Lake Como: Sala Comacina past Isola Comacina to Villa del Balbianello

Put in at the slipway on Piazza Matteotti in Sala Comacina and paddle through the narrow channel behind Isola Comacina, Lake Como's only island, with the ruins of its Romanesque churches among the trees. Carry on along the shore past Ospedaletto and Campo into the sheltered bay called the Zoca de l'Oli, mild enough for olive trees, and follow it round to the tip of the Lavedo peninsula, below the terraced gardens of the Villa del Balbianello. Turn on the water there, as the villa's landing is private, and come back the same way.

It is 5.4 km there and back; allow about 1¼ hours in a canoe or kayak and 1½ on a paddleboard. The grade is Easy: sheltered water close to the shore.

Lake Como has strict rules for small craft. Wear an approved life jacket at all times, paddle only from an hour after sunrise until sunset, keep 10 m from other craft and keep off the ferry routes and out of harbours: launch from the slipway, not the ferry pier, and keep clear of the landings at Sala, Campo and Lenno. Fines run from €60 to €600. The northerly Tivano blows in the early morning and the southerly Breva from mid-afternoon, so late morning is calmest. The lake is very deep and cold off the shore. Wear a buoyancy aid and check the conditions before you set off.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap waterways (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.