From Makarska: Full day private speed boat tour 3 islands

The best part of this tour is the mix of quiet island coves and lively stops. You can swim and snorkel at Mala Stiniva, stroll through Jelsa, pause at Zečevo’s cocktail bar, admire Zlatni Rat from the water, and finish with food cooked over a natural wood fire in a peaceful bay.

I like the private format for up to eight people, since you are not locked into a large group schedule. I also like the number of swimming stops. The main catch is cost: the advertised $349 price does not include food, fuel of 100 euros, or the 100 euro local skipper fee, so budget beyond the headline rate.

Key points at a glance

• Mala Stiniva on Hvar: Start with swimming and snorkeling in a quiet bay before the day gets busy.
• Jelsa gives the boat day a town stop: You can walk around, buy ice cream, taste wine, or visit a chocolate shop.
• Zečevo adds a relaxed pause: Anchor near the islet for swimming, snorkeling, and time at a cocktail bar.
• Zlatni Rat is best seen from the sea: You can choose to go ashore or admire the famous beach from the boat.
• Vala Hrvaska includes a traditional lunch option: Food is prepared over a natural wood fire, but lunch costs extra.
• The final swim keeps the return from feeling rushed: You reach Makarska around 18:00 after one more bay stop.

A full day from Makarska, with the sea as your road

This is a proper day on the Adriatic, not a quick boat ride with one photo stop. You leave the Maris Travel point of sale at 09:00 and spend most of the day moving between islands, bays, beaches, and one island town.

The boat carries up to eight people. That makes the trip a good match for a family, a group of friends, or a small private party that wants its own space. You are not paying per person in the same way as a standard group excursion. The $349 rate covers the boat for the group, though the added fuel and skipper charges matter when you work out the true cost.

The tour uses a fast speedboat, which helps fit Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač into one day. The tradeoff is simple: you cover a lot of water, so some stretches are about the ride rather than sightseeing. If you enjoy the feel of a boat moving quickly between islands, that is part of the fun. If you prefer a slow, quiet cruise, this may feel active.

A skipper takes care of the route and boat handling. Christian is one skipper associated with this experience, and his flexibility was specifically praised. That matters on a private trip, since the best use of the day can depend on what your group wants to do at each stop.

Mala Stiniva starts the day on Hvar

The first major stop is Mala Stiniva, a quiet bay on Hvar. After the direct run from Makarska, this is where you get into the water for swimming and snorkeling.

Starting with a swim works well. You can shake off the morning, cool down, and enjoy the bay before heading into the more structured part of the day. Snorkeling equipment and drinking water are included, along with lifejackets.

The tour description calls Mala Stiniva a quiet bay, but conditions can affect how calm any open-water stop feels. The boat may be moving over waves during the crossings, and the swimming stops are outdoors with no guarantee of a particular sea state. Bring a towel, sun protection, and anything you need to feel comfortable between swims.

This stop is more about the water than a long shore visit. If you want historic streets or cafés right away, you will get that later in Jelsa. Here, the point is to swim, snorkel, and enjoy Hvar from a less built-up angle.

Jelsa adds cafés, shops, and a little choice

After Mala Stiniva, the boat continues to Jelsa. This gives the day a useful change of pace. You are not simply moving from one swimming bay to another. You get time in an island town, with options that include ice cream, wine tasting, or a visit to a chocolate shop.

That choice is one of the tour’s appealing details. A group can split its interests without needing a rigid sightseeing program. You might want a short walk and an ice cream, while someone else prefers a tasting or a shop visit.

The available information does not specify how long you spend in Jelsa, so do not plan a full town tour around this stop. Treat it as a flexible visit within a busy day. The main route still includes several water stops and a restaurant, so Jelsa is one part of a larger schedule.

I like this balance. A full day made only of swimming can begin to feel repetitive, especially for anyone in the group who is less keen on snorkeling. Jelsa gives you a chance to walk on land, browse, and choose a small treat before returning to the boat.

Zečevo islet brings a cocktail-bar stop

The next stop is Zečevo, a small islet near Hvar. The boat anchors here for more swimming and snorkeling, with a cocktail bar adding a social touch.

Zečevo suits people who want the day to feel easygoing rather than tightly planned. You can spend time in the water, then pause near the bar. The boat remains central to the experience, so this is not presented as a long cultural visit or a major town stop.

As with Mala Stiniva, snorkeling equipment is supplied. Water is also included, which is helpful because a long day under the sun can make drinks add up quickly. Food and other purchases are not covered, so bring a payment method for anything you buy in Jelsa or at the bay restaurant.

The stop also shows the value of a private boat. Your group has a little more room to shape the pace than it would on a large shared excursion. Still, the route includes several destinations, so flexibility should not be confused with an unlimited custom itinerary. You are working within a full-day plan that needs to get you back to Makarska around 18:00.

Zlatni Rat is a view from the water

After leaving Hvar behind, you cross toward Zlatni Rat on Brač. This famous beach is known for its pointed shape reaching into the sea, and the boat gives you a clear way to see it from offshore.

You can choose to go onto the beach or remain on the boat and admire it from the water. That choice is practical. Some people want to set foot on Zlatni Rat, while others would rather avoid a shore stop and save their time for swimming or lunch.

The route does not promise a long beach stay. Think of Zlatni Rat as a visual highlight and optional shore visit within the broader day. The boat’s speed makes it possible to include this recognizable Brač sight without turning the whole trip into a beach excursion.

This is also one of the points where the tour feels like a good fit for a first visit to the Dalmatian islands. In one day, you see several different settings: a Hvar bay, a Croatian island town, a small islet, a well-known Brač beach, and a quieter restaurant bay.

