Explore Blue & Green Caves With Speedboat – Private Tour

Dubrovnik’s best coastal surprises are not inside the Old Town walls. They are out on the water, where a private speedboat carries you to seven caves, three islands, and swimming spots that are hard to reach by land. The Blue Cave on Koločep is the star, but Betina Cave and Pidgeon’s Cave add real variety.

I like the freedom of having your own skipper, especially when you want more time in the water or less time at a beach. I also like that towels, snorkeling gear, a GoPro, and drinks are included, so you can travel light. The main drawback is the short four-hour schedule: you see a lot, but you cannot linger everywhere.

Key points to know before booking

• Seven caves in four hours: Expect a brisk route with several quick scenic stops and time for swimming.
• Koločep is the main event: The Blue Cave and three Green Caves offer the strongest colors and best snorkeling.
• Your group has the boat to itself: The price is $556.31 for up to four people, making the cost more reasonable when shared.
• Skippers matter: Maro, Ivan, and Luka have been praised for careful boat handling, clear communication, and attention to safety.
• Drinks and gear are included: Beer, wine, soft drinks, water, towels, life jackets, snorkeling equipment, and a GoPro come with the tour.
• Lopud adds a slower island break: You can visit a car-free village, see sandy beaches, or arrange lunch, though lunch costs extra.

Why this private boat trip works so well

This is a good choice when you want to turn a Dubrovnik beach outing into a compact coastal tour. Instead of spending the whole morning in one swimming cove, you move between caves, islands, beaches, and old settlements.

The private format is important. You are not sharing the boat with a large mixed group, so your party can ask questions, adjust the pace, and spend more or less time swimming when conditions allow. The skipper still controls the route, of course, and weather or sea conditions may affect what is practical.

The tour is offered in English and lasts about four hours. That makes it easy to fit into a busy Dubrovnik stay, but you should expect an active morning or afternoon rather than a lazy full-day cruise. The route covers plenty of ground, so the boat ride itself is part of the experience.

The price is $556.31 per group of up to four. For one or two people, this is a sizeable expense. For four, it works out to about $139 per person before any extra lunch cost. Since fuel, a skipper, drinks, safety equipment, towels, snorkeling gear, and GoPro use are included, the price becomes easier to justify for a group that values privacy and convenience.

Koločep and the Blue Cave

Koločep is the first major stop, and the island supplies most of the tour’s swimming drama. You begin with several smaller caves. Some are too small or difficult to enter, so do not expect every cave to become a full stop. Even from the boat, their rocky entrances and secluded settings make an interesting opening to the trip.

The skipper adds context as you pass these spots. That matters on a fast-moving coastal tour, since a good explanation helps turn a quick look at a rock opening into a sense of place. The caves are shaped by years of waves working against the coast, and their appeal comes from how quiet and enclosed they feel.

Then comes the Blue Cave. Sunlight reflects through the water and gives the cave its striking blue color. The effect changes with the angle of the sun, the water, and the movement of the boat, so your exact experience depends on the conditions that day.

You will likely want to swim as soon as the boat stops, but listen closely to the skipper first. Cave entrances, rocks, waves, and boat traffic all make these places different from an ordinary beach. Life jackets are included, and snorkeling equipment is available for anyone who wants to see below the surface.

After the Blue Cave, the route continues to three Green Caves. Their water shifts between turquoise and green as the waves move. This is one of the strongest parts of the trip for photographs, especially if you use the included GoPro rather than relying only on a phone.

The Green Caves also work well for swimming and snorkeling. You should think of the color as a natural effect, not a guaranteed fixed shade. Bright conditions and calm water will usually help, while cloud, wind, or choppy seas can change the look.

Lopud for beaches and a slower hour

Lopud changes the mood. After the cave stops, you get a look at an island with a village, old religious buildings, noble palaces, and two broad sandy beaches. Much of the earlier architecture survives only in fragments, but the remains give the island a different character from the rocky cave coast.

Lopud is car-free, which makes it a pleasant place to walk around. The main village has a sandy beach, while Šunj sits on the south side in a tree-lined bay. If you want a break from the boat, this is the natural point in the route to stretch your legs and spend time on land.

The schedule allows about an hour here. That is enough for a short walk or a beach stop, but not enough for a long island exploration. You will need to choose. A swim, a village stroll, and a meal may not all fit comfortably into the same hour.

Lunch is not included. The skipper can arrange a reservation at a local restaurant serving freshly caught fish, but you should treat that as an optional extra rather than part of the tour price. If lunch matters to you, ask about timing and cost before setting off so the meal does not crowd out your swimming time.

Lopud is especially useful for mixed groups. Some people can enjoy the water, while others may prefer a sandy beach or a quiet walk. It also breaks up the cave route, which otherwise keeps you on the boat for most of the four hours.

Betina Cave and the return toward Dubrovnik

On the way back toward Dubrovnik, the boat stops at Betina Cave near Lokrum. You can reach this cave only from the sea, and its small pebbly beach gives it a private, enclosed feel.

Betina faces southeast and can be cooler later in the afternoon because the cave sits in shade. That makes it a useful stop if you want relief from strong sun, though cooler water or shade may not suit everyone looking for a warm beach break.

The boat moors outside, and you can swim, snorkel, take pictures, or jump from the cliffs if the skipper says conditions are safe. Cliff jumping is optional, not a required part of the experience. I would treat it as something for confident swimmers only, and I would follow the skipper’s instructions rather than judging the height or water depth from the boat.

This stop can be one of the most memorable because it feels less like a conventional beach visit. You are entering a space that is protected by rock and reachable only from the water. At the same time, its small beach means it is not designed for a large group or a long sunbathing session.

Pidgeon’s Cave beside Lokrum

Across from Betina Cave, the boat visits Pidgeon’s Cave on Lokrum. This is described as the largest of the Dubrovnik caves on the route. Its entrance is surrounded by steep rocks and Mediterranean plants growing from the stone.

The cave shows the power of the sea more clearly than the colorful cave stops. Waves have worked against the rock for thousands of years, shaping the opening and the surrounding walls. You get a close view from the water without needing a long walk or climb.

The tour does not include walking on Lokrum. That is an important distinction. You will see the island and its cave from the boat, but this experience is not a Lokrum island visit. If you want to explore Lokrum on foot, you will need to plan that separately.

The final hour around Lokrum gives the trip a useful ending. You have caves with different colors, a sandy island stop, and a last rocky coastal scene before returning toward Dubrovnik.

What the skipper adds to the day

The skipper is more than the person steering the boat. On a route with narrow cave entrances, changing swells, and several short stops, careful handling affects both comfort and safety.

Maro has been praised for preparing the equipment, communicating details in advance, and docking smoothly. Ivan is associated with the island-hopping route and cave snorkeling. Luka has been praised for keeping the group comfortable and handling the boat carefully around swells.

You cannot guarantee which skipper will operate your departure, but these names are useful to know because the human side of the trip matters. The strongest feedback centers on boat handling, preparation, and a sense that the skipper pays attention to the group.

A private boat also means you can ask practical questions as you go. Ask where to swim, how long you have at each stop, and which areas are safest for snorkeling. The route is more enjoyable when you understand why the boat is stopping in one place rather than another.

Included equipment and what to bring

The tour includes snorkeling gear, towels, life jackets, and a GoPro. Drinks include beer, wine, water, and soft drinks, with a minimum drinking age of 18.

That package is convenient. You do not need to pack bulky masks or worry about bringing a towel from your hotel. The GoPro is particularly useful in the caves, where the color and rock formations may not show well in ordinary phone photographs.

You should still bring a swimsuit, sun protection, and clothing that can handle spray. The information provided does not specify changing facilities, so it is wise to arrive ready for the water. A dry bag could also be useful for phones and other valuables, though one is not listed among the included items.

Alcohol is available, but do not let the drinks distract from the water activities. Swimming, snorkeling, boarding, and moving around a speedboat all call for care. Life jackets are supplied, and the skipper can advise you about conditions.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this experience for a small group that wants privacy and variety. It suits couples, families with confident swimmers, and friends who would rather see several coastal sites than spend a whole day at one beach.

It is also a practical choice if your Dubrovnik schedule is tight. Four hours gives you a strong taste of the nearby islands without committing a full day. The route includes both water time and land time, so it works better for a mixed group than a tour focused only on snorkeling.

You should think twice if you dislike fast boat rides, want long walks through island villages, or prefer a slow beach day. The speedboat gets you to more places, but the tradeoff is a brisk pace. Lopud receives about an hour, and the cave stops are shaped by sea conditions and timing.

This tour may also be less suitable for anyone who is uncomfortable with swimming from a boat. Snorkeling and cliff jumping are optional, but water access is central to the experience. The tour notes that most people can participate, and service animals are allowed, but it does not provide detailed mobility information.

Booking, weather, and cancellation details

Confirmation is provided at booking. The tour is private, so only your group participates, and it is available in English.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather forces cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund.

Because this trip depends on the sea, I would avoid booking it as the only activity on the final few hours of your Dubrovnik stay. Give yourself room to move the outing if weather interrupts the plan.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a private, active introduction to Dubrovnik’s islands and caves, and if your group can share the $556.31 cost. The Blue Cave, Green Caves, Betina Cave, and Pidgeon’s Cave offer enough variety to keep the route from feeling repetitive.

The best value comes with four people, since the boat, skipper, drinks, equipment, and fuel are covered by the group price. Maro, Ivan, and Luka bring an important practical benefit through careful handling and preparation, but the final experience will still depend on weather and sea conditions.

Skip it if your priority is a long lunch, extensive island walking, or a quiet day on one sandy beach. Choose it if you want to swim, snorkel, take cave photographs, and see a broad slice of the coast in four hours.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The tour lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

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

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $556.31 per group of up to four people.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route visits Koločep, Lopud, and Lokrum.

How many caves are included?

The tour visits seven caves, including the Blue Cave, three Green Caves, Betina Cave, and Pidgeon’s Cave, along with several smaller caves around Koločep.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling gear, towels, and life jackets are included.

Is a GoPro included?

Yes. Complimentary GoPro use is included for photos and video during the tour.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Beer, wine, water, and soft drinks are provided. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. A restaurant reservation on Lopud can be arranged, but the meal costs extra.

Can I cancel the tour for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered another date or a full refund.