Blue Cave 3 hours PRIVATE tour with modern speedboat

The Bay of Kotor opens up from the water. This three-hour private speedboat trip combines the Blue Cave, old Perast views, a submarine tunnel, and time on Our Lady of the Rocks. I like the flexible private format, and I like that pickup can be arranged from Kotor, the cruise port, and nearby coastal villages. The main point to consider is the brisk pace: three hours gives you a sharp taste of the bay, not a slow, full-day outing.

You travel with your own group, up to 10 people, and a professional captain. Swimming is offered at the Blue Cave, but conditions can change, the cave may feel crowded, and the ride can get rough when the water is choppy. If you want a short outing with plenty of scenery and little waiting around, this is a strong choice.

Key points at a glance

• Blue Cave swimming stop: Spend about 20 to 30 minutes near and inside the cave for photographs and a swim.
• Private modern speedboat: Your group has the boat to itself, with fuel and a captain included in the $480.55 group price.
• Submarine tunnels at Kumbor: Make a brief five-minute visit inside a former military tunnel.
• Our Lady of the Rocks: Explore the artificial island for about 20 minutes, with views toward Perast.
• Pickup flexibility: Pickup may be arranged from Kotor Port, Dobrota, Muo, Stoliv, Perast, and other specified points along the route.
• Short, weather-dependent outing: The tour returns to the starting point after roughly three hours, with a full refund or alternate date offered if bad weather cancels the trip.

Why this private Kotor boat trip works well

The Bay of Kotor is beautiful from the shore, but the water gives you a different sense of its shape. From a speedboat, you can look back toward the steep sides of the bay, pass small coastal settlements, and see Perast from an angle that road traffic cannot provide.

The private setup is the biggest practical advantage. The price is $480.55 per group, not per person, for up to 10 people. A couple will pay more per head than a full group, but a family or group of friends can make the cost quite reasonable. You also avoid joining strangers and can spend your limited time on the stops rather than waiting for a large party.

The captain is not presented as a separate tour guide, so you should not expect a formal, nonstop history talk. Still, the captain handles the boat, explains the sights, and adjusts to conditions. One captain named in the feedback is Surgeon, who was praised for explaining the sights and managing rougher waves carefully. Another captain was singled out for being friendly, informative, and considerate of the group’s preferences.

The trip has earned a 4.8 rating from 29 ratings, with 97 percent recommending it. That points to a consistently strong experience, especially for the boat handling, scenery, and relaxed private format. It does not remove the practical limits: the cave can be busy, the timing is compact, and the route depends on weather.

Starting in Kotor with pickup along the bay

The listed meeting point is Sea Stars Boat Tours on Njegoševa in Kotor. The activity ends back at the meeting point, but pickup can be arranged by speedboat at certain locations.

Cruise ship passengers can request pickup at the Port of Kotor. Accommodation pickup is available in places such as Dobrota, Muo, Stoliv, and Perast, with the boat collecting people along its route from Kotor. Confirm the exact pickup point when you book. A private transfer by boat can save you a taxi ride and makes this outing easier to fit into a short stay.

Before the tour, free coffee and water are available at the office. WiFi is listed for the office, while onboard WiFi is also promoted among the trip features. A bottle of water is provided on the boat, so you do not need to begin the ride empty-handed, though you should still bring anything else you need for a warm, active morning or afternoon.

The speedboat is modern, but this is still an open-water ride. Wear clothes you can move in and protect anything sensitive to spray. A swimsuit makes sense if you want to enter the Blue Cave. The boat moves quickly between stops, which is useful when you have only three hours, but it also means the ride may feel lively on rough water.

Blue Cave: the main event in 20 to 30 minutes

The Blue Cave is the centerpiece of the outing. You get roughly 20 to 30 minutes inside and outside the cave for photos and swimming, with entry included in the tour price.

The cave’s appeal comes from the way daylight enters the water and rock opening. The captain brings you close enough to appreciate the color and the enclosed setting, then gives you a chance to swim if conditions allow. This is the sort of stop where a swimsuit matters more than a carefully planned outfit.

Bring your phone in a waterproof pouch if you want photos from the water. The boat has WiFi listed among its features, but WiFi does not protect your phone from splashes. Also keep your expectations sensible. This is not a long beach stop. Twenty to 30 minutes passes quickly once you have entered the cave, taken pictures, and allowed time for swimming.

Crowding is the biggest concern here. One person found the Blue Cave busy and noted that the farther cave was preferable for swimming because of exhaust in the first cave. That is useful advice. If the captain offers a choice of where to swim, listen carefully and ask about the cleanest and safest option at that moment.

The cave stop also depends on sea conditions and traffic. The trip may feel magical when the water is calm, but less peaceful when several boats arrive together. Even so, the combination of a short boat ride, a photo stop, and the chance to swim gives this tour its strongest sense of adventure.

Kumbor’s submarine tunnel in five minutes

At Kumbor, the boat enters a submarine tunnel. The stop lasts about five minutes, so this is a quick look rather than a lengthy visit.

The tunnel is a striking reminder of the bay’s military past. It was built to shelter submarines, and its dark opening looks very different from the open water, polished stone, and church island elsewhere on the route. The brief visit works because the boat can go inside without turning it into a major walking stop.

You will not have much time here, so keep your camera ready and listen to the captain’s instructions. This part may be especially appealing if you enjoy unusual engineering sites rather than only scenic viewpoints. In fact, one piece of feedback rated the submarine tunnel as the coolest part of the outing, precisely because of the work involved in creating it.

