Private Speedboat Tour- Blue cave, sandy beaches and snorkelling

The best part of this private speedboat trip is the freedom to shape your day around the sea. You can swim through the Blue Cave and three other caves on Koločep, stop for lunch on Šipan, stroll on Lopud, and stretch out on Šunj Beach. Skippers Toni and Rocco are known for adjusting the route to suit your group rather than running a rigid script.

I like the private format, since up to four people share the boat and can set the pace. I also like the simple extras: snorkel gear, bottled water, soft drinks, beer, and wine are provided. The main catch is the fuel charge, which is paid separately, and lunch and some island admission fees are also extra.

Key details before you book

• Blue Cave swimming: Koločep includes the Blue Cave and three other caves, with time to swim and snorkel inside.
• A private boat for up to four: Your group has the skipper’s attention and more say over the route.
• Three main islands: Šipan, Lopud, and Koločep offer a mix of lunch, village walks, caves, and beaches.
• Šunj Beach is the easygoing finish: You can swim, relax on sand, and buy drinks from beach bars.
• Fuel is extra: Budget €50 for four hours, €70 for eight hours, or €120 for the 10-hour Mljet option.
• Mljet changes the whole day: The eight-hour plan reaches Mljet National Park, but you give up time on the full Elaphiti Islands route.

Why the Blue Cave is the main event

Koločep is the natural centerpiece of this trip. The boat visits the Blue Cave and three additional caves, where sunlight reflects through the water and gives the rock chambers their blue glow.

The appeal is not just looking at a cave from the boat. You can use the included snorkel equipment and get into the water, making the stop more active than a standard sightseeing cruise. Bring a swimsuit, towel, and a willingness to swim in open water. The supplied details do not specify changing facilities, and there is no toilet on board, so plan accordingly.

The cave stop is scheduled for about an hour. That is enough time for swimming and snorkelling, but it is not a long beach session. Your skipper may adjust the exact timing depending on conditions and your preferences, one of the useful benefits of booking privately.

A private speedboat also means less time spent collecting other passengers. That matters in Dubrovnik, where a full day on the water can otherwise become a slow procession from one pickup point to the next. Here, you can focus on the caves and move on when your group has had enough.

Šipan gives the day a proper lunch break

After Koločep, the route usually continues to Šipan. The stop lasts about two hours and includes time for lunch at a local restaurant, though the meal is not part of the tour price.

This is a practical pause. Swimming and sun are wonderful, but most people appreciate sitting down for a meal instead of eating on the boat. It also breaks up the day before the next island and gives you a chance to see a little more than coves and open water.

The tradeoff is cost and timing. You pay for lunch yourself, and a two-hour restaurant stop uses a fair part of a shorter tour. If your priority is maximum swimming time, tell the skipper before setting off. If you enjoy a slower day with food and island time, Šipan makes good sense.

The information provided does not name the restaurant or give a fixed menu, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish or dining style. Think of it as a flexible island lunch stop rather than a prepaid culinary experience.

Lopud combines a walk with a sandy beach

Lopud offers a change of pace. After the caves and the meal, you can walk around the island and see its churches, monastery, and sandy beaches. The planned stop is about one hour.

I like this part because it prevents the trip from becoming a string of swim stops. Lopud gives you a reason to get off the boat and move your legs. The churches and monastery add some local character, while the beaches keep the mood light.

One hour is short for serious exploring. You can take a pleasant walk and get a taste of the island, but you will not have time for a long, unhurried visit to every sight. If Lopud matters most to you, ask the skipper if the route can give it more time.

The boat’s private setup is useful here. A public cruise often has to follow a fixed departure time, while a private group can discuss how long to stay. The final route still depends on the tour length and your chosen stops, but you have more control than on a standard group excursion.

Šunj Beach is made for an easy finish

Šunj Beach on Lopud is described as the most popular sandy beach in the Dubrovnik area. It is usually the final stop, with roughly an hour to swim, lie on the sand, and buy drinks from beach bars.

This is likely to be the most relaxed part of the day. The caves ask you to swim and snorkel. Šunj asks very little of you. You can simply sit by the water, order a drink, and enjoy a break from the boat.

The beach is popular, so do not expect a deserted strip of sand. Its popularity is also the reason it works well for mixed groups. Active swimmers can get in the water, while anyone wanting a quiet hour can stay on shore or use a beach bar.

Beer, wine, Coca-Cola, and bottled water are included on the boat. Drinks at the beach bar are separate, so keep that distinction in mind. A bottle of champagne is included only on the sunset tour, not as a standard part of every departure.

Lokrum is an optional tradeoff

Lokrum lies in front of Dubrovnik’s Old Town, on the opposite side from the Elaphiti Islands. The boat visits it only on request.

That location makes Lokrum tempting, especially if you want a view back toward Dubrovnik or prefer to keep the trip close to the city. But the route has a clear cost: if you choose Lokrum, the boat cannot also see all the Elaphiti Islands.

This is an important planning point. Lokrum is not an added bonus that fits quietly into every route. It replaces island time elsewhere. Tell the skipper what matters most before you leave, especially if your main goal is the Blue Cave, sandy beaches, or the wider Elaphiti route.

The information provided does not include Lokrum admission in the tour price. If you want to go ashore, check the applicable admission details when booking or before departure.

Mljet turns it into a longer island day

The eight-hour Blue Cave and Mljet National Park option is the most ambitious version. Mljet is about 50 kilometres from Dubrovnik and takes roughly two hours by speedboat.

That travel time explains why Mljet requires a full day. You are not simply adding one nearby stop. You are spending a large part of the outing reaching and returning from a larger island.

Once there, the options include Limuni sandy beach, Odysseus Cave, and the saltwater lakes in Mljet National Park. This gives the trip a broader mix of swimming, nature, and sightseeing than the shorter Koločep, Šipan, Lopud, and Šunj route.

