BLUE CAVE private speedboat tour with drinks

Blue water, quick boat rides, and quiet coves make this a fine escape from Dubrovnik. This private speedboat trip takes you to the Blue Cave, Green Caves, and Šunj Beach across three Elaphiti Islands. I like the flexible private format, and I like that drinks and snorkeling gear are included. The main catch is the extra fuel surcharge and harbor fee, which can add €100 to €150 to the advertised group price.

The four-hour outing works especially well for families, couples, and groups of friends who want their own boat rather than a large shared excursion. You can play music, choose how long to linger, and ask the skipper for good swimming spots. Early departures matter, since the Blue Cave gets busy later in the morning.

Key points to know before booking

• Early morning is the smart choice: From June 1 through September 15, the morning departure begins at 8:30 a.m. to reach the caves before larger groups.
• Three Elaphiti Island stops fit into four hours: You visit Kolocep for the Blue and Green Caves, then spend about 90 minutes at Šunj Beach on Lopud.
• The boat is private for your group: Up to 10 people can book together, with an itinerary that can be adjusted around your group’s wishes.
• Drinks and snorkeling equipment are included: Beer, white wine, water, and juice are available, with alcohol limited to adults aged 18 and older.
• The advertised price is not the final cost: A fuel surcharge and harbor fees are paid on the boat, ranging from €100 to €150 depending on group size.
• Skippers shape the experience: Pavo, Antun, Antonio, and Ante have received especially warm praise for music, family-friendly help, local swimming advice, and flexibility.

A fast route from Dubrovnik to the Elaphiti Islands

This excursion starts at Petar Sorkocevic Summerhouse, at Lapadska obala 4 in Dubrovnik. The meeting point is the last wooden pier in the small marina, and you should arrive 10 minutes before departure.

The advertised price is $362.81 per group of up to 10 people. That looks attractive when split among a full group, but you also pay a fuel surcharge and harbor fees on the boat. The added amount is €100 for one or two passengers, €120 for three to seven, and €150 for eight to ten.

That pricing structure rewards a larger group. For 10 people, the extra fee works out to €15 each. For two people, it is €50 each before you even consider the base price. I would book this for a group of friends or a family party first, and only choose it as a couple if the private boat and flexible schedule are worth the extra cost to you.

The private format is the real value. You are not tied to strangers, and the skipper can respond to your group. One family appreciated having a comfortable boat and being able to shape the afternoon. A group celebrating a birthday played music on board, and the skipper helped them make the day feel personal rather than fixed.

Kolocep’s Blue Cave and Green Caves

Kolocep is the first island stop, and the caves are the main reason to choose this outing. The Blue Cave sits on the island’s south side. Its color comes from sunlight passing through the cave opening and reflecting off the sandy bottom, giving the water its strong blue glow.

You spend about 30 to 35 minutes at the Blue Cave. That is enough time to look around, swim, and take photographs, but it is not a long, slow cave visit. The boat-based approach keeps the schedule moving, which matters because the whole trip includes two cave areas and a beach stop.

The Green Caves offer a different kind of setting. You can swim through underwater passages, snorkel in clear water, and jump from rocks where conditions allow. Life jackets are supplied for both children and adults, while snorkeling equipment is included in the price.

I would listen carefully to the skipper before entering the caves. The water may look inviting, but cave swimming and rock jumping call for sensible judgment. The tour gives you access to these spots, not a guarantee that every person should swim through every passage or jump from every ledge.

The water clarity is a major attraction here. The combination of rock, bright reflections, and underwater passages creates the most memorable part of the outing. If you want the caves at their calmest, take the morning departure. From June 1 through September 15, that trip begins at 8:30 a.m. specifically to avoid the larger cave crowds.

The boat ride itself also adds to the appeal. A speedboat lets you cover the distance from Dubrovnik quickly and spend more of the four-hour window swimming and resting. The tradeoff is that this is an active outing, with movement between stops rather than a leisurely cruise built around long periods on board.

Šunj Beach on Lopud Island

After Kolocep, the boat heads to Lopud and Šunj Beach. This is the longest stop, lasting about an hour and a half, and it changes the pace from cave swimming to shore time.

Šunj is known for its broad sandy beach, a useful contrast to the rocky swimming areas around the caves. You are dropped off for a swim in a shallow lagoon, then can relax near the beach bars or the small forest restaurant on the hill.

This is where the tour feels easiest. You can get off the boat, stretch your legs, swim in warm, clear water, and order food or drinks at your own expense. Lunch is not included, so bring money if you want something beyond the supplied drinks.

The beach is popular, and the stop is not a private island experience. Its appeal is comfort and variety. After swimming around rock caves, some people will welcome sand, shade, and a place to sit. Others may find the beach less special than the caves, particularly if their priority is quiet water and secluded scenery.

The schedule gives you enough time to enjoy Šunj without turning the trip into a full beach day. You can swim, have a drink, and relax before the boat returns to Dubrovnik. If your group has children or several people with different energy levels, this stop gives non-swimmers a more comfortable option than remaining in the water around the caves.

What the private boat experience feels like

The boat is limited to your own group, with a maximum of 10 people. That makes a clear difference when your group includes children, older family members, or friends who do not all want the same pace.