Vala Hrvaska combines swimming with a wood-fired meal

The route continues to Vala Hrvaska, a bay with a beach and restaurant. You can swim and snorkel here, then purchase lunch at the traditional restaurant.

The cooking method is a major reason to consider this stop. Food is prepared over a natural wood fire, giving the meal a more traditional feel than a quick snack bought at a marina. The setting is also part of the appeal: a quiet island bay, a beach, and time to eat without leaving the route.

Lunch is not included, so keep that in your budget. The same applies to food bought in Jelsa or elsewhere along the way. The supplied details do not name the menu or give a fixed meal price, so ask about the cost before ordering if you are keeping close track of spending.

This is probably the most important comfort stop of the day. By this point, you have already had several swims and covered a lot of sea. A proper restaurant meal gives you time to sit down, eat, and slow the pace before the final swim.

If your group includes someone who does not want to spend all day in the water, the restaurant and beach make Vala Hrvaska especially useful. It provides a land-based break without abandoning the island setting.

The final bay keeps the afternoon active

After lunch, the boat continues to one more pleasant bay for swimming and snorkeling. The exact bay is not specified, so you should see this as a flexible final water stop rather than a named attraction to research in advance.

That flexibility can be useful. The skipper knows the planned route and may choose the most suitable location available for the day. Christian was praised for adapting to the group’s wishes, which is the sort of personal attention that can make a private excursion work well.

The final stop also gives you one last chance to use the included snorkeling equipment. If you would rather rest, you can simply remain on the boat and enjoy the bay. The experience is built around choice, but the tour’s main character remains active: expect sun, salt water, boat crossings, and repeated swims.

You return to Makarska at about 18:00. With a 09:00 departure, that makes this roughly a nine-hour outing, including stops and the return crossing.

What the $349 group price really means

At first glance, $349 for a private boat carrying up to eight people looks reasonable, especially for a full day. Split among eight people, the base price works out to less than $44 per person before the extra charges.

But you need to add the listed costs. Fuel for the route is 100 euros, payable in cash or by card at the fuel station at the end. A local skipper fee of 100 euros is also listed separately. Food is extra as well.

If your group fills all eight places, the base cost plus the two 100 euro charges can still compare favorably with several individual tickets on a long shared boat tour. If only two or three people are going, the private format becomes much more expensive per person.

The value also depends on how much you care about privacy and flexibility. You are paying for your own speedboat, a direct route between three islands, supplied water and snorkeling equipment, and the ability to make choices at several stops. You are not paying for included meals, drinks beyond the supplied water, or a guaranteed fixed lunch menu.

Before booking, ask how the 100 euro skipper charge is handled and confirm the expected total. That avoids treating $349 as the complete price.

What to bring for a nine-hour boat day

The operator supplies lifejackets, snorkeling equipment, and drinking water. You should still pack the basics for a long day outside.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and a way to pay for lunch, drinks, ice cream, wine tasting, or other purchases. A light layer can also be useful during the boat crossings, though no clothing requirement is specified.

The boat has insurance for passengers and public liability insurance. Pregnant women and babies under one year are not considered suitable for this activity. The tour includes repeated water stops and a fast boat, so anyone with concerns about motion or swimming should consider that before booking.

You meet at the Maris Travel point of sale on the promenade, in front of Hops restaurant bar. The trip ends back at the same meeting point. English, Croatian, and German are available.

Booking can be done with payment later, and cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. Those terms help if your Dalmatian schedule is still changing.

Who should book this private island tour?

I would choose this trip for a small group that wants several islands in one day without joining a large shared boat. It is particularly suited to people who enjoy swimming, snorkeling, sun, and quick crossings, but still want a town visit and a proper restaurant stop.

It also works well for groups with mixed interests. One person can shop for chocolate in Jelsa, another can swim at Zečevo, and everyone can decide at Zlatni Rat whether to go ashore. That range is more useful than a tour built around one single beach.

I would think twice if your priority is a slow cultural tour of Hvar or Brač. You will see Jelsa and Zlatni Rat, but the schedule gives equal weight to bays, swimming, and boat time. You also need to accept the extra fuel, skipper, and food costs.

The small number of published ratings means you should not treat the perfect score as a guarantee of every detail. Still, the specific praise for Christian’s flexibility and the positive view of the price for a private group are useful signs. The trip’s strongest feature is the combination of choice, water time, and variety.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want a private speedboat, several swimming and snorkeling stops, and a full Dalmatian day that includes Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač. The wood-fired lunch option at Vala Hrvaska and the chance to see Zlatni Rat from the sea add character beyond a simple beach transfer.

Skip it if the extra 200 euros in listed fuel and skipper charges will strain your budget, or if you want a quiet sightseeing cruise with very little time in the water. For an active small group that can share the cost, this is a practical way to cover a lot of the island coast in one day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour departs at 09:00 and returns to Makarska at around 18:00, making it approximately a full nine-hour day.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route visits Hvar, the islet of Zečevo, and Brač.

How many people can join the private boat?

The speedboat can carry up to eight people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, lifejackets, and drinking water are included.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. You can purchase lunch at the traditional restaurant in Vala Hrvaska. Food can also be purchased in island towns or at the bay restaurant.

Are fuel and the skipper included?

Fuel for the route is listed as 100 euros, payable in cash or by card at the fuel station at the end. A local skipper fee of 100 euros is also listed separately.

Where does the tour start and finish?

You meet at the Maris Travel point of sale on the promenade, in front of Hops restaurant bar. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

Who should not take this tour?

The activity is not suitable for pregnant women or babies under one year old.