Tour aboard the iconic Bertram 31 Sedan on Lake Como

Lake Como looks good from shore, but the lake’s grand villas and mountain villages make much more sense from the water. This private cruise puts you aboard a 1961 Bertram 31 Sedan, a classic American boat with Ray Hunt’s famous deep-V hull and two 300-horsepower engines.

I like the mix of old-school style and easy sightseeing, especially the chance to pass Villa del Balbianello, Villa Oleandra, Villa Fontanelle, and the Orrido di Nesso waterfall in one short outing. I also like the private format, which lets your group of up to nine relax with a drink instead of sharing the boat with strangers. The main drawback is the short 90-minute duration, and the non-refundable booking policy makes weather and schedule planning important.

Key points to know before you book

• A genuine 1961 Bertram 31 Sedan: You are riding a historic boat with sleek lines, a Ray Hunt deep-V hull, and twin 300-horsepower engines.
• A private group experience: The boat is reserved for your party, with space for up to nine people.
• A fast look at Lake Como’s western shore: The route includes Villa Pliniana, Villa Erba, Villa Olmo, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, and Torno.
• Big villa views from the lake: The cruise also takes in Villa d’Este, Villa Fontanelle, Villa Oleandra, and Villa del Balbianello.
• A dramatic finish near Nesso: The Orrido di Nesso combines a rocky gorge, a waterfall, and one of the lake’s most memorable views.
• Simple meeting point: Start and finish at WEC Touchpoint, Water Experience Center Como, on Lungo Lario Trieste in Como.

Why the Bertram 31 makes this more than a standard boat ride

The boat is the main event here. The Bertram 31 Sedan is not a basic rental boat or a modern sightseeing launch. Built in 1961, it is presented as a nautical design classic, with the clean profile and sturdy hull that made Bertram boats famous.

That matters because the ride has a sense of occasion before you even reach the villas. The Ray Hunt deep-V hull was designed for a smooth ride through the water, while the twin 300-horsepower engines give the boat plenty of power. You can expect a cruise that feels energetic when the boat is moving and relaxed when you slow down for views.

The style is polished but not fussy. You can sit back, take in the scenery, sip a drink, and let the boat do the work. Music and a pleasant atmosphere have also been part of the broader WEC boating experience, though the details of what is supplied on this specific cruise are not fully stated.

I would choose this over a standard public boat if the boat itself matters to you. You are paying for the setting, but also for the pleasure of being on a genuine classic craft.

A 90-minute route through Como’s villa country

This is a compact sightseeing cruise rather than a full-day exploration of Lake Como. The listed route includes six stops or viewing areas: Villa Pliniana, Villa Erba, Villa Olmo, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, and Torno.

The route is especially useful if your time is limited. In an hour and a half, you get a broad look at the central and western part of the lake without spending most of your day on transport. You return to the same pier, so there is no need to arrange a second ride from another village.

The wording of the tour also highlights several famous properties along the cruise, including Villa d’Este, Villa Fontanelle, Villa Oleandra, and Villa del Balbianello. These villas are best appreciated from the lake, where you can see their waterfront settings and understand how closely Como’s grand houses are tied to the water.

You should think of these as scenic viewing points, not guaranteed interior visits. The experience is built around cruising past the villas, not touring their rooms or gardens.

Villa Pliniana, an old lakeside setting near Torno

Villa Pliniana is associated with the small village of Torno on Lake Como’s eastern shore. From the water, the villa is part of a quiet stretch where steep hills meet the lake and old buildings sit close to the shore.

The villa has a more secluded feel than the famous properties near Como and Bellagio. It is a good reminder that the lake is not only about celebrity villas and grand hotels. Much of its appeal comes from the way private residences, small settlements, wooded slopes, and stone walls fit tightly around the water.

The practical advantage of seeing it by boat is clear: the shoreline can be hard to read from the road, while the lake gives you a clean view of the buildings and their setting.