You can ask for more time at one swimming stop, play music, and make reasonable adjustments to the day. One birthday group specifically enjoyed playing music, while another group appreciated the skipper’s help in choosing swimming locations. These details matter because a private tour should feel more personal than a standard route, and this one appears to deliver that advantage.

The skippers have received strong praise for their manner on the water. Pavo is noted for playing music, reaching good spots before they get crowded, explaining island names and local history, and helping children feel comfortable. Antun is praised for allowing the group to decide where to spend its time and for handling a payment problem graciously. Antonio and Ante are also singled out for being accommodating and helpful.

That praise points to an important practical fact: your skipper has a large role in the quality of the trip. The route is attractive on its own, but a good captain improves the timing, swimming choices, and general mood. If you can request a particular skipper, Pavo is the name most strongly associated with an early start, music, and family-friendly guidance. Availability is not guaranteed.

Drinks, gear, and what you still need to bring

The tour includes beer, white wine, water, and juice. Alcohol is available only to adults aged 18 and older. This is convenient on a hot day, though you should still bring anything specific your group needs because the included selection is limited to those drinks.

Snorkeling equipment is included, as are life jackets for children and adults. That saves you from packing your own mask and snorkel, and it makes the cave stops easier to manage.

Lunch is not included. The simplest plan is to use the beach bars or forest restaurant at Šunj, but the tour information does not include meal prices or a set lunch arrangement. If your group eats early or has particular dietary needs, plan around that rather than assuming a meal comes with the booking.

You should also arrive at the pier 10 minutes early. The start and finish point are the same, so you do not need to arrange a separate return transfer. Public transportation is nearby, although private transportation to the meeting point is not included.

Is four hours enough for the route?

Four hours is enough for the stated plan, but the day is tightly organized. The first part includes the ride from Dubrovnik, the Blue Cave, and the Green Caves, with roughly 30 to 35 minutes at each cave area. Šunj then receives about 90 minutes.

That balance works if you want several highlights in one outing. You get caves, snorkeling, rock swimming, a sandy beach, and a speedboat ride without giving up a full day in Dubrovnik.

The limit is time. You will not have an unhurried afternoon at every stop, and you may wish you had longer at Kolocep if the water is especially inviting. One person who enjoyed the outing still wished it lasted longer, which is a fair reaction to a route with this much packed into it.

I would choose this trip when variety matters more than lingering. If your ideal day means spending hours at one quiet cove, a slower or longer boat charter may suit you better. If you want the best-known cave and beach sights around Dubrovnik in one half-day, the timing is sensible.

Who should book this speedboat tour?

This is a good match for:

• Families with children and teenagers, thanks to private space, life jackets, a beach stop, and helpful skippers.
• Groups of friends who want music, drinks, swimming, and a more relaxed social day.
• Couples who value privacy and speed, provided they are comfortable with the extra surcharge.
• Visitors with only a short window in Dubrovnik who want to see several nearby coastal sites.
• Strong swimmers and casual snorkelers who enjoy caves, underwater passages, and rock jumping.

I would be more cautious if you dislike fast boat rides, cannot swim, or want a fully catered outing. The trip includes safety gear, but the central activities are swimming and snorkeling. The beach offers a gentler break, yet the caves remain the heart of the experience.

The tour is wheelchair accessibility is not described in the supplied information, so you should confirm access details before booking if that matters to you. Service animals are allowed, and the tour is described as suitable for most people.

Booking timing, weather, and cancellation

This outing is often reserved about 32 days ahead, so I would not leave a popular summer date until the last moment. The early morning trip from June 1 through September 15 is particularly appealing because it aims to reach the caves before larger groups.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

The trip depends on good weather. If conditions cancel the outing, you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number required to operate the experience is not met, you receive the choice of another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Blue Cave speedboat tour?

Book it if you want a private, active half-day that combines the Blue Cave, Green Caves, snorkeling, and Šunj Beach. The early departure, included equipment, free drinks, and flexible skipper-led schedule make it a strong choice for groups of friends and families.

Before you pay, calculate the full cost with the €100 to €150 surcharge and harbor fees. The base price is good value for a full group of up to 10, but less attractive for only one or two people. I would also request an early departure and, if possible, ask for Pavo if his schedule allows.

For a compact taste of the Elaphiti Islands with your own boat, this is an easy recommendation. Just go in knowing that four hours gives you a lively sampler, not a slow day at sea.

FAQ

Where does the Blue Cave tour start?

The tour starts at Petar Sorkocevic Summerhouse, Lapadska obala 4, at the last wooden pier in the small marina in Dubrovnik.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes before the scheduled departure.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four hours and returns to the original meeting point.

How many people can join the private tour?

A maximum of 10 people can be included in one booking, and only your group participates.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route visits Kolocep and Lopud, along with the surrounding Elaphiti Island area. The main stops are the Blue Cave, Green Caves, and Šunj Beach.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and life jackets for children and adults are included.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Beer, white wine, water, and juice are included. Alcoholic drinks are available only to adults aged 18 and older.

Are fuel fees included in the advertised price?

No. Fuel surcharge and harbor fees are paid on the boat. The amount is €100 for one or two passengers, €120 for three to seven passengers, and €150 for eight to ten passengers.