Blue and Green Cave private speed boat tour

The real appeal here is freedom. You get your own speedboat, skipper, and route around the islands near Hvar, rather than sharing a fixed boat with a large crowd. I like the chance to spend time at quiet swimming spots, and I like that skippers such as Daniel and Antonio have adjusted the day around weather, crowds, and what each group wanted.

The main caution is the ride itself. Reaching Biševo and the Blue Cave can take a while, and one account describes rough seas in a small boat. You should also budget separately for the Green Cave and Blue Cave fees, and make sure you understand that the tour starts on Hvar, not Split.

Key things to know before booking

• Private boat for up to 12: The $844.78 price covers the group, so the value improves sharply when several people share it.
• Four very different stops: You get cave swimming, a famous cove, the Blue Cave, and a relaxed beach-club finish.
• Skipper-led flexibility: The route can change with weather, sea conditions, crowd levels, and your interests.
• Snorkel gear is supplied: You do not need to pack your own equipment, and soft drinks and life jackets are included.
• Lunch is not included: You have about two hours at Palmižana, with restaurants and Laganini Beach Club nearby.
• Plan for two extra fees: The listed charges are 70 Kuna for the Green Cave and 100 Kuna for the Blue Cave.

Why a private speedboat makes sense around Hvar

The Dalmatian coast is best seen from the water. Hvar town gives you a fine starting point, but the memorable parts of this outing are the coves, rock walls, sea caves, and small beaches that are hard to reach by road.

A private boat changes the feel of the day. Your group can swim longer at one stop, move on if a cove is crowded, or follow the skipper toward a less busy beach. That flexibility matters on a six-hour trip. A rigid schedule can leave you watching the clock just when you find a good swimming spot.

The boat holds up to 12 people. For a full group, the price works out to about $70 per person. For six people, it is about $141 each. For two people, the same boat costs about $422 per person, which makes this much easier to justify for a family or group of friends than for a couple.

The supplied snorkel equipment saves luggage space, and the boat also provides soft drinks, life jackets, music, and travel insurance. You still need to bring suitable swimwear, sun protection, and anything else you personally need for a day on the water, since the included list does not cover lunch.

Green Cave: your first swim inside the rock

The first stop is the Green Cave, where you have about an hour for swimming and snorkelling. The cave is not just a quick photo stop. The plan gives you time to get into the water and see the cave from inside.

You may also enter with a guide in the small boat. That gives you another way to see the cave if you prefer not to swim all the way in, or if sea conditions make swimming less appealing. The listed Green Cave fee is 70 Kuna per person, and it is not included in the tour price.

This is a good early stop because it gets you into the water before the day becomes too hot. It also sets the pattern for the outing: the caves are the headline sights, but the pleasure comes from moving between them by boat and taking time to swim.

One practical point matters here. Cave visits depend on conditions at sea, and the tour requires good weather. A skipper may alter the route if the water becomes unsafe or the caves close. That is frustrating if you have planned around a particular sight, but it is the sensible trade-off for a boat excursion.

Stiniva Cove: a scenic beach with a simple choice

Stiniva Cove was named the best beach in Europe in 2016, and its appeal is its enclosed setting and clear water. You have about an hour here to swim, snorkel, or get a refreshment at the beach bar.

I like that this stop is not limited to taking a photograph. You have enough time to get in the water and slow down. After the speedboat ride, the cove offers a calmer stretch of the day.

The beach bar gives you an option if you want something cold without waiting for lunch. Still, you should not expect a full meal stop here. The longer food break comes later at Palmižana, so use Stiniva for swimming and a short drink rather than trying to make it the main restaurant stop.

Crowds and timing can shape the experience. A private skipper has more room to adjust the order or timing than a large group boat. Daniel is praised for timing visits when they were less crowded, including one beach where the group had it almost to themselves for close to an hour. That sort of timing is one of the strongest reasons to choose a private trip.

Biševo’s Blue Cave is the visual high point

The Blue Cave on Biševo is the stop most people build the day around. Inside, the sunlight creates a striking blue glow over the water and rock. You have about 30 minutes at the cave, and the listed entrance fee is 100 Kuna, paid separately.

The short time inside is normal for a sight like this. The cave is about a single visual moment rather than a place where you spend an hour swimming. The color is the attraction, and it is easy to see why this stop receives such strong praise when the weather and sea are calm.

You should also understand the trade-off. The ride to the Blue Cave can be long, and the open sea may be rough. One account found the trip too bumpy in a small boat and felt the duration had not been made clear. That is the most important criticism to take seriously.

If you are prone to seasickness, ask about conditions before departure and consider bringing whatever travel aid you normally use. The tour starts at 9:30 a.m., which leaves much of the day for the route, but it does not remove the distance involved. Calm weather can make the ride comfortable. Rough weather can change the whole tone of the outing.

The cave is also not guaranteed. Poor weather can lead to cancellation, a different date, or a full refund. One skipper, Antonio, reportedly arranged an alternative day with an underwater winery and a fresh fish lunch when the caves were closed because of bad weather. That example shows the value of a flexible private skipper, though you should not treat those specific alternatives as a standard part of the tour.

Palmižana gives you two hours to slow down

The final listed stop is Palmizana Botanical Garden on the Pakleni Islands, with about two hours available. This is the least rushed part of the itinerary and the natural place for lunch, a drink, or another swim.

Laganini Beach Club is the featured option. You can eat, order refreshments, snorkel, or simply enjoy the bay after a morning of moving between caves and coves. The restaurant and beach-club setting means you have more choice than at a quick roadside-style stop, but lunch is not included in the tour price.

I would treat this as a valuable pause rather than an afterthought. Six hours on a speedboat can become tiring, especially in sun and wind. Two hours at Palmižana lets you decide how much energy you have left. If you want a proper meal, use this stop. If you already ate earlier, the bay still gives you time in the water.

Food quality can shape your final impression of the tour, so remember that the meal is your own expense. Several accounts praise the lunch stop, including mentions of fresh fish and lobster, but the supplied tour details do not promise a particular dish or restaurant bill. Ask the skipper about the current options when you arrive.

The skipper matters more than the playlist

The boat includes music, but the skipper is the part that can make or break the day. Daniel is repeatedly singled out for being friendly, punctual, calm, and good at choosing the right timing for caves and beaches. He is also described as helping with a jellyfish sting and being generous with children.

Antonio receives similar praise for explaining local culture and cuisine, getting into the water with the group, and shaping the day around personal interests. Philip is noted for explaining the history of the region. These details point to an outing that can be more than transportation between swimming stops, depending on who is at the helm.

The route is not fixed in the way a coach tour route is fixed. That is a benefit, but it also means you should talk with the skipper at the start. Tell him if your group cares most about caves, snorkelling, quiet beaches, food, or avoiding rough water. A private tour works best when you use that flexibility rather than passively accepting every stop.

I also appreciate that the skipper can respond to changing conditions. A good boat day is not about forcing every stop at any cost. If a cave is closed, or the sea turns rough, a sensible alternative is better than a risky crossing.

Price, group size, and what you really pay

The listed price is $844.78 per group of up to 12 people. That includes the private boat and the listed onboard items, but not the two cave entrance charges or lunch.

For a full group, this is strong value because you are buying privacy and control for a full half-day. A party of 10 to 12 can split the cost at roughly $70 to $84 per person before food and cave fees. That is a different proposition from two people paying the full group rate.

For a smaller group, compare it with shared boat trips before booking. The private format gives you far more control, but the cost per person rises quickly. I would find the price easiest to justify for a family, a group of friends, or a cruise party that can share the boat.

Pay close attention to the starting point. The meeting place is CROFFERS Tourist Agency, Jurja Matijevića 17, Hvar. The tour ends there, and the start time is 9:30 a.m. The price does not include transport from Split to Hvar. One unhappy booking resulted from expecting a Split transfer and then paying about 400 euros for a ferry connection. That confusion is avoidable: this is a Hvar departure.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

This suits you if you want a private day on the water with several swims, a few major sights, and room to adjust the pace. It is especially good for groups that value personal attention and do not want to share every stop with a large crowd.

Families can benefit from the private setup, particularly because the skipper can respond to children’s energy and swimming confidence. However, the tour is not recommended for children younger than five.

Strong swimmers and people comfortable around boats will get the most from the Green Cave and Stiniva. You do not need to swim at every stop, since life jackets are provided, but the heart of the experience is being in and around the water.

This is less suitable if you dislike speedboats, rough seas, or long open-water rides. It is also not ideal if you need a guaranteed Blue Cave visit, a fixed lunch menu, or a low-cost outing for only one or two people.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 57 ratings, with 96 percent recommending it. Those numbers fit the overall picture: the private format and skippers are the strongest features, while the main risks are weather, sea conditions, and misunderstanding the departure point.

Booking details worth checking

Confirmation is provided at booking. The meeting point is near public transportation, and most people can participate, but the experience is not recommended for children under five.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund.

Because the itinerary requires good weather, check the forecast before you leave for Hvar. Also confirm the cave fees and lunch budget, since both are separate from the $844.78 group price.

Should you book the Blue and Green Cave private speedboat tour?

I would book this for a group that wants a full, flexible day around Hvar and is comfortable paying for privacy. The best parts are the ability to seek quieter swimming spots, the generous two-hour stop at Palmižana, and the chance to work with a skipper such as Daniel or Antonio.

I would hesitate if you are a couple watching costs closely, if rough water is a serious concern, or if you are staying in Split and have not arranged your own way to Hvar. Confirm the departure location, add the cave fees and lunch, and accept that weather may change the route.

For the right group, this is a strong way to see the caves and coves around Hvar without rushing from one fixed stop to the next.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at CROFFERS Tourist Agency, Blue Cave Excursions, Private Speed Boat Tours, Sea Transfers, at Jurja Matijevića 17, 21450 Hvar, Croatia.

What time does the tour start?

The scheduled start time is 9:30 a.m.

Where does the tour end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point in Hvar.

How long is the experience?

The tour lasts approximately six hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The price covers a private group of up to 12 people.

Is transport from Split included?

No. The tour starts on Hvar, and transport from Split to Hvar is not included.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkelling equipment, life jackets, soft drinks, music, and travel insurance are included.

Are the Green Cave and Blue Cave entrance fees included?

No. The listed Green Cave fee is 70 Kuna, and the listed Blue Cave fee is 100 Kuna.

Is lunch included?

No. The tour provides time for lunch or refreshments at Palmižana, including Laganini Beach Club, but you pay for food and drinks separately.

Can children join the tour?

Most people can participate, but the experience is not recommended for children younger than five.

What happens if the weather is poor?

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

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund.