Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat

The main appeal here is simple: you get a private speedboat for a full day of swimming, cave stops, island time, and coastal views. The Blue Cave is the star, but the mix of quiet water, Šunj’s shallow sand, and lunch on Lopud gives the day a good rhythm.

I like two things in particular. First, your group of up to 12 controls the mood, music, and pace. Second, Antonio’s careful service begins before departure, with clear details and prompt arrival. The boat is also described as notably quiet, a real plus when you want to hear your own playlist instead of an engine roar.

The main catch is the extra fuel charge, paid in cash on the boat. For a full-day outing, that fee is listed as €150, so the advertised price is not the complete cost. Cave swimming also requires comfort in water four meters deep, since you cannot stand inside.

Key points to know before you book

• The Blue Cave requires a swim-in entrance: The opening is small, but you do not need to go underwater. You must be comfortable swimming in four meters of water.
• Three cave stops are included on Koločep: You visit two green caves and a canyon-like cave, with about an hour set aside for the group.
• Šunj Beach offers a sandy break: The water stays shallow for roughly 100 meters, making this the easiest stop for a relaxed swim or family time.
• Lopud gives you room for lunch: The island has restaurants along the coast and a slower, more land-based pause after the caves.
• Pasjača Beach is an alternative: If you have already seen the Elaphiti Islands or want a different coastal stop, ask about replacing them with Pasjača.
• The price is per private group: Up to 12 people can share the boat, but fuel is extra and paid in cash.

A private day on the water from Dubrovnik or Cavtat

This is an eight-hour private boat outing built around the Elaphiti Islands and nearby coast. You are not joining a large sightseeing boat, so the day feels more personal from the start. Your group has the skipper, the boat, the drinks, and the freedom to enjoy the ride together.

The boat is identified as a Mercan 34, and the tour operator provides a skipper, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic drinks. Snorkeling equipment is included too. You need to bring your own bathing suit, towel, sunglasses, suncream, hat, change of clothes, and camera.

The tour is offered in English. Antonio is the named contact associated with the experience, and the service details indicate a punctual pickup and useful communication before the trip. That matters with a private boat day, since good timing keeps the swimming and island stops from being squeezed at the end.

The activity is listed from Dubrovnik and Cavtat. It is also near public transportation, though you should confirm the exact meeting point when booking. Most people can participate, but you need to be able to get into the water for the Blue Cave and other swim stops.

Cruising past the Dubrovnik City Walls

The first part is a panoramic cruise around Dubrovnik’s coast. You get a different look at the City Walls from the water, with the old city rising above the shoreline rather than surrounding you at street level.

This is not a long walking tour of Dubrovnik. Think of it as an opening coastal circuit that lets you settle into the boat and see the city from a fresh angle. It also sets up the change in pace that follows, from historic walls to open water and caves.

The scheduled time here is about 25 minutes, followed by an expected 20-minute trip toward the Blue Cave. That makes this section brief but useful. If you have only seen Dubrovnik from land, the water view is a worthwhile start.

I would not book this excursion solely for the City Walls cruise. Dubrovnik offers plenty of ways to see the old city on foot. The real value begins when the boat carries you beyond the familiar postcard view.

Swimming into the Blue Cave

The Blue Cave is the most demanding stop. The entrance is small, but it is large enough for you to swim through without going underwater. Inside, the cave reaches about four meters deep, and there is no place to stand.

You should take that description seriously. This is not a quick step off the boat into shallow water. You need to swim into the opening and remain comfortable in water over your head. The tour includes snorkeling equipment, but the key requirement is basic confidence in the sea.

The stop lasts about 35 minutes. That gives you time to enter the cave, look around, and swim before returning to the boat. The appeal comes from the enclosed rock space and the change in light inside, not from a long guided explanation.

I like that this is a real swimming stop rather than a cave viewed only from a boat. Still, it may not suit anyone who dislikes small openings, cannot swim confidently, or wants a completely dry sightseeing day. Ask the skipper about conditions if the sea looks rough.

Exploring Koločep’s Three Green Caves

Next comes Koločep, where the tour visits two green caves and one cave described as a canyon. An hour is allotted here, so you have more time than at the Blue Cave to swim, use the snorkel gear, and enjoy the unusual rock formations.

The three stops give the day variety. Instead of repeating one cave experience, you see different shapes and openings around the island. The canyon cave should appeal to anyone who likes the feeling of moving through a narrow coastal passage, while the green caves offer more enclosed swimming spots.

Cave visits depend on water conditions and your comfort in the sea. The itinerary does not promise a fixed swimming sequence, so allow the skipper to make the final call on where it is sensible to enter. A private tour helps here because your group is not tied to a large boatload of people waiting for a rigid schedule.

Bring a towel and a change of clothes. Even if you plan to swim only once, several water stops can leave you cold or uncomfortable later in the day. Suncream, a hat, and sunglasses are just as useful during the open-water ride between caves.

Taking a slow hour at Šunj Beach

Šunj Beach, on Lopud, is the day’s easiest place to relax. It is a long sandy beach on the island’s south side, and the water remains shallow for roughly 100 meters before reaching normal swimming depth.

That shallow shelf makes this a useful stop for families with small children, though you should still supervise children closely. It also suits anyone who has had enough of climbing into caves and wants a straightforward beach break.

