Private Speedboat Tour- Blue cave, sandy beaches and snorkelling

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat trip is the chance to set your own pace among the Elaphiti Islands. You can swim inside Koločep’s Blue Cave, snorkel at nearby caves, eat lunch on Šipan, then stretch out on sandy Šunj Beach. Skippers Toni and Rocco are known for shaping the route around what you want to see.

I like the private boat format, which keeps your group together instead of tying you to a large excursion schedule. I also like the useful onboard extras, including snorkeling gear, water, soft drinks, beer and wine. The main catch is fuel: it is charged separately, from €50 for four hours to €70 for eight hours, so the advertised price is not the complete cost.

Key points at a glance

• Swim inside Koločep’s Blue Cave: Sunlight reflects through the water and creates the cave’s blue glow.
• Choose your pace with a private skipper: Toni and Rocco can adjust the route to suit swimming, caves, beaches or a longer stop for lunch.
• Visit three Elaphiti Islands in one day: Koločep, Šipan and Lopud offer different kinds of stops rather than more of the same.
• Enjoy Dubrovnik’s best-known sandy beach: Šunj Beach has room to relax and beach bars for a cold drink.
• Plan for extra costs: Lunch, fuel, Lokrum admission and Mljet National Park admission are not included.
• Pick the right duration: Shorter trips focus on the caves and nearby islands, while the eight-hour option can reach Mljet.

Why this private speedboat works well from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is famous for its stone Old Town, but the sea gives you a very different view of the area. A speedboat lets you leave the city behind and reach the nearby islands without spending the whole day in transit.

This is a private activity for up to four people. That matters. You can ask for more time at a cave, cut a beach stop short, or choose a slower lunch without negotiating with a busload of strangers. The skipper is there to run the boat and help shape the day, not simply to recite a fixed script.

The normal outing lasts between two and eight hours, depending on the option you choose. A shorter trip can concentrate on Koločep and the Blue Cave. A full-day plan can add Šipan, Lopud and Šunj Beach. The eight-hour option to Mljet is a different undertaking, since Mljet is about 50 kilometers from Dubrovnik and takes roughly two hours by speedboat.

The price is $362.05 per group of up to four. For a full group, that can be a fair way to see the islands, especially when you divide the base cost between four people. Still, you need to add fuel, lunch and any paid admission. Ask for the exact fuel charge before setting off, since the listed figures are €50 for four hours, €70 for eight hours and €120 for a 10-hour Mljet National Park option.

Koločep’s Blue Cave and three smaller caves

Koločep is the main visual reward of the trip. The boat visits the Blue Cave and three other caves in the area, giving you time to swim and snorkel inside them.

The Blue Cave effect comes from sunlight reflecting through the water. It is a simple natural trick, but inside the cave it can feel special. Bring a swimsuit, and be ready to get wet rather than treating this as a boat ride where you only look over the side.

Snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from packing your own mask and fins. You can use it to look for sea life around the caves and in the clear water near the island. The tour information does not promise a particular species or a guaranteed wildlife sighting, so treat the snorkeling as an enjoyable extra rather than a formal marine-life excursion.

Koločep is usually given about an hour. That is enough for a focused cave visit and a swim, but it is not a long beach session. If the Blue Cave is your main reason for booking, tell the skipper early. Toni and Rocco have been specifically praised for asking what people want and adjusting the route.

Šipan: a two-hour lunch stop

The next stop is Šipan, where you can have lunch at a local restaurant. Lunch is not included, so budget for it separately.

A two-hour stop gives you more breathing room than the quick cave visit. You can sit down for a proper meal rather than eating on the move. It also breaks up the swimming and boat time, which is useful on a long summer outing.

The important practical point is flexibility. This is not a food tour, and the restaurant meal forms part of your own spending. If you want to keep the day focused on beaches and swimming, you may prefer a shorter meal. If you enjoy a relaxed island lunch, Šipan is the natural place to slow down.

The itinerary describes Šipan mainly as the lunch stop, so do not book this boat trip expecting a long guided visit around the island. Its value is the pause, the setting and the chance to enjoy a meal between water-based stops.

Lopud’s churches, monastery and sandy shore

Lopud offers a change of mood. Instead of only swimming and snorkeling, you can walk around the island and see churches, a monastery and sandy beaches.

The usual stop lasts about an hour. That is enough for a brief walk and a look around, but you will need to keep moving if you want to combine sightseeing with beach time. Comfortable shoes are useful here, especially if you plan to leave the waterfront and explore.

I like this stop because it keeps the tour from becoming a string of identical swims. The islands are not interchangeable. Koločep is the cave and snorkeling stop, Šipan is the lunch break, and Lopud gives you a short chance to walk.

You should still keep your expectations in proportion. The itinerary does not include a detailed guided tour of Lopud’s religious buildings. You are mainly being given time to explore on your own before returning to the boat.

Šunj Beach, Dubrovnik’s sandy favorite

Šunj Beach is usually the last stop and one of the easiest places to relax. It is described as the most popular sandy beach in the Dubrovnik area, with beach bars where you can order drinks.

This is a good final stop because it asks very little of you. After caves, snorkeling and a restaurant meal, you can simply sit on the sand, swim, or have a drink. Beer and wine are included on the boat, while drinks purchased at beach bars are your responsibility.

The beach can be the highlight for anyone who prefers sand to rocky coves. If you are traveling with a mixed group, it also gives non-snorkelers a clear reason to enjoy the day.

