Private boat tour- explore the islands, find hidden caves and try snorkelling

Koločep’s Blue Cave is the star of this private boat day. You can swim into the cave, look back at the sunlight turning the water blue, then stop at quieter coves for more swimming. I especially like the private boat and the chance to adjust the pace, rather than follow a fixed group schedule.

I also like the practical touches: hotel or apartment pickup can be arranged, and beer, wine, soft drinks, and water are provided on board. The main caution is that the advertised fuel charge may be extra, and one past booking had trouble following the full island itinerary, so confirm the route and final price before setting off.

Key points at a glance

• Blue Cave on Koločep: Swim and snorkel inside the cave and visit three other caves nearby.
• A real private outing: Your group of up to six has the boat to itself and can discuss the day with the skipper.
• Four distinct island stops: Koločep, Šipan, Lopud, and Šunj Beach each offer a different kind of break.
• Good onboard basics: Snorkeling equipment, drinks, bottled water, and a restroom are listed as included.
• Useful hotel pickup: Transport to the departure port can remove a tiring bit of Dubrovnik logistics.
• Check the fuel charge: The eight-hour option lists €70 fuel as extra, so clarify this before booking.

Why this boat day works so well from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik is best understood from the water. From shore, you see a handsome walled city and a busy harbor. From a small boat, the view opens out to rocky coves, pale beaches, pine-covered islands, and water clear enough for a swim.

This tour gives you a full day for that change of scene. The advertised price is $302.46 per group of up to six, not per person. At six people, that is roughly $50 per person before any extra fuel charge or lunch. For a couple, the price feels much less modest, but you are paying for privacy, flexibility, and a full boat rather than a seat on a larger shared cruise.

The strongest reason to book is control. You can spend longer in the water, ask for a quieter swimming place, shorten a stop, or linger over lunch. Several skippers, including Bruno, Ivan, Lovro, and Ivan’s colleagues, are praised for adapting the day to the group and finding calmer places when the sea turns choppy.

That flexibility has limits. The published route is a suggested eight-hour plan, not a guarantee that every stop will happen in exactly the listed order. Weather, sea conditions, lunch timing, and the group’s wishes can change the day. Ask at pickup what route you are expecting and what happens if a stop must be skipped.

Pickup and the ride to the marina

Pickup is offered from a hotel, apartment, or arranged address. This is a useful feature in Dubrovnik, where getting to the departure point can take planning, especially if you are staying in the Old Town or on the far side of the city.

The port is not necessarily right beside the Old Town. One four-hour booking involved a drive of about 20 minutes to reach the marina on the other side of the bridge. That matters because a short tour can lose a fair share of its available time to road and harbor transfers.

For the eight-hour outing, the transfer is less of a concern, but you should still confirm the pickup time and exact meeting point. Areas outside the company’s usual pickup radius may cost extra. The operation has been praised for timely pickup and return transport, with drivers such as Anna Maria handling the road section on some outings.

Once on board, you can expect a private boat with space at the front for sun and an area at the back for shade and sitting. Drinks listed for the boat include beer, wine, Coca-Cola, and bottled water. That is a simple but valuable touch on a hot Adriatic day, when stopping to buy refreshments would interrupt the route.

A restroom is listed on board. One booking reported that it was not working, so I would ask about its condition before departure rather than assume it will be available throughout the day. Towels, sunscreen, and swimsuits are not supplied. Bring all three, along with a dry change of clothes if you plan to swim more than once.

Koločep and the Blue Cave

Koločep is the most memorable part of the route for many people. The plan allows about an hour to visit the Blue Cave and three other caves around the island. You can swim and snorkel inside them, looking toward the entrance as sunlight reflects off the water.

The effect depends on the sun, the sea, and the timing. The blue color is not a painted attraction or a light show. It comes from daylight entering the cave and reflecting through the water. On a bright day, it can be striking. On a cloudy day or in rough water, the result may be less dramatic.