The five-minute limit can also feel abrupt. If you want a detailed military explanation or time to explore on foot, this tour will not provide it. Think of Kumbor as a memorable stop along a moving route, not the main destination.

Our Lady of the Rocks and the view toward Perast

Our Lady of the Rocks gives the tour its most traditional cultural stop. The artificial island was built between 1452 and 1722, and you get about 20 minutes to explore it.

The island is small, so 20 minutes is enough to walk around and take in the setting. You can also look back toward Perast, the compact old town protected by UNESCO. From the island, the town’s position along the bay becomes clear, and the view is one of the best reasons to include this stop.

Church and museum tickets are not included. The boat covers entrance to the island itself, but you should expect to pay separately if you want to enter those interior spaces. Since the stop is only 20 minutes, check the available time before buying a ticket or committing to a long visit inside.

The island’s character is different from the Blue Cave and submarine tunnel. Here, the pace slows and the emphasis shifts to local tradition, architecture, and the bay’s cultural setting. You also get views of another peaceful natural island from the boat and from Our Lady of the Rocks, adding a quieter note to the itinerary.

Perast views and the bay from the water

Perast is seen rather than visited on this tour. That distinction matters. You pass by and view the old town from the boat and from Our Lady of the Rocks, but you do not receive a separate walking stop in Perast.

For many people, that is enough. The boat gives you a clean view without the need to find parking or organize another transfer. You can photograph the old town from the water and understand how closely it sits beside the bay.

If Perast is high on your list, you may want to return independently for more time on land. This private trip gives you the view, not a full town visit. The same is true of the peaceful natural island seen along the route: it is appreciated from the boat rather than explored.

What is included, and what costs extra

Fuel and the professional captain are included, as are entry to the Blue Cave and entry onto Our Lady of the Rocks. Bottled water is provided aboard. Coffee and water are available before departure at the company office.

Church and museum tickets are extra. A tour guide is not included as a separate service, so the captain provides the practical commentary and information during the ride. Do not book this expecting a formal guided walking tour at every stop.

The $480.55 group price needs to be judged by group size. For 10 people, the cost works out to about $48 per person. For five people, it is about $96 each. For two people, the price is much harder to justify unless you place a high value on privacy and the speedboat format.

The private boat also saves time. You are not sharing the day with a large group, and the captain can consider your preferences within the fixed route and available time. That flexibility has real value for families, friends, and cruise passengers working around a tight schedule.

Who will enjoy this three-hour outing

I would recommend this tour most strongly to people who want a compact mix of scenery, swimming, and unusual sights. It suits a group that wants to stay together and would rather pay one group rate than join a shared excursion.

It is also a good fit for cruise passengers. Port pickup is possible, and the three-hour duration leaves more room around ship departure times than a full-day trip. Still, confirm the pickup and return timing carefully, since the boat returns to the meeting point and the activity depends on the sea and weather.

The tour is not recommended for people over 65 or for anyone heavier than 105 kilograms, or 220 pounds. Those limits are stated by the operator and should be taken seriously when deciding if a speedboat ride is suitable.

If you dislike fast boats, swimming, or quick stopovers, choose a slower land-based visit instead. The route is active and efficient, not leisurely. Rough waves are possible, and even a skilled captain cannot make the sea perfectly smooth.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking, and the activity is available in English. The tour requires good weather. If poor weather causes 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. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, with cut-off times based on local time.

Book around 36 days ahead if you want your preferred date, especially during the busy season. Bring a swimsuit, sun protection, a secure phone case, and sensible clothing for wind and spray. Ask in advance about the exact pickup point, church and museum admission, and the swimming conditions expected that day.

Should you book the Blue Cave private tour?

Book it if you want a short, private speedboat ride that packs several different experiences into one outing. The Blue Cave supplies the fun, Kumbor adds an unexpected military feature, and Our Lady of the Rocks brings in culture and views of Perast. The captain’s handling and friendly explanations are major strengths.

Skip it if you want long visits, a formal guide, or a quiet boat ride with no chance of rough water. The cave may be crowded, the submarine tunnel is very brief, and Perast is viewed from the water rather than explored on foot.

For a full group of friends or family, the $480.55 price can be good value. For a couple, it is a premium outing. Either way, this is one of the more efficient ways to see several sides of the Bay of Kotor in three hours.

FAQ

How long is the Blue Cave speedboat tour?

The tour lasts approximately three hours and returns to the starting point in Kotor.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates, with a maximum group size of 10 people.

Where does the tour start?

The listed meeting point is Sea Stars Boat Tours on Njegoševa in Kotor, Montenegro.

Is pickup available from the Port of Kotor?

Yes. Cruise ship passengers can request pickup at the Port of Kotor. Pickup may also be possible from Dobrota, Muo, Stoliv, Perast, and other specified locations along the route.

Can I swim at the Blue Cave?

Yes. You receive about 20 to 30 minutes inside and outside the Blue Cave for photos and swimming, subject to conditions.

Is entry to the Blue Cave included?

Yes. Entrance to the Blue Cave is included in the tour price.

Are church and museum tickets included at Our Lady of the Rocks?

No. Church and museum tickets are not included. Entry onto the island is included.

Is food provided?

No meal is listed. Bottled water is provided on the boat, and free coffee and water are available at the office before the tour.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if the activity is canceled because of poor weather.