Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat trip is its mix of caves, sandy beaches, old villages, and quiet swimming spots. You are not stuck with one short beach stop. You get a full day on the water, with time for the Blue Cave, Kolocep’s Green Caves, Šunj Beach, Lopud, Šipan, and Sikirica Cove.

I like the private boat for up to eight people, since your group can enjoy a more relaxed day than on a large shared cruise. I also like the range of stops: snorkeling fans get several chances in the water, while history lovers can walk to Lopud’s 15th-century Franciscan Monastery. The main drawback is the price, $611.46 per group, and lunch is not included, so this makes the most sense when shared by several people.

Key points to know before booking

• Three Elaphiti islands in one day: Visit Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan, with several extra coves and beaches along the route.
• Captain Maro’s local route knowledge: The captain knows the area well and can shape the day around swimming, snorkeling, and sightseeing.
• Several water stops: The Blue Cave, Green Caves, Šunj Beach, Sikirica Cove, and a secluded beach all offer chances to swim or snorkel.
• A private group of up to eight: You pay by the boat, not per person, so the value improves with a full group.
• Lunch costs extra: Drinks, snacks, fuel, equipment, fees, and taxes are included, but you buy your own lunch.
• Eight and a half hours on the water: This is a full day, not a quick coastal ride, so plan for sun, salt water, and a busy schedule.

A full day beyond Dubrovnik’s city walls

Dubrovnik is famous for its old stone walls, but the Elaphiti Islands show you a softer side of the region. The islands sit off the city’s coast, where rocky coves, small beaches, and fishing villages replace the tight lanes and crowded viewpoints of the Old Town.

This private speedboat tour lasts about 8 hours and 30 minutes. You leave from Dubrovnik’s main port, travel along the western side of the city, and then spend most of the day moving between Kolocep, Lopud, Šipan, and nearby coves.

I see this as a good choice if you want a full day outdoors but do not want to organize boat transfers, snorkeling stops, and island visits yourself. You get fuel, drinks, snacks, snorkeling equipment, fees, and taxes included. You only need to pay for lunch.

The private setup matters. Your group can be as small as two people or as large as eight, and nobody outside your party joins the boat. The price is $611.46 per group, so two people will find it expensive, while a group of six to eight gets a much better per-person rate.

Leaving Dubrovnik along the western coast

The boat begins with a short sightseeing run from Dubrovnik’s main port. The first 15 minutes take you along the western approach to the city and toward Kolocep.

This opening ride gives you a different view of Dubrovnik. From the water, the city’s position on the coast makes more sense, and you can watch the shoreline recede as the islands come closer.

The first and final sightseeing segments are brief, only about 15 minutes each. They are not the main reason to book the tour, but they frame the day nicely. You begin with views of Dubrovnik from offshore and return with another look at the city from the sea.

Because this is a speedboat trip, expect the ride itself to be part of the experience. You should be comfortable with a day of sun, wind, spray, and repeated boarding or swimming stops. If you prefer slow sailing and long stretches of quiet travel, this outing may feel too active.

Blue Cave: a short swim inside the rock

The first major stop is the Blue Cave near Dubrovnik. You have about 30 minutes for a snorkeling experience inside the cave.

This is a focused stop rather than a long visit. The appeal is the setting: you leave the open sea and enter a rocky chamber by water, with the cave walls creating a very different swimming environment from the beaches later in the day.

Bring a swimsuit and be ready to get into the water. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, which saves you from packing your own mask and fins. The tour also includes drinks and snacks, useful after an early swim.

Thirty minutes should be enough for a swim and a look around, but it is not a leisurely cave visit. If you want long snorkeling sessions, you will need to make the most of each water stop.

Kolocep and its three Green Caves

Next comes Kolocep Island, where you have another 30-minute snorkeling stop at three Green Caves.

The appeal here is variety. Instead of visiting one cave and moving on, you get three nearby formations in the same stop. The caves give you another chance to explore from the water, and the short transfer from the Blue Cave keeps the morning moving.