You need to be comfortable in the water to get the most from this stop. A life jacket or flotation aid can help less confident swimmers, and one group specifically appreciated having those options available. Snorkeling equipment is listed as included, although another booking reported that masks and snorkels were not supplied. That conflict is worth resolving before you leave the marina.

The water stops are not only about the caves. Your skipper may choose a sheltered cove or a quiet place along the coast if wind or waves make one cave unpleasant. Bruno was repeatedly praised for locating good swimming spots in windy conditions, while Ivan was noted for taking groups to less crowded areas around Koločep.

Do not expect a long island walk here. This is mainly a water and swimming stop. If you want a beach stroll or a village visit, Lopud is the better place for it.

Šipan for lunch and island views

After Koločep, the boat continues to Šipan, where you have about two hours for lunch. The meal is not included, and the restaurant cost comes directly from you.

This is a sensible pause in an otherwise active day. You get off the boat, eat at a proper restaurant, and take a break from sun and spray. The suggested area is Sudurad, and one group had lunch at Hotel Božica after the skipper arranged a reservation. Another booking praised a restaurant with fine views and access to an infinity pool, though that detail may depend on the chosen restaurant and should not be assumed.

Ask the skipper for the current lunch suggestion and whether a reservation will be made. The company’s captains have been praised for offering restaurant advice and arranging tables, but lunch remains an extra expense. If you have dietary needs or a firm budget, discuss them before departure.

Two hours gives you enough time for a relaxed meal rather than a rushed bite. It also means the day is not wall-to-wall swimming. I like that balance, especially for families and mixed groups where some people want the sea and others prefer a slower afternoon.

The drawback is that lunch can eat into time at the other islands. If you are most interested in caves and swimming, tell the skipper that early. If lunch is a key part of the day, allow the full stop and enjoy it without trying to squeeze in too much.

Lopud’s churches, monastery, and sandy shore

Lopud is the most rewarding stop for a short walk. The plan allows about an hour to explore the island, with churches, a monastery, and sandy beaches providing a change from the rocky coast.

This is where the itinerary feels more like an island visit than a swimming cruise. Walk at an easy pace, look around the village area, and use the stop to stretch your legs. An hour is enough for a taste, not a detailed historical tour. The experience is led by a boat skipper, not presented as a formal walking tour with a specialist guide.

Lopud also helps explain the appeal of a private trip. You can choose to walk, sit by the water, or ask for more time at the beach. A fixed group cruise may give you less freedom to shape that pause.

Keep an eye on the clock. One past booking reported visiting only Koločep despite expecting Lopud as well. That appears to be an exception rather than the stated plan, but it shows why you should confirm the intended stops before leaving port and check the return time when going ashore.

Šunj Beach for a final swim

The usual last stop is Šunj Beach on Lopud. It is described as the area’s most popular sandy beach, with beach bars where you can relax and buy drinks.

The sand is the attraction here. Much of the Dubrovnik coast is rocky, so a sandy beach feels like a welcome change after a day of cave swimming and boat travel. You can swim, sit on the beach, or take a drink at a bar while the boat day winds down.

Because Šunj is popular, do not expect the same quiet feeling as a secluded cove. That is not a flaw, but it is a different mood. Koločep is about caves and clear water. Šunj is about a comfortable beach finish with more activity around you.

The listed stop lasts about an hour. If your group prefers a quiet cove to a popular beach, tell the skipper. The private format gives you a chance to discuss that choice, though the final decision remains subject to conditions and the day’s timing.

Skippers and the value of a private crew

The captain can make or break this kind of outing. You are spending eight hours in a fairly small shared space, so a friendly, attentive skipper matters as much as the route.

Bruno receives especially strong praise for being warm with children, handling windy conditions, and choosing good places to swim. Ivan is repeatedly described as flexible, engaging, and good at adjusting the route to the group. Lovro is praised for calm handling and allowing plenty of time at stops. Other outings were led by Evan, Estevan, Marco, and Tony.