Villa Erba and Cernobbio’s polished waterfront

Villa Erba sits near Cernobbio and is one of the lake’s best-known grand properties. Its waterfront position gives you the kind of broad, formal view that makes Lake Como so popular for special occasions and elegant day trips.

Cernobbio itself adds a more active village setting to the route. It is close to Como and easy to reach, yet the view from the water gives you a different sense of scale. Instead of looking at the lake from a promenade, you see the town backed by the hills and framed by the long curve of the shore.

This part of the cruise should suit you if you want the classic Como scene: stately villas, tidy waterfront buildings, and mountain slopes rising behind them. The drawback is that famous areas can feel less quiet, especially during the busier season. A private boat helps, but it cannot remove the popularity of the lake.

Villa Olmo, close to the starting point

Villa Olmo is near the city of Como, making it a convenient early or late sight on a route from the WEC pier. The villa is known for its grand architecture and formal grounds, and its position near the city gives you a useful contrast with the smaller villages farther along the shore.

From the boat, you can appreciate how quickly Como changes from an urban center to a line of historic estates and mountain scenery. That contrast is one reason a water tour works so well here. Driving along the shore can be slow and crowded, while the boat gives you an open view toward the buildings.

If you are staying in Como, this is also one of the most practical parts of the route. You do not need to spend extra time reaching a distant departure point.

Moltrasio and the quieter shoreline

Moltrasio is a smaller lakeside community north of Cernobbio. It brings a slower, more residential feel to the cruise, with the shoreline rising quickly into the hills.

You may find this section less immediately famous than Villa del Balbianello or Villa d’Este, but it is valuable for showing the lake as a lived-in place rather than a string of postcard sights. The best moments may come between the named stops, when the boat passes small waterfront buildings, steep slopes, and sections of shore that are difficult to see from land.

This is where the private format earns its keep. Your group can simply sit and watch the view without needing to follow a fixed public-boat commentary or compete for a good position.

Torno and the approach to the lake’s dramatic scenery

Torno lies on the eastern shore and has a compact historic center pressed between the hills and the water. Its setting is a good example of the lake’s unusual geography: there is little flat ground, so villages seem to climb straight up from the shore.

The route’s inclusion of Torno pairs naturally with the mention of the Orrido di Nesso. Both places show a more rugged side of Lake Como, away from the formal villa gardens and grand hotel fronts.

You should keep your camera ready, but do not expect every view to be equally easy to photograph. The boat is moving, and the light changes quickly around the mountains. A phone with a secure grip is more useful than a large camera you need to manage constantly.

Orrido di Nesso, the most dramatic stop

The Orrido di Nesso is a rocky gorge where a waterfall cuts through the village and drops toward the lake. Seen from the water, it creates a strong natural focal point: a narrow cleft in the rock, rushing water, old buildings, and the lake opening out below.

This is likely to be the most striking natural sight on the cruise. The villas are elegant, but Nesso adds movement and sound to the trip. It also gives you a view that is difficult to understand from a passing road journey.

The boat’s power is useful here because the cruise can cover a good stretch of shoreline in a short time. Still, 90 minutes leaves limited room for long pauses. If you want to swim, explore a village, or spend time near the waterfall, you will need a different kind of lake outing.

What the private format means for your group

The experience is private, with only your group on board and a maximum group size of nine. That makes the $1,565.35 price easier to assess. For nine people, the cost works out to roughly $174 per person. For six people, it is about $261 per person, and for two people, the price becomes a much more serious splurge.

I see the strongest value for families, close friends, or a small celebration where sharing the boat is part of the appeal. You are not paying only for transport. You are paying for a classic vessel, a private setting, a driver, and a carefully timed look at some of Como’s best-known shoreline sights.

