Cruise the Naples Canals

What are the Naples Canals?

Naples is a neighborhood of Long Beach built on three islands in Alamitos Bay, with canals running between them and opening into the bay. Arthur M. Parsons bought the marshland around 1903, construction began in 1905, and the work was finished in the 1920s. The streets carry Italian names, and the homes along the water have their own docks.

Two canals do most of the work: the Naples Canal and the Rivo Alto Canal. The homes and docks belong to the residents, but the water itself is public, which is why a rental boat can cruise through.

What will you see from the boat?

Houses, mostly, and that is the point. Each one faces the water, many with a private dock, a small boat and a patio at the waterline. The canals are narrow, so you pass close enough to see the gardens, the patios and the bridges that connect the islands. At 5 mph, there is time to take it all in.

In December, many of the homes put up lights for the season. Our Naples holiday lights guide covers seeing them from the water, including the Naples Island Christmas Boat Parade, which has run since 1946.

Why does the tide matter?

Low bridges cross the canals, so the height of the water decides whether a boat fits underneath. At high water, the canals can be off-limits for part of the day. The tides page shows the next seven days of high and low water, and our guide to reading the tide for the Naples bridges explains the numbers.

If you are unsure, call (562) 598-2628 and ask about the canals on your day before you book.

Where can you go when the tide is too high?

The rest of the bay stays open. When the canals are off-limits, you can still cruise around Naples Island, into Jellyfish Cove, Spinnaker Bay, Marina Pacifica and Mother’s Beach. You see Naples from the outside instead of the inside, and the bay has plenty of its own: sailboats, sea lions and the marina. The Alamitos Bay page describes that wider route.

How long does a canal cruise take?

The canals are close to our dock, so a one-hour rental can include them, though it feels quick. Two hours lets you wind through slowly, take the long way around Naples, and still see some of the open bay. If the canals are the reason for your trip, book two hours and check the tide.

What time of day suits the canals?

Late afternoon gives the warmest light: the sun is low, and the water in the canals picks it up. After dark in December, the holiday lights are the attraction. Our guide to the time of day that suits the Naples Canals weighs light, tide and how busy the water is, and the sunset times by month help you time the light.

How do you drive in the canals?

Slowly and courteously. The canals are narrow and residential, and other boats use them too, including the residents’ own. Keep right, give way, and keep the volume down near the homes. A Duffy makes this easy: it is quiet, and it tops out at 5 mph.

The Dock Master gives your driver a quick tutorial and a map before you set off, so you will know the route before you reach the first bridge.

How should you behave in the canals?

Remember that the canals are people’s front yards. Keep voices and music down near the homes, do not tie up to private docks, and take photos of the water and the boats rather than into windows. Watch for kayakers and paddleboarders, who are low in the water and easy to miss, and give way to the residents’ own boats coming in and out of their docks.

What does a Naples Canals cruise cost?

The same as any rental: $125 for one hour or $250 for two, per boat of up to 12 guests. See prices and the complete guide to renting a Duffy in Long Beach.

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