors here, you have a unique swimming experience. On one side you have the ice-cold fresh water coming from the Taurus Mountains, and on the other side, the warm salty water of the Mediterranean. This hot-cold water transition creates a natural therapy that accelerates blood circulation.

3. Side Underwater Museum: A First in Turkey

If you are interested in diving or love using a snorkel, the Side route offers you Turkey's first and only underwater museum. There are more than 110 sculptures placed at depths of 12 to 25 meters, about 1.5 miles offshore. Swimming over these sculptures themed "War of Independence", "Mevlana", and "Poseidon" is like visiting an art gallery under water. With the advantage of private boat rental, you can go here outside the hours of crowded diving boats.

4. Caretta Caretta Bay: Date with Wildlife

Side and Manavgat coasts are one of the most important spawning grounds for endangered Caretta Caretta sea turtles. Especially in the offshore of Sorgun and areas close to the river mouth, you are very likely to see giant turtles surfacing to breathe around your boat. Limancepte captains idle the engine so as not to scare these creatures.

5. Dolphin Island and Open Sea

When you steer a little further from the Side peninsula towards international waters, you reach the region known as "Dolphin Island". This is actually not an island, but a transit route for dolphin pods. If you are on your lucky day, pods of dolphins racing with your boat's bow wave will accompany you. Since the Side sea is sandier and more open than Antalya center, the color of the water turns into a deep dark blue here.