You have about an hour here. Use it for a swim, a walk on the sand, or a quiet pause after the cave stops. Recreation options listed for the beach include volleyball, tennis, and picigin, a traditional Croatian ball game played in shallow water, though availability and participation are not guaranteed.

The tradeoff is that the shallows are very extensive. If you want to swim properly, you may need to walk far from shore. That is good for children and casual wading, less ideal if your main goal is immediate deep-water swimming.

Lunch and island time on Lopud

After Šunj, the itinerary allows time on Lopud, an island known for sandy beaches and restaurants along the coast. This is where the trip becomes less about the boat and more about choosing your own pace.

You can have lunch in a restaurant, take a walk, or simply enjoy the island before returning. The listing gives three hours to this broader Lopud section, including the return journey, and notes that the trip home takes about an hour. In practical terms, you should expect roughly two hours for Lopud and lunch, depending on the exact timing of the day.

Lunch is not included in the price, so plan to pay separately at the restaurant. The benefit of stopping on Lopud is that you are not forced to eat on the boat. You can choose a proper meal and take a break from salt water and sun.

The private format is especially useful here. Your group can decide how long to linger within the planned schedule, though the skipper must keep enough time for the ride back. If you care more about swimming than lunch, say so early. If you want a leisurely meal, make that clear too.

Pasjača Beach as the alternate plan

Pasjača Beach is presented as an alternative to the Elaphiti Islands. If you have already visited Koločep and Lopud, or simply want a different coastal setting, you may be able to replace the island route with this natural beach.

This option makes the tour more useful for repeat visitors to Dubrovnik. You are not locked into seeing the same islands again just because they are the standard route. Ask about Pasjača when arranging the tour, since it is an alternative rather than an additional stop.

The planned duration for Pasjača is two hours. That makes it a more concentrated beach visit than the island route, with less movement between several locations. It may suit you if you want a simpler day built around one striking beach and plenty of time by the water.

The supplied details do not specify exactly how the alternative affects the full schedule or fuel charge. Confirm the route, timing, and final price before departure.

What the private price really gives you

The listed price is $360.44 per group of up to 12 people. Split among a full group, that can be strong value for a private boat day. A smaller group pays more per person, but you still receive exclusive use of the boat rather than sharing every stop with strangers.

The important missing piece is fuel. The fee is paid in cash on the boat and is listed as €30 for a sunset tour, €80 for a half-day trip, and €150 for a full-day trip. Since this experience lasts about eight hours, you should budget for the full-day figure unless the operator confirms otherwise.

That means you should compare the all-in cost, not only the advertised booking price. Add lunch on Lopud if you choose that route, and remember that drinks supplied on board do not cover restaurant costs.

I still see the value, especially for a group of friends or a family that can share the cost. You get the skipper, drinks, snorkeling equipment, a private setting, and several coastal stops in one day. The value is weaker for a solo visitor or a couple who would rather pay for a short boat trip than a full private outing.

Comfort, timing, and what to pack

The boat is described as quiet, which should make the long return ride more pleasant. One particularly appealing detail is that your group can listen to its own playlist. Bring a camera, but protect it carefully around the water.

Pack light but thoroughly:

• Bathing suit and towel
• Sunglasses and suncream
• Hat
• Dry change of clothes
• Camera
• Cash for the fuel charge
• Extra money for lunch on Lopud

Alcoholic drinks, soda, and bottled water are included. You should still prepare for a full day in the sun, since the itinerary combines open-water cruising with several swim stops.

The tour needs good weather. If poor conditions force cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

I would choose this for a group that wants active sightseeing without spending the entire day on Dubrovnik’s crowded streets. It suits confident swimmers, families who value shallow beach water, and friends who want a private boat with their own music and drinks.

It is also a good fit for repeat visitors who have already seen the main city sights. The Pasjača alternative adds flexibility, while the caves and islands provide a very different day from a standard old-town visit.

I would hesitate if you dislike swimming, want a fully guided historical tour, or need a low-cost excursion for only one or two people. The caves are not decorative viewpoints you can inspect from dry land. You must be prepared to enter the water, and the extra fuel payment changes the true budget.

Should you book the Mercan 34 private tour?

Book it if you want a full day built around swimming, caves, and island time, especially if you have enough people to share the private-group price. The quiet boat, included drinks and snorkeling gear, private playlist, and flexible route all add real comfort.

Before paying, confirm the pickup point, the fuel charge for your exact eight-hour plan, and whether you want Lopud or Pasjača. If everyone in your group is comfortable in deep water, this is a strong way to trade Dubrovnik’s stone streets for a day on the Adriatic. If not, choose a shorter or more land-based outing instead.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The experience lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

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

What is included on the boat?

The tour includes a skipper, snorkeling equipment, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages.

Is fuel included in the advertised price?

No. A fuel surcharge is paid in cash on the boat. The listed amounts are €30 for a sunset tour, €80 for a half-day tour, and €150 for a full-day tour.

Do I need to swim into the Blue Cave?

Yes. The only way to enter the Blue Cave is by swimming through its small opening. You do not need to go underwater, but the cave is about four meters deep and you cannot stand inside.

Is lunch included?

No. Lopud has restaurants along the coast where you can stop for lunch, but the meal is not included.

Can I visit Pasjača Beach instead of the islands?

Yes, Pasjača Beach may be used as an alternative if you do not want to visit the Elaphiti Islands or have already seen them.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.