Private boat tour- explore the islands, find hidden caves and try snorkelling

Koločep’s blue cave is the star here. You ride out from Dubrovnik, swim into the cave and several nearby coves, then spend the day moving between islands, beaches, and a waterfront lunch stop. The private boat gives you room to spread out, and captains such as Bruno and Ivan are praised for finding calmer swimming spots when the sea turns rough.

I like the flexible pace and the simple comforts: pickup from your accommodation, drinks in a cooler, shade and sun on the boat, and swimming gear on hand. I also like the mix of water time and island time, since you are not trapped on a boat for eight straight hours.

The main caution is that the advertised route is not guaranteed minute by minute. Weather, sea conditions, timing, or your captain’s judgment may change the stops. Fuel for the eight-hour trip and lunch are extra, and equipment or the restroom has not always met every person’s expectations.

Key points to know before booking

• Swim into Koločep’s blue cave: You visit the Blue Cave and three other caves, with time for swimming and snorkelling.
• Private boat for up to six: Your group gets the boat to itself, allowing the captain to adjust stops and timing.
• Four islands and beaches in one day: The usual plan includes Koločep, Šipan, Lopud, and Šunj Beach.
• Drinks are included: Beer, wine, Coca-Cola, and bottled water are provided on board.
• Lunch and fuel cost extra: Plan for a restaurant meal on Šipan, plus €70 fuel for the eight-hour option.
• Captains make a real difference: Bruno, Ivan, Lovro, and other skippers are often praised for friendly service, safe handling, and local swimming spots.

Why this private Dubrovnik boat tour works so well

Dubrovnik is best understood from the water. From the boat, the city becomes part of a wider Adriatic setting, with steep shores, open sea, small island harbors, and beaches that are difficult to reach by road.

This tour is built for a full day rather than a quick harbor ride. The usual route moves through the Elaphiti Islands, a small group close to Dubrovnik. You get cave swimming, a proper lunch stop, a village walk, and time on a sandy beach. That variety matters. If you get tired of sun and salt, you can go ashore. If island walking is not your thing, you can stay near the water.

The private format is the biggest practical advantage. The boat is reserved for your group of up to six, so you are not trying to fit your plans around a large party. You can ask for more time to swim, pause for photos, or spend less time at a stop that does not suit your group.

Captains have also adjusted plans for changing conditions. Bruno is repeatedly praised for handling windy days and finding good places to swim. Ivan is often noted for asking what the group wanted and suggesting quieter coves and cliff-jumping spots. Lovro has been praised for giving couples plenty of time at each stop.

Those details point to the real value of the experience. You are paying not only for transportation between islands, but also for a captain who can read the sea and shape the day around your group.

Koločep and the blue cave swim

Koločep is usually the first major stop, and it is where the most memorable water time takes place. The plan includes the Blue Cave and three other caves on the island.

Inside the caves, sunlight reflects through the water and creates the blue glow that gives the main cave its name. You swim or snorkel inside, then move on to coves and open-water spots. The caves are not a dry sightseeing stop. Bring a swimsuit and be ready to get wet.

The water portion suits confident swimmers, but you do not need to be an expert. Life jackets and pool noodles have been provided for people who feel less secure in the water. That said, you should tell the captain if anyone in your group is nervous before entering a cave.

Snorkelling equipment is listed as included, but it is worth confirming what will be on board before departure. One person specifically found that snorkels were not available despite the advertised inclusion. The equipment may also vary between boats. If snorkelling is central to your plans, bringing your own mask is sensible, if you have room.

Conditions matter here. Wind and waves can affect which caves or coves are safe and comfortable. The captain may shorten a swim, choose a sheltered bay, or change the order of stops. That is a reasonable trade-off for safety, but it means you should view the route as a plan rather than a promise.

Šipan for lunch and a slower island hour

Šipan is usually the longest stop, with about two hours set aside for lunch. The meal is not included, and the restaurant bill is yours to pay.