The downside is simple: selecting Mljet means you cannot see all the Elaphiti Islands. You need to choose between a wider local island circuit and a longer run to Mljet. I would choose Mljet if the national park and its lakes are a priority. I would choose the regular route if you want more time in the caves and at Šunj Beach.

Mljet National Park admission is not included. Fuel for the 10-hour Mljet option is listed separately at €120 per booking. Confirm the exact length and fuel charge for your selected version, since the tour information gives several duration choices.

The private format is worth weighing carefully

The listed price is $362.05 per group of up to four people, not per person. At four people, that works out to about $90.51 each before fuel, lunch, and any admission charges. For a private boat, that can be fair value, particularly if you want control over the route.

For two people, the cost per person is much higher. You are paying for privacy, flexibility, and a dedicated skipper, not simply for transport between islands. A larger public boat may be cheaper if your only goal is a basic ride on the water.

Fuel is the extra charge most likely to surprise you. The listed amounts are €50 for four hours, €70 for eight hours, and €120 for the 10-hour Mljet option. One booking includes the fuel charge, so it is not multiplied by the number of people, but you should still add it to your budget.

Lunch on Šipan is also separate. Lokrum and Mljet admission fees are not included. On the positive side, water, soft drinks, beer, wine, the skipper, and snorkel equipment are included, which reduces the number of small costs during the boat ride.

One review specifically praised the equipment and staff but noted the fuel charge as an unexpected extra. I would treat that as a booking question to settle before the day begins, not as a reason to reject the tour outright.

Toni and Rocco bring flexibility to the route

The skipper can make or break a private boat day. Toni is specifically noted for asking what the group wanted to see and suggesting stops that made good use of the day. Rocco is also described as tailoring the trip to group preferences, with special praise for the caves and beach time.

That is exactly what you want from this type of outing. The value is not just in knowing where the caves are. It is in having someone who can help balance swimming, walking, lunch, and beach time within the hours you have paid for.

You should arrive with a short list of priorities. For example:

• Blue Cave and snorkelling
• A long sandy beach stop
• Lunch on Šipan
• Churches and monastery on Lopud
• Lokrum instead of some Elaphiti Islands
• Mljet National Park and its lakes

You may not fit every item into a short tour. A clear conversation with the skipper helps avoid disappointment. The private format gives you a voice, but it does not add extra hours to the day.

Comfort, drinks, and the practical limits

The tour includes comfortable, air-conditioned round transfers, but pickup and drop-off are not included. One pickup point is about a 10-minute taxi ride from Dubrovnik’s Old Town, so allow extra time and budget for getting there.

The boat has no toilet. That is not a major problem for a short four-hour outing, but it matters more on the eight-hour or Mljet option. Use facilities before departure and consider this point carefully if someone in your group needs frequent access to a restroom.

The boat supplies bottled water, Coca-Cola, beer, and wine. This is handy on a hot day, and one review particularly appreciated the generous drinks supply. Alcohol can make swimming and moving around a boat less safe, so use common sense and keep water in the rotation.

The experience is offered in English. Confirmation is provided at booking, mobile tickets are accepted, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, but the activity still involves boat travel, getting in and out of the water, and swimming around caves.

Because the tour depends on good weather, a poor forecast can change the plan. If the operator cancels for weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, while changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

I would recommend it to a couple, family, or group of friends who want a private day on the Adriatic and care more about freedom than a fixed sightseeing program. It suits people who want to swim, snorkel, drink something cold, and make a few choices along the way.

Families may appreciate the private setup because the day can be adjusted around different energy levels. One person can snorkel while another prefers the beach. A group of friends may find the per-group price reasonable, especially with four people sharing it.

It is less suitable if you want a fully guided history tour, a guaranteed restaurant menu, or a bathroom on the boat. It also may not suit anyone who dislikes open-water swimming or feels uncomfortable with the possibility of extra fuel and admission charges.

Choose the shorter route for a relaxed mix of caves, lunch, Lopud, and Šunj. Choose the eight-hour Mljet option only if Mljet National Park is important enough to justify the long run and the loss of time on some Elaphiti Islands.

Should you book the Dubrovnik private speedboat tour?

I would book this tour if your ideal Dubrovnik day includes the Blue Cave, several swims, a sandy beach, and the freedom to adjust the plan. The strongest features are the private boat, the snorkel equipment, and skippers such as Toni and Rocco who can shape the day around your priorities.

Before paying, confirm your pickup point, exact tour length, fuel fee, lunch plan, and any admission costs. If you understand those extras and have four people to share the price, the tour offers a good blend of activity and relaxation. If you want the simplest possible price with no add-ons, a public cruise may be easier.

FAQ

How much does the private speedboat tour cost?

The listed price is $362.05 per group of up to four people. Fuel, lunch, and certain admission fees are not included.

How long does the tour last?

The available duration is approximately two to eight hours, with a separate 10-hour fuel option listed for the Mljet National Park version.

What fuel charges should I expect?

Fuel is listed at €50 per booking for four hours, €70 for eight hours, and €120 for the 10-hour Mljet option.

Is snorkelling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkelling equipment is included, and you can use it at the caves on Koločep and other suitable swimming stops.

Are drinks included?

Bottled water, Coca-Cola, beer, and wine are included. Champagne is included only on the sunset tour.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch at a restaurant on Šipan is not included in the tour price.

Can the boat visit Lokrum Island?

Yes, but Lokrum is visited only on request. Choosing Lokrum means the boat cannot see all the Elaphiti Islands.

Is Mljet National Park included in every tour?

No. Mljet is available only on the eight-hour Blue Cave and National Park Mljet option. Admission to the park is not included.