That is a useful picture of the service, but it is not uniform. Two bookings described a skipper who felt distant or difficult to connect with, and one group waited about 30 minutes when the captain was not immediately available on the island. Those accounts are not the norm in the supplied feedback, but they are important reminders that the human side of a private tour can vary.

At booking, you may not be able to choose a particular captain. You can still state what matters to you: family-friendly help, quiet swimming places, photography stops, or a relaxed pace. The best outings seem to come when the group tells the skipper what it wants instead of treating the published route as a rigid timetable.

What is included, and what can cost extra

The price covers private transportation by boat and the listed onboard drinks. Snorkeling equipment is included in the tour description, and a restroom is provided on board. Fuel is stated as included only for a sunset tour, while the not-included section lists €50 for four hours and €70 for eight hours per booking.

That fuel wording needs clarification. It may be a separate operational charge, and the online price may not be the final amount for your chosen duration. Ask for the total cost, including fuel and any pickup surcharge, before confirming.

Lunch is extra, as are towels, sunscreen, and swimsuits. Beach bar drinks at Šunj are also not covered by the boat price. Champagne is listed only for the sunset tour, so do not assume it is part of the standard daytime trip.

For a group of six, the base price can be attractive. You get a full boat, flexible stops, transport to the port, and refreshments without paying six separate tour fares. For two people, compare the private price with a shared excursion and decide how much privacy and control are worth to you.

Who should book this Dubrovnik boat tour?

This is a strong choice for a family, two or three couples, or a small group of friends who want a full day at sea without strangers on board. It also suits people who care more about swimming, scenery, and flexible stops than formal commentary.

Families benefit from the private space and the captain’s ability to find calmer places. Parents can ask for shade, a slower pace, or a break if someone feels seasick. One group reported that the skipper stopped at an island when two people felt unwell during the first hour.

It is also a good fit for couples celebrating a honeymoon or birthday. Some outings included sunset views, balloons, or champagne when specially arranged, but those extras should be requested and confirmed rather than assumed.

I would think twice if you dislike boat motion, need a guaranteed beach schedule, or want a detailed guided tour of every island. Rough water can alter the plan, and a skipper may focus more on safe navigation and swimming spots than on long explanations.

Book at least a few weeks ahead if possible. The average booking lead time is about 53 days, which suggests that popular summer dates can fill early. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. The tour depends on good weather, and a cancellation for poor conditions should result in a new date or full refund.

Should you book it?

I would book this tour for a group of four to six that wants to see the Dubrovnik islands from the water, swim in caves, and keep the day flexible. The Blue Cave, Koločep’s coves, Šunj’s sand, and the lunch stop on Šipan give you a good mix of sea time and island time.

Before paying, confirm three things: the exact fuel charge, the availability of snorkeling equipment, and the planned stops. If the weather is good and your skipper is as adaptable as Bruno, Ivan, or Lovro are described, this can be one of the most enjoyable ways to escape Dubrovnik’s heat and crowds for a day.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The main experience lasts about eight hours. A four-hour option is also mentioned in the tour information and past bookings.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price is for one private group of up to six people.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup can be arranged from a hotel, apartment, or other address. Locations outside the normal pickup area may cost extra.

Which islands does the eight-hour route visit?

The planned route includes Koločep, Šipan, Lopud, and Šunj Beach.

Is lunch included?

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

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Snorkeling equipment is listed as included. Because one booking reported that snorkels were not available, confirm the equipment before departure.

Are drinks included on the boat?

Beer, wine, Coca-Cola, and bottled water are listed as included. Champagne is listed only for the sunset tour.

Is fuel included in the price?

The information lists fuel as included only for sunset tours and separately lists a €50 fuel charge for four hours and €70 for eight hours per booking. Confirm the final fuel cost before booking.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you can be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.