The tradeoff is time. A one-hour stop is pleasant, but it will pass quickly if you want a long swim, a drink and a walk along the beach. Tell the skipper if Šunj is more important to you than Lopud or another stop. That is one of the main benefits of booking privately.

Optional Lokrum or the longer run to Mljet

Lokrum is not part of the standard Elaphiti route. It sits in front of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, on the opposite side from the Elaphiti Islands. You can request it, but the boat operator makes clear that visiting Lokrum means you cannot see all the Elaphiti Islands in the same outing.

That is a useful choice, not a small add-on. If Lokrum is high on your list, tell the operator before the trip and accept that another island may need to go. Trying to collect every stop in one day would leave little time for swimming or relaxing.

Mljet is the serious full-day option. It is the largest island in the Dubrovnik area and lies about 50 kilometers away. The boat takes around two hours to reach it, so this plan is best for someone who wants Mljet itself rather than a broad tour of the nearby islands.

The eight-hour Blue Cave and Mljet National Park option can include Limuni Beach, Odysseus Cave and the salty lakes in the national park. Admission to Mljet National Park is not included, and fuel for the 10-hour version is listed at €120 per booking.

Choose Mljet only if you are happy to spend a large part of the day getting to and from the island. For a more varied outing with more water time, the Koločep, Šipan, Lopud and Šunj route is likely the better fit.

What is included, and what is not

The onboard inclusions are practical rather than fancy. You receive bottled water, Coca-Cola or other soft drinks, beer, wine and snorkeling equipment. A skipper is included, and a bottle of champagne is provided only on the sunset tour.

The drinks help on a warm day, especially when your group is moving between swimming stops. They also make the boat more comfortable during the longer runs. Do not confuse the included drinks with a fully catered outing, though. Lunch is not included, and the tour does not list snacks or a meal onboard.

There is no toilet on the boat. That is easy to overlook when you see an eight-hour option, but it matters. Use facilities before departure and during the restaurant stop on Šipan.

Pick-up and drop-off are not included. The meeting point is about a 10-minute taxi ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Town, based on the practical information provided for the trip. The boat is described as having air-conditioned round transfers, but you should still confirm exactly what transport is covered, since the separate pick-up and drop-off note indicates that your taxi to the meeting point is your own cost.

The skipper can make or break the day

The strongest part of the service is the private skipper arrangement. Toni is praised for asking what the group wanted and suggesting good places for swimming, cave visits and the sandy beach. Rocco is also singled out for customizing the route around the group’s preferences.

That kind of guidance is useful in Dubrovnik, where the most attractive stop depends on the sea, weather, your group and your appetite for swimming. You may want caves and snorkeling. Someone else in your group may care more about lunch or sand. A private boat gives the skipper room to balance those needs.

The available rating is five out of five from 62 reviews, with 98 percent recommending the activity. That is a strong record, though the fuel charge has caused some frustration. One guest also noted that the equipment and staff were good and preferred this boat to a jet ski, but felt fuel should have been included.

Take that as a planning warning rather than a reason to reject the trip. The boat price is clear, but your final bill is higher once fuel and lunch are added.

Who will get the most from this tour

I would choose this for a group of up to four that wants privacy, swimming and a flexible day on the water. It is especially suitable if one person wants caves, another wants a sandy beach, and everyone wants to avoid a fixed large-group schedule.

Families may appreciate the private setting and the choice of short or long stops. The activity states that most people can participate and that service animals are allowed. Still, the lack of a toilet and the amount of time on a speedboat are worth considering before you book for very young children.

Snorkelers will get the most obvious value from the included equipment and the cave stops. Food-focused visitors will like the two-hour lunch break on Šipan, while walkers may prefer Lopud’s churches and monastery.

This is less suitable if you want a fully guided cultural tour, a guaranteed wildlife encounter or a package with every cost included. It is also not the right choice if Lokrum is your one priority, since choosing it can mean giving up the full Elaphiti route.

Timing, weather and cancellation

The activity is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the tour is available near public transportation.

The boat needs good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you can receive a full refund or choose another date. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted.

Because the tour is often booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of about 46 days, reserve early if your Dubrovnik dates are fixed. A private boat for four is limited by nature, and the weather policy makes having a backup day useful.

Should you book the Blue Cave speedboat tour?

Book it if you want a flexible private day that mixes caves, snorkeling, island food and a real sandy beach. The combination of Koločep, Šipan, Lopud and Šunj gives you more variety than a simple point-to-point boat ride, and skippers such as Toni and Rocco add useful local judgment.

Before paying, confirm the route, duration and fuel charge. Decide if you want the Elaphiti Islands, Lokrum or Mljet, because the options are not interchangeable. If you are comfortable paying extra for fuel and lunch, this is a strong choice for a small group that values time on the water and control over the day.

FAQ

How much does the private speedboat tour cost?

The 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 10-hour Mljet National Park option.

How long does the tour last?

The experience can last from about two to eight hours. The Mljet National Park option is listed separately with a 10-hour fuel charge.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates, with a maximum group size of four people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Use of snorkeling equipment is included in the tour price.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, Coca-Cola or other soft drinks, beer and wine are included. Champagne is included only on the sunset tour.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch on Šipan is not included in the price.

Is there a toilet on the boat?

No. The tour information states that there is no toilet onboard.

Can the tour visit Lokrum Island?

Lokrum can be visited on request. If you go to Lokrum, you cannot also see all of the Elaphiti Islands on that outing.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can receive a full refund or select another date.