Kolocep is one of the three main islands included in the tour. On this itinerary, you see it mainly from the water, with snorkeling as the focus. That makes the stop especially suitable for people who would rather swim than spend the morning walking through a village.

The two cave visits also help explain the value of the private boat. You are not using the day only for a single beach and a quick ride back. The route gives you several different settings, and the captain can guide your group through the day’s water-based stops.

Šunj Beach gives you two hours to slow down

Šunj Beach on Lopud is the longest beach stop, with about two hours available. It is known for its natural sand, shallow water, and broad appeal.

This is a welcome change after the cave swims. You can walk along the shallow sandy beach, swim, snorkel, have a coffee, or stop at the restaurant for food. Families and less confident swimmers may appreciate the shallow water, while active members of your group can continue exploring.

The two-hour block gives you more breathing room than the 30-minute cave stops. You do not need to choose between swimming and sitting on the beach. You may have time for both, depending on how long your group spends getting ashore and returning to the boat.

Lunch is not included, so Šunj is one place where you might choose to buy a meal or snack. The tour includes snacks, but that does not replace lunch for everyone during such a long day. If you want to control costs, use the included snacks and plan your meal spending carefully.

A sandy beach is also a change from the rocky shoreline common around the Adriatic. If your idea of a good island day includes soft sand and shallow water, Šunj may be the stop you remember most.

Lopud combines island walking with a historic monastery

The tour then gives you about three hours on Lopud, the longest stop of the day. You can walk, swim, eat, or visit the Franciscan Monastery, which dates from the 15th century.

Lopud is described as the most popular tourist place in the Elaphiti Islands, and the three-hour visit gives you enough time to do more than step ashore for a quick photograph. You can spend part of the stop in the shade of the botanical garden, then continue to the water or a fish restaurant.

I like this part of the schedule because it gives the day some balance. The Blue Cave and Green Caves are short, active swims. Lopud lets you use your own pace. You can make the stop cultural, culinary, or simply restful.

The monastery adds a historic layer that the swimming coves cannot provide. You do not have to be interested in every detail of religious architecture to appreciate the change of rhythm: after hours of open water, a 15th-century building and shaded garden give you a quieter way to experience the island.

Keep in mind that the tour description does not specify a guided interior visit or an entrance fee. Treat the monastery as a self-directed sightseeing option unless your captain tells you otherwise.

Šipan and Suđurađ show a smaller island side

After Lopud, the boat heads to Šipan for about 30 minutes of sightseeing along the island’s southern coast and a visit to Suđurađ.

Suđurađ is described as the oldest fishing village in the area. That makes this a useful stop for seeing the islands as lived-in places, not just as swimming locations. The visit is short, so you should expect a look at the coast and village rather than a long walking tour.

This stop works well after the extended time on Lopud. You get another island and another type of view without spending hours away from the boat. If you are mainly interested in beaches, Šipan may feel less important than Šunj or the caves. If you want a sense of local coastal life, it adds welcome texture to the day.

The itinerary focuses on sightseeing here, not a long swim or a scheduled meal. Keep your expectations aligned with that.

Sikirica Cove is the day’s main snorkeling stop

The boat continues to Brsecine and Sikirica Cove, described as one of the best snorkeling places in the region. You have about 30 minutes in the cove.

This is another chance to use the supplied snorkeling equipment. Compared with the cave stops, Sikirica is likely to feel more open, giving you a different kind of water experience. The stop is short, so put on your gear quickly and enter the water when the boat arrives.

After Sikirica Cove, you have another 30 minutes for swimming at a secluded beach. This final water stop is a good fit for anyone who wants one last quiet swim before returning to Dubrovnik.

The schedule gives you repeated opportunities to cool off, but it also means you should manage your energy. You are not spending the whole day on one beach. You are moving, swimming, drying off, and boarding again several times.

What is included, and what you still pay for

The tour includes:

• Drinks
• Snacks
• Snorkeling equipment
• Fuel
• All fees and taxes

Lunch is extra. That is the main additional cost stated for the day, though you may also want to budget for anything else you choose to buy during the island stops.

At $611.46 per group, the price needs to be judged by group size. For eight people, it works out to roughly $76 per person. For four people, it is about $153 per person. For two people, it is more than $305 per person, making the private format a premium choice.

The value is strongest if you care about privacy and flexibility. You are paying for a full day, a private boat, fuel, equipment, and a route that covers three islands and several coves. You are not paying only for a transfer to one beach.

The value is weaker if your main goal is simply to reach Šunj Beach and sit there. In that case, a shorter and less expensive boat outing could suit you better.

Who will enjoy this speedboat tour most

I would recommend this trip for a group that wants a full day on the water and can share the cost. It suits couples traveling with friends, families with older children, and small groups who want the boat to themselves.

It is also a strong choice for people who enjoy variety. You can snorkel in caves, swim from beaches, walk around Lopud, see a historic monastery, visit Suđurađ, and view Dubrovnik from the coast.

You should think twice if you dislike fast boat rides, repeated water stops, or a tightly packed day. The itinerary covers a lot in 8 hours and 30 minutes. That is its strength, but it also means the day does not have much empty time.

Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is near public transportation, and confirmation is provided when you book. These details make the outing fairly straightforward to arrange, but the experience itself remains active and weather-dependent in feel, even though no specific weather policy is provided here.

Captain Maro and the value of local route knowledge

The captain named in the available feedback is Maro. His value is not just steering the boat from one listed stop to the next. The most useful part of having a local captain is knowing how to connect caves, coves, beaches, and villages into one workable day.

The strongest praise centers on Maro’s familiarity with the area and the personalized feel of the trip. That fits the design of a private excursion: your group has one boat, one captain, and a route that leaves room for swimming and quiet stops rather than following a large crowd.

The private format also separates this experience from the boat tours advertised around Dubrovnik’s Old Town. You are still following a planned route, but the day should feel more personal than a large group cruise.

Do not expect a private yacht-style service with lunch included. This is a practical speedboat day built around outdoor fun, supplied equipment, and several island stops.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

This tour is commonly booked about six days ahead, so I would not leave it until the last minute if your Dubrovnik dates are fixed. The mobile ticket is convenient for keeping the booking on your phone.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

The important practical choice is group size. Before booking, count everyone who wants to ride, swim, and share lunch costs. The fixed group price becomes much easier to justify when the boat is close to its eight-person limit.

Should you book this Elaphiti Islands tour?

Book it if you want a private, active day that combines the Blue Cave, Green Caves, Šunj Beach, Lopud, Šipan, and Sikirica Cove. The route gives you far more variety than a simple beach transfer, and Captain Maro’s local familiarity adds confidence to a day built around small coves and changing stops.

Skip it if you are traveling alone or as a pair and mainly want the lowest possible price. The cost is easier to defend for a full group, while lunch remains your responsibility.

For a small group that values privacy, swimming, snorkeling, and a full view of the Elaphiti Islands, this is a strong Dubrovnik day trip. Pack swimwear, sun protection, and a willingness to keep moving. The reward is a broad look at the coast, from cave water and sandy shallows to Lopud’s monastery and Suđurađ’s fishing-village setting.

FAQ

How long does the private speedboat tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes.

How many islands does the tour visit?

The route visits three Elaphiti Islands: Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan.

How large can the private group be?

The private tour is available for a group of up to eight people.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense. Drinks and snacks are included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included in the tour.

Which caves does the tour visit?

You visit the Blue Cave near Dubrovnik and three Green Caves on Kolocep Island.

How much time is spent at Šunj Beach?

The scheduled stop at Šunj Beach lasts about two hours.

Can you visit a historic site during the tour?

Yes. During the Lopud stop, you can visit the 15th-century Franciscan Monastery and walk in the botanical garden.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience begins for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.