Ekincik Bay and the Blue Cave
West of the river mouth the coast turns to cliff and stays that way for a long time. This trip goes out into that, along to the caves cut into the rock at the waterline and on to Ekincik bay, and it is the only Dalyan boat day that leaves the shelter of the delta behind.
- Duration
- Full day
- Departure
- Morning, weather permitting
- Departs from
- Dalyan quay
- Returns
- Late afternoon
- Group
- Shared boat, or private
- Season
- May to September, sea permitting
- Price
- Prices are on our sister site
Which is also why it is the only one that gets cancelled. The delta does not care about the wind. The open coast cares a great deal, and the skippers call it on the morning.
The route, stop by stop
- Out through the river mouthAbout an hour from town
Down the channels, past the sandbar, over the bar where the river meets the sea, and then open water. The change is abrupt and most people feel it in the deck before they notice it in the view.
- The cliffs west of IztuzuAbout 45 minutes
Rock going straight into deep water with nothing built on it. There is no road along this stretch and that absence is the whole character of it.
- The sea cavesAbout 30 minutes
Caves at the waterline, entered by the boat where the swell allows and looked into from outside where it does not. The blue comes from daylight coming up through the water, not from anything in the rock.
- Ekincik bayTwo to three hours
A sheltered bay with coarse sand, shingle and cold clear water. Lunch and the long swim stop both happen here, and the water is a different substance from the river.
- Back along the coastAbout an hour and a half
Usually with the afternoon breeze behind you, which is precisely why the trip runs in this direction and not the other.
Included
- The full sea day with skipper
- Lunch on board
- Swim ladder and shade on deck
- Drinking water
Not included
- Drinks
- Mask and snorkel hire
- Anything bought ashore at Ekincik
This one depends on the sea
A run that is a pleasure in a flat sea is genuinely unpleasant in a moderate one, and the cave entrances close to boats as soon as there is any swell working in them. Skippers make the call in the morning and sometimes the evening before.
So if you have one spare day in Dalyan, spend it on the river and keep this for a week when you have a morning you can afford to move. Booking it as your only trip is how people end up disappointed by weather that was nobody's fault.
Not a cave you walk into
It is a sea cave. You go in aboard the boat or you swim in, depending on the day and the skipper's judgement. Nobody is landing on a ledge with a torch and a hard hat. Better to adjust the expectation here than at the entrance.
What to bring
- Swimwear worn underneath
- Towel
- Sun cream
- Hat
- A layer for the run out
- Sea-sickness tablets if you are prone
- Cash
Frequently asked questions
Will the boat definitely go into the cave?
Only when the swell allows. On a calm morning, yes. On a lumpy one you look in from outside, and we would rather tell you that now than in the bay.
Is it rough?
It can be. This is open coast rather than river, and the afternoon breeze is reliable enough here to plan the route around. Take something for seasickness before you board if you are at all unsure.
Can we reach Ekincik by road instead?
There is a road and it is a long way round over the hills. The point of the boat is the coast in between, which the road never sees.
Is it suitable for young children?
It is a long day with a proper sea crossing at each end. Below about six it is usually more day than they want, and the river trips are the better answer.
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