For a solo visitor or couple on a strict budget, a public ferry will be far cheaper. It will also be less intimate and will not give you the same classic-boat setting. The right choice depends on what you want the boat ride to be. If you simply need to get from one village to another, this is too expensive. If you want a stylish private outing, the group price can be reasonable when divided among several people.

Staff and service at the WEC meeting point

The tour begins and ends at WEC Touchpoint, Water Experience Center Como, at Lungo Lario Trieste in Como. You should arrive at the pier 10 minutes early.

WEC staff connected with the boating operation include Katerina, who has helped visitors with boat arrangements and offers service in English, along with Elisa and Marinela at the center. Patrick has also provided informative boat guidance about the area’s history. The exact staff member assigned to your Bertram cruise is not specified, so do not assume one particular person will be your guide.

Pickup is offered, and the meeting point is near public transportation. When the driver arrives, you are sent his phone number so you can make contact if needed. That is a useful detail in a busy waterfront area, where finding the correct pier can take a few extra minutes.

The experience is offered in English. Confirmation is sent within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability, so I would not make nonrefundable travel plans around it until your booking is confirmed.

Timing, seasons, and what to bring

Operating hours change with the season. From February 1 through May 31, the listed hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From June 1 through September 30, the longer summer window runs from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. From October 1 through March 16, 2027, the hours return to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The 90-minute length makes this easy to fit before dinner, after a morning of sightseeing, or between other plans in Como. In summer, a late afternoon departure could give you softer light, but the exact mood will depend on the day and weather.

Bring a light layer even in warm weather. The boat’s movement can make the air feel cooler than it does on shore. Sunglasses, sunscreen, and a secure way to carry your phone are sensible choices. The tour says you can relax and enjoy a drink on board, but it does not specify a full meal or a particular beverage package, so plan on this being a light refreshment experience rather than a catered cruise.

Who will enjoy this classic-boat cruise most

I would recommend it most to:

• Families or friends who can share the cost across a larger group
• Couples looking for a stylish private outing
• Boat enthusiasts who care about the Bertram’s design and age
• First-time visitors who want a fast overview of Como’s western and central shore
• People who prefer a relaxed ride over a packed sightseeing schedule

It is less suitable if you want a long stop at each villa, a swim, a full meal, or a full-lake itinerary. It is also not a good choice for a flexible last-minute plan because the booking cannot be changed or refunded.

The listed rating is five out of five from 10 ratings, with 100 percent recommending the experience. That points to strong satisfaction, though the sample is small. The most consistent strengths are the scenery, friendly WEC service, smooth boat outings, and the pleasure of being on the water.

Should you book the Bertram 31 Sedan?

Book it if you want the boat ride itself to feel special. The 1961 Bertram, private group setting, grand villas, and Orrido di Nesso give this short cruise more character than a basic sightseeing transfer.

I would be most comfortable booking when your party includes six to nine people, since the group cost then makes better sense. Choose another option if you are watching every euro, need a refundable plan, or want time to get off the boat and explore.

For the right group, this is a polished 90-minute snapshot of Lake Como: classic boat, famous villas, quiet villages, and one memorable waterfall. It is short, but it uses that time well.

FAQ

How long is the Bertram 31 Sedan tour?

The cruise lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts and finishes at WEC Touchpoint, Water Experience Center Como, Lungo Lario Trieste, 22100 Como, Italy.

How early should I arrive?

You should be ready at the pier 10 minutes before departure.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private tour is available for one group of up to nine people.

What boat is used?

The experience takes place aboard a 1961 Bertram 31 Sedan with a Ray Hunt deep-V hull and two 300-horsepower engines.

Which places are included on the route?

The listed route includes Villa Pliniana, Villa Erba, Villa Olmo, Cernobbio, Moltrasio, and Torno. The cruise also features views of Villa d’Este, Villa Fontanelle, Villa Oleandra, Villa del Balbianello, and the Orrido di Nesso.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered. The meeting point is near public transportation, and you receive the driver’s phone number when the driver arrives.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason.