Private Speedboat Tour- Blue cave, sandy beaches and snorkelling

Dubrovnik’s best swimming spots are offshore, and this private speedboat tour lets you reach them without sharing your day with a busload of strangers. You can swim through the Blue Cave, snorkel in clear water, eat lunch on Šipan, and stretch out on sandy Šunj Beach. I like the flexible route and the chance to ask skippers such as Toni or Rocco to shape the day around your group.

I also like the simple extras: snorkelling gear, bottled water, soft drinks, beer, and wine are included. The catch is the extra fuel charge, which costs €50 for four hours, €70 for eight hours, or €120 for the Mljet option. Clarify the pickup arrangement too, since pickup and drop-off are listed separately from the boat service.

Key points before you book

• Blue Cave swimming: Visit the Blue Cave and three other caves around Koločep, with time to swim and snorkel inside.
• Private group of up to four: You control the pace and can ask the skipper to adjust the route.
• Four main island stops: The usual route combines Koločep, Šipan, Lopud, and Šunj Beach.
• Lunch on Šipan: You stop for about two hours, but the restaurant meal is not included.
• Longer options: An eight-hour trip can include Mljet National Park, while Lokrum is available only by request.
• Budget detail: Beer, wine, soft drinks, water, and equipment are included, but fuel is extra.

Why the Blue Cave is the main event

The tour begins around Koločep, one of the Elaphiti Islands near Dubrovnik. The main attraction is the Blue Cave, joined by three other caves in the area. Sunlight reflecting through the water creates the blue glow, so this stop is best treated as a swimming experience rather than a quick photo stop.

You can use the supplied snorkel equipment and enter the water inside the caves. That gives the visit more value than simply passing by on a sightseeing boat. You get a chance to look at sea life and see how the water changes inside the rock openings.

The exact conditions matter. The tour requires good weather, and the boat operator may need to adjust the plan if the sea is rough. The Blue Cave is also a natural site, so the color and swimming conditions depend on sunlight and water conditions on the day.

Plan on about an hour at Koločep. That is enough for a few caves and a swim, but not for a long, unhurried beach session. If the caves are your top priority, tell the skipper at the start. Skippers Toni and Rocco are specifically praised for asking what their groups want to see and shaping the route around those wishes.

Šipan gives the day a proper lunch break

After Koločep, the boat heads to Šipan, the largest of the Elaphiti Islands. The stop lasts about two hours and is designed around lunch at a local restaurant. The meal is not included, so keep money available for food and drinks.

This is a useful pause in a day that otherwise revolves around swimming and boat travel. You can sit down, eat at a slower pace, and get a break from the sun. If you are traveling with children or anyone who prefers a mixture of sightseeing and relaxation, this stop helps keep the day from feeling like one long swim stop.

The trade-off is time. A two-hour lunch stop reduces the time available for beaches and caves. On a private trip, you can ask about the pace, but the route still has several scheduled stops. If lunch is less important to you than swimming, ask the skipper whether the stop can be shortened.

Lopud combines a walk with island history

Lopud brings a different mood. The island is known here for its churches, monastery, and sandy beaches, giving you a chance to leave the boat and walk around. The usual visit lasts about an hour.

I like this stop because it adds some cultural interest without turning the outing into a formal history tour. You can stretch your legs, look around, and then return to the water. It is a good counterpoint to Koločep, where the focus is almost entirely on caves and swimming.

An hour goes quickly. You will not have time for an extended island exploration, so treat Lopud as a short walk and introduction rather than a full visit. If you want a slow lunch, a long beach stay, and several caves in the same four-hour outing, the schedule may feel tight.

Šunj Beach is the easygoing final stop

Šunj Beach on Lopud is described as the most popular sandy beach in the Dubrovnik area. It is usually the last stop, with about an hour to relax, swim, and buy drinks at the beach bars.

The sandy shore makes this a welcome change from rocky swimming areas. You can finish the boat ride with a simple beach break rather than another scheduled sight. One group also enjoyed having a jet ski nearby but found the speedboat outing more rewarding, which says something about the appeal of combining movement, scenery, and time in the water.

Beach bars mean you can buy drinks, but do not confuse that with the included beverages on the boat. Bottled water, Coca-Cola, beer, and wine are included during the tour. Food is not included, and beach purchases are not specified as part of the price.

If you dislike crowded or popular beaches, Šunj may be less appealing than the quieter cave stops. The tour gives you only about an hour here, which limits the time you spend dealing with beach conditions and makes it more of a pleasant finish than a full beach day.

Optional Lokrum changes the entire route

Lokrum sits in front of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, on the opposite side from the Elaphiti Islands. The skipper visits it only on request, and choosing Lokrum means you cannot see all of the Elaphiti Islands on the same outing.

That choice is important. Lokrum is convenient if you want an island close to the city and prefer a shorter route. The Elaphiti itinerary is better if your priorities are the Blue Cave, several islands, and Šunj Beach. You should decide which side of Dubrovnik interests you more before boarding.

The listed visit to Lokrum takes about an hour. Admission is not included. Since the supplied information does not give the admission price, ask for the current cost before choosing this option.

What the eight-hour Mljet trip adds

Mljet is the longest option, located about 50 kilometers from Dubrovnik and roughly two hours away by speedboat. It is available only on the eight-hour Blue Cave and Mljet National Park option.

The Mljet stop can include Limuni Beach, Odysseus Cave, and the saltwater lakes in Mljet National Park. That is a much broader day than the standard island loop, with more time spent reaching the destination and less time available for every Elaphiti stop.

Admission to Mljet National Park is not included. The fuel charge for the national park option is €120 per booking, so this choice needs a careful price check. You should also confirm exactly which stops are included in the eight-hour plan, since visiting Mljet changes the normal route.

I would choose Mljet if the national park is a major goal and you want one long day on the water. I would choose the regular Elaphiti route if you care most about the Blue Cave, sandy Šunj Beach, and a relaxed lunch on Šipan.

A private boat makes the timing more useful

The boat is private for your group, with a maximum of four people. That is the real advantage over a standard excursion. You are not working around a large mixed group, and you can explain whether your priority is swimming, caves, lunch, walking, or beach time.

The skipper is central to the quality of the day. Toni and Rocco are named as skippers who customize the trip and suggest good spots. That does not guarantee which skipper you will get, but it is worth asking when you book if you have a preference or want to confirm who is operating your departure.

The listed duration ranges from two to eight hours. A shorter outing could focus on nearby caves or a limited section of the coast, while the longer versions allow the Elaphiti Islands or Mljet. Since the supplied route includes several stops with approximate times, ask the provider to confirm your exact duration and sequence.

The boat is described as having comfortable, air-conditioned round transfers, but pickup and drop-off are also listed as not included. One practical detail from the tour information is that the pickup point is about a 10-minute taxi ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Town. Confirm the meeting point and transport cost before the day begins.

There is no toilet on board. That matters on the longer trips, especially the eight-hour Mljet option. Use facilities before departure and take the boat’s lack of a restroom seriously if anyone in your group needs frequent access.

What is included, and what will cost more

The advertised price is $362.05 per group of up to four. For a full private boat, that can be good value, especially when four people share the cost. It works out to about $90.51 each before fuel, food, park admission, and any other purchases.

The included items are useful rather than flashy:

• Bottled water
• Coca-Cola and other soft drinks
• Beer and wine
• Skipper
• Snorkelling equipment
• Champagne on sunset tours only

The price does not include lunch on Šipan, admission for Lokrum, or admission to Mljet National Park. Fuel is also charged separately: €50 for four hours, €70 for eight hours, and €120 for the Mljet National Park option.

The fuel fee is the biggest budget warning. One person enjoyed the boat and equipment but felt the fuel should have been included. I agree that the separate charge can be easy to miss when comparing tours. Add it to the advertised price before deciding if the trip fits your budget.

For four people, the standard four-hour outing would total $362.05 plus €50 in fuel, before lunch. The eight-hour version would add €70 in fuel, while the Mljet option adds €120. Because the base price and fuel are in different currencies, check the final amount with the operator.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

This tour suits a small group that wants freedom and water time. Couples, families, and friends who can fill the four-person boat will get the strongest value.

You will likely enjoy it most if you want to:

• Swim inside sea caves
• Use snorkelling gear without bringing your own
• Visit several islands in one day
• Mix beach time with lunch and a short walk
• Choose between the Elaphiti Islands, Lokrum, and Mljet
• Have drinks available on board
• Adjust the pace with a private skipper

It is less suited to anyone who wants a detailed guided history tour, a guaranteed quiet beach, or a boat with a toilet. It is also not ideal if you want every cost included in one upfront price.

Most participants can take part, and service animals are allowed. The tour is offered in English. Since it depends on good weather, keep some flexibility in your Dubrovnik schedule if possible.

Booking and cancellation details worth knowing

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking, and the activity accepts mobile tickets. Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

The tour is recommended by 98 percent of people who have rated it, with a 5 rating from 62 reviews. The repeated strengths are clear: flexible skippers, excellent cave stops, pleasant swimming, and the simple comfort of drinks on the boat. The repeated caution is just as clear: fuel costs extra.

Should you book the Blue Cave and islands tour?

I would book this tour if you have three or four people and want an active, private day rather than a fixed sightseeing cruise. The Blue Cave, Koločep’s other caves, Šunj Beach, and the ability to adjust the route give the outing real variety.

Choose the regular Elaphiti route if you want the best balance of caves, lunch, a short island walk, and sand. Ask about Lokrum only if seeing the island near Dubrovnik matters more to you than visiting all of the Elaphiti Islands.

Choose the eight-hour Mljet option only after checking the fuel and park fees. It offers a larger day with Odysseus Cave, Limuni Beach, and Mljet’s saltwater lakes, but the long boat ride and added costs make it a different kind of outing.

Before paying, confirm the departure point, exact duration, fuel charge, lunch plan, and whether admission fees apply to your chosen route. If those details suit you, this is a strong way to trade Dubrovnik’s crowded waterfront for open water, caves, and a few hours of island life.

FAQ

How much does the private speedboat tour cost?

The listed price is $362.05 per group of up to four people. Fuel is charged separately at €50 for four hours, €70 for eight hours, or €120 for the Mljet National Park option.

What islands are included on the usual route?

The usual route includes Koločep, Šipan, Lopud, and Šunj Beach. Lokrum is visited only by request, and choosing it means you cannot see all of the Elaphiti Islands.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour stops at a restaurant on Šipan for lunch, but the meal is not included in the tour price.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkelling equipment is included, and you can use it at the caves around Koločep and other swimming stops.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, Coca-Cola, beer, and wine are included. Champagne is included only on sunset tours.

Does the boat have a toilet?

No. A toilet is not available on board.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. You must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund for your own cancellation.