This pause gives the day a useful rhythm. After a morning of sun, salt, and boat movement, you can sit down for a proper meal rather than eating from a snack bag. Captains have helped arrange restaurant reservations, and one particularly well-liked lunch stop was at Hotel Božica in Suđurađ.

You may want to ask about the lunch location and expected cost when you book. The tour information promises a nice restaurant, but it does not set a fixed menu or price. A reservation can also help keep the day moving, especially if your group has only one full day on the water.

Šipan is more than a refueling stop. You can use the time for a short walk around the harbor or nearby village, then return to the boat refreshed. Still, do not expect a long island tour. Two hours passes quickly once you sit down to eat.

Lopud’s churches, monastery, and sandy shore

Lopud brings a different mood. The island is known here for its churches, monastery, and sandy beaches, with roughly an hour available to walk and explore.

This stop works well if you want a little time on land. You can stretch your legs, take photos, and see more than open water and rock. The pace is still relaxed, but the stop is short enough that you will not get a full historical tour of the island.

A schedule issue is worth noting. One unhappy customer expected Lopud but visited only Koločep. That appears to be an exception rather than the normal plan, but it shows why you should confirm the route with the captain at the start. If Lopud is especially important to you, say so clearly before leaving the marina.

The private format gives you a better chance of shaping that decision. You can ask to preserve time for Lopud, spend longer swimming, or skip a walk in favor of a beach stop. The captain still has to work within daylight, weather, and fuel limits, but your group has more say than it would on a fixed group boat.

Šunj Beach for the final swim

Šunj Beach on Lopud is usually the last stop. It is described as the most popular sandy beach near Dubrovnik, with beach bars where you can relax and buy drinks.

A sandy beach is a welcome change after rocky coves and boat ladders. You can swim, sit on the shore, or settle into a beach bar for the final part of the afternoon. If you have children in the group, this may be easier than cave swimming, though normal sea and beach caution still applies.

The word popular matters. Šunj is not a secret, empty cove. It can feel busier than the earlier swimming spots, especially during the main summer season. The trade-off is convenience: sand, drinks, and a clear place to relax before returning to Dubrovnik.

If your group prefers quiet bays, ask the captain if the route can include more secluded water stops. Several captains have taken groups to less crowded places, but the precise choices depend on the day.

What is included, and what will cost extra

The price is $302.46 per group of up to six people. Split six ways, that is about $50 per person before fuel and lunch. For a full private day on the water, that can be good value, particularly when you compare it with paying separate fares for island transport, cave access, beach transfers, and a guide.

The price becomes less attractive for a small group of two or three. You still get the private boat and flexible schedule, but the per-person cost rises quickly. Couples may prefer the four-hour version if they mainly want caves and swimming.

Included items are:

• Private transportation
• Snorkelling equipment
• Bottled water
• Coca-Cola
• Beer and wine
• An onboard restroom
• Fuel for the sunset tour only

The eight-hour tour has a separate fuel charge of €70 per booking. The four-hour option has a €50 fuel charge. Lunch is also extra, and you may pay for drinks at Šunj Beach if you choose to stop there.

The onboard drinks are a useful touch, especially on a hot day. Several groups appreciated having beer, wine, soft drinks, and water already available. If your group does not drink alcohol, the water and soft drinks still make the inclusion practical.

The restroom is listed as available, but one person reported that it was not working. Treat it as a convenience rather than your only plan. Use facilities before departure and during the island lunch stop.

Towels, sunscreen, and swimsuits are not included. Bring all three. You may also want a waterproof phone pouch, since cave swimming and boat spray create obvious risks for phones and cameras.

Pickup, boat comfort, and the eight-hour pace

Pickup can be arranged from a hotel, apartment, or other address. Locations outside the company’s normal pickup area may cost extra. The transfer takes you to the departure port, which may be across the bridge from central Dubrovnik.

That transfer is helpful, but it also affects your sightseeing plans. A four-hour tour is not long enough to combine every nearby island with Lokrum and a full view of Dubrovnik from the sea. If you want Lokrum, ask about it specifically. It is not part of the normal Elaphiti Islands route.

The boat has areas for both sun and shade, plus space at the back to sit and the front to sunbathe. That arrangement is useful on an eight-hour outing because people in the same group rarely want the same amount of sun.

Eight hours is a long time on the water, but the stops break it up. You are not expected to remain seated while the boat runs continuously. The route includes cave swims, island time, lunch, and the sandy beach.

Sea conditions can change the feel of the day. Some groups had windy or wavy water but still found good sheltered places to stop. Others may find the first hour uncomfortable if they are prone to seasickness. Tell the captain early if someone feels unwell. One group had the boat stop so two people could recover.

The captains and the human side of the day

The strongest part of this operation is often the captain. Bruno is praised for being friendly with children, managing rough weather, and making guests feel safe. Ivan is praised for good local suggestions, photography help, and finding quieter spots. Lovro has received praise from couples for careful navigation and generous time at stops.

Other captains, including Evan, Tony, Marco, and Estevan, have also been mentioned positively. The experience can feel personal when the skipper chats with your group, asks what you want, and joins in the day without taking over.

But the captain’s manner can also shape the result in the wrong direction. Two people felt that their skipper was distant and that the trip became less welcoming as a result. Another person waited about 30 minutes at a port while trying to find the skipper.

Those accounts are not the norm, given the very high overall rating, but they are useful to keep in mind. At the start, confirm the route, lunch timing, fuel charge, meeting point, and return plan. Clear communication prevents small misunderstandings from becoming the main memory of the day.

Who should book this private boat tour

I would choose this tour for a group of four to six people who want a full day outside Dubrovnik and value privacy. Families can spread out, choose calmer swimming spots, and use life jackets or noodles for less confident swimmers.

It also suits couples who want a flexible day, though the eight-hour price is easier to justify with a larger group. Honeymooners have used the boat for cave swimming, sunset drinks, and quiet time on the Adriatic.

This is a good match for you if you want:

• Swimming and snorkelling more than formal sightseeing
• A private boat instead of a shared excursion
• Several island stops in one day
• A restaurant lunch with time to walk
• Sun and shade on the boat
• A captain who can adjust the route

It is less suitable if you need a fixed, guaranteed schedule, a detailed historical tour, or a low-cost way to reach one island. It may also be a poor fit if anyone in your group cannot tolerate boat motion or does not want to swim.

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time.

Should you book it?

I would book this private Dubrovnik boat tour if you can fill most of the six seats and want the sea to be the main event. The blue cave swim, flexible route, sandy Šunj Beach, and personal attention from captains such as Bruno and Ivan give the day real variety.

Before paying, confirm the €70 fuel charge, lunch arrangements, working restroom, and snorkelling equipment. Tell the captain which matters most to you: caves, Lopud, a quiet cove, cliff jumping, lunch, or beach time.

Book it for freedom and water time, not for a rigid checklist. When the sea is calm and the captain is engaged, this can become one of the most memorable ways to experience the islands near Dubrovnik.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The full tour lasts approximately eight hours. A four-hour option is also available for some departures and is better suited to a shorter cave and swimming trip.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers one private group of up to six people. Only your group participates in the boat activity.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup can be arranged from hotels, apartments, and other addresses. Locations outside the provider’s normal pickup area may involve an extra charge.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is taken at a restaurant on Šipan and must be paid for separately.

Is fuel included in the price?

Fuel for the regular eight-hour tour costs €70 per booking. Fuel for the four-hour option costs €50 per booking. Fuel is listed as included only for the sunset tour.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Snorkelling equipment is listed as included. Since one booking reported that snorkels were not available, confirm the equipment before departure or bring your own mask if snorkelling is important to you.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour requires good weather. If the provider cancels because of poor conditions, you can choose a different date or receive a full refund. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time.