From Makarska: Full day private speed boat tour 3 islands

The best part of this full-day boat trip is the mix of quiet swimming bays and lively island stops. You get the speedboat thrill without giving up time for a slow lunch, a walk in Jelsa, or a cocktail on Zečevo. The route links Hvar, a small islet, and Brač in one long but varied day.

I like the privacy of a boat limited to your own group of up to eight, and I like the freedom to swim and snorkel at several different spots. Skipper Christian was especially accommodating to one couple’s wishes, which is a useful sign for anyone who wants some flexibility rather than a rigid boat timetable.

The main catch is cost clarity. The $349 group price does not include $100 for fuel and $100 for the local skipper, plus food, so your final bill is higher than the headline price. The day is also not suitable for pregnant women or babies under one year.

Key points to know before you book

• Mala Stiniva on Hvar is the first swimming and snorkeling stop, giving you water time before the sightseeing begins.
• Jelsa adds a proper island-town stop, with time for ice cream, wine tasting, or a chocolate shop.
• Zečevo islet offers another swim and snorkel break beside a cocktail bar.
• Zlatni Rat beach can be viewed from the boat, or you can choose to go ashore.
• Vala Hrvaska on Brač combines a beach, another swim, and a traditional restaurant with food cooked over a natural wood fire.
• The base price is for the whole boat, but fuel and skipper fees are separate and should be included in your budget.

A full day on the water from Makarska

This is an active island-hopping day, not a short sightseeing cruise. You meet at the Maris Travel point of sale on the promenade, in front of Hops restaurant bar, for a 9:00 departure. The boat returns to the same meeting point at about 18:00.

That nine-hour window matters. Hvar and Brač sit across the water from Makarska, so the fast boat is doing real work here. You cover several islands, make five or six stops, and still have time to swim, eat, and walk around Jelsa.

The private setup is the key advantage. With room for up to eight people, you are not joining a large boat with a fixed program and dozens of strangers. You can spend more time in the water, take a break from swimming, or ask about the next stop. Do not expect complete freedom to redesign the route, though. The advertised plan has a lot packed into one day.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, and something dry to wear for town visits. Drinking water, lifejackets, and snorkeling equipment are supplied. Food is not included, so you will need money for lunch and any snacks or drinks in Jelsa or at the bay restaurant.

Mala Stiniva gives Hvar a quiet opening

The boat heads first to Mala Stiniva, a quiet bay on Hvar. This is a smart first stop. You can get into the water, try the supplied snorkeling equipment, and settle into the rhythm of the day before visiting a town.

The appeal here is simple: time in the water without having to rush straight into sightseeing. The plan calls for swimming and snorkeling, so this is a good place to use the morning when you are fresh and eager to get wet.

The phrase quiet bay should be taken as a description of the planned setting, not a guarantee that you will have the water entirely to yourself. Conditions, other boats, and the day’s timing can affect the mood. Still, a small private boat has a better chance of reaching a less crowded cove than a large excursion vessel.

You should also keep expectations sensible about snorkeling. Equipment is included, but this is not presented as a specialist marine-life tour. The main reward is being in clear island water at several different locations, with the freedom to swim rather than simply look at the coast from a deck.

Jelsa adds a real town stop

After the first swim, you continue to Jelsa on Hvar. This is where the tour shifts from sea time to island life. You can walk around, have an ice cream, and choose from small add-ons such as wine tasting or a visit to a chocolate shop.

Jelsa is useful in the middle of a boat day because it breaks up the stops. Nine hours of swimming and sitting on a speedboat can become tiring, especially in the sun. A walk, a cool treat, and time on land give you a chance to reset.

The options also make this stop work for mixed groups. One person can browse, another can order ice cream, and someone else can choose wine tasting or chocolate. The description does not give a fixed length for the town visit, so ask the skipper how much time is available if one of these choices matters to you.

Jelsa is not the main sightseeing focus of the trip. The program is built around the sea, not a guided cultural tour. You should see it as a pleasant island-town pause rather than a detailed historical visit. If you want long museum visits or a thorough walking tour, this route will feel too water-focused.

Zečevo islet keeps the swimming going

The next stop is Zečevo, a small islet with a cocktail bar. The boat anchors here for another swim and snorkeling session.

The cocktail bar gives this stop a different feel from Mala Stiniva. You can stay in the water, sit with a drink, or simply enjoy the change of setting. It is also a practical chance to have something cold before the longer crossing toward Brač.

The trade-off is that Zečevo is not presented as a full sightseeing stop. You are visiting for the water and the bar, not for a long walk or a town visit. If you prefer history and architecture to swimming, this may feel like a short pause. If you want several chances to get into the sea, it fits the day well.

With multiple swim stops, you do not have to make every one a long session. You can use one bay for a proper snorkel, another for a quick dip, and spend more time ashore at Jelsa or Zlatni Rat. That flexibility is one of the better reasons to book a private boat.

Zlatni Rat is best seen from the sea

After leaving Hvar behind, the boat crosses toward Zlatni Rat beach on Brač. This is one of the most recognizable coastal sights in the area, and the approach from the water gives you the best sense of its unusual shape.

You can choose to get off at the beach or admire it from the boat. That choice matters. Going ashore gives you time on one of Brač’s famous beaches, while staying aboard saves energy and keeps the schedule moving toward lunch.

The trip does not promise a long beach stay, so ask about the available time before you leave the boat. With five or six locations in one day, every stop has a limit. The best approach is to decide in advance what matters most: a swim at Zlatni Rat, a look from the water, or more time at the later restaurant bay.

This is also a good point to remember that the route is designed for variety. You are not spending the whole afternoon at one beach. You are collecting different views and swimming settings, which suits people who get restless during a long stationary beach day.

Vala Hrvaska brings lunch and a slower pace

The boat continues to Vala Hrvaska, a bay with a beach and a restaurant. This is the most substantial stop of the afternoon and the place where the trip slows down.

You can swim and snorkel before or after lunch, then eat at the traditional restaurant if you choose. Food is prepared over a natural wood fire, which gives the meal a more local character than a quick sandwich bought near a marina. The setting, a quiet island bay, is part of the experience.

Lunch is an extra expense. The tour does not include food, and the restaurant meal must be purchased separately. Keep this in mind when comparing the price with other boat trips. The wood-fire cooking may be worth paying for, but you should not assume that a meal is covered by the $349 rate.

This stop also gives you a chance to take a proper break from the boat. If you have spent the morning swimming, you may appreciate the beach and restaurant more than another hurried photo stop. On the other hand, if your group wants to minimize spending, you can buy food in an island town or plan around the meal options available along the route. The supplied details do not specify whether outside food is permitted, so ask Maris Travel before departure if that is important to you.

The final bay keeps the last hour worthwhile

After lunch, the boat heads to one more pleasant bay for swimming and snorkeling before returning to Makarska. The exact bay is not named, so you should treat this as a flexible final stop rather than a promised landmark.

That flexibility can be useful. The skipper can choose a suitable place for the last swim based on the day’s conditions and the group’s energy. It also means you should not book this trip expecting every stop to have a published name and fixed schedule.

The return to Makarska is planned for around 18:00. By then, you will have spent a full day in the sun, so the last swim may be welcome or you may prefer to stay aboard and enjoy the ride back. A private boat makes either choice easier than a large group cruise.

What the private price really covers

The advertised cost is $349 per group of up to eight people. At full capacity, that works out to about $44 per person before the extra charges. For a couple or a small group, the per-person cost rises quickly, so the value depends heavily on how many people share the boat.

Two additional charges are listed: $100 for fuel on this route and $100 for the local skipper who knows the best locations. If both apply to your booking, the total reaches $549 before food, or about $69 per person with eight people aboard.

That is still a reasonable figure for a private full-day boat if your group can fill most of the seats. You are paying for the boat, several island stops, swimming time, and a more personal schedule. It is less attractive for two or three people who could be happy on a standard group excursion.

The included equipment helps. Drinking water, lifejackets, snorkeling gear, passenger insurance, and public liability insurance are part of the package. You are not being asked to rent basic snorkeling equipment separately.

The important step is to confirm the final cost before you commit. Ask how the skipper fee is handled, how and when the fuel is paid, and what food choices are available. Fuel can be paid in cash or by card at the fuel station at the end of the route, according to the supplied details.

Who will enjoy this route most

I would choose this tour if you want a full day that mixes fast boat travel with repeated swim stops. It suits friends, families with older children, and couples who value privacy and can share the cost with several people.

It is especially good for a group with different interests. One person can snorkel, another can take photographs from the boat, and someone else can spend the town stop with ice cream or a chocolate visit. The combination of Jelsa, Zečevo, Zlatni Rat, and Vala Hrvaska gives the day more range than a simple beach transfer.

The tour is less suitable if you want a quiet, slow boat ride with little movement. The speedboat covers a lot of ground, and the itinerary includes several changes of place. It is also not right for pregnant women or babies under one year.

Skipper Christian was described as accommodating to the group’s wishes, which is encouraging if you care about personal service. Still, a named skipper is not guaranteed for every departure, so regard Christian as one possible captain rather than a promise.

The tour is offered in English, Croatian, and German. That makes it easier to ask questions about the route and stops if one of those languages works for you.

Small practical details that make a difference

Meet at the Maris Travel sales point on the promenade, directly in front of Hops restaurant bar. The tour ends at that same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a separate return transfer.

Reserve and pay later is available, which helps if your plans around Makarska are still shifting. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Keep your day flexible around the water. The supplied plan names the main locations, but the exact feel of each stop can change with sea conditions, timing, and the group’s preferences. Ask the captain early if you want more time in Jelsa, a longer swim at Zlatni Rat, or a shorter stop before lunch.

The basic safety equipment is included, but you should still take normal care on a speedboat. Wear the lifejacket when instructed, keep valuables protected from spray, and bring enough sun protection for a long day outside.

Should you book this private speedboat day?

Book it if you can fill much of the eight-person boat and want a busy but enjoyable day on the Dalmatian coast. The combination of Mala Stiniva, Jelsa, Zečevo, Zlatni Rat, and Vala Hrvaska gives you swimming, snorkeling, an island town, a famous beach, and a wood-fire restaurant in one outing.

I would be more cautious if your group is small or if the advertised $349 is your firm budget. Add the listed fuel and skipper charges, then allow extra for lunch, drinks, ice cream, wine tasting, or the cocktail bar. With those costs clear, the private format offers good value for a full day. Without that calculation, the price can catch you off guard.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Meet at the Maris Travel point of sale on the promenade, in front of Hops restaurant bar.

What time does the tour leave?

The tour starts at 9:00.

When does the boat return to Makarska?

The planned return time is around 18:00, and the activity ends back at the original meeting point.

Which islands does the tour visit?

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

How many people can join the private boat?

The speedboat can take up to eight guests.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

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

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Food can be purchased in island towns or at the restaurant in Vala Hrvaska.

Are there extra charges beyond the group price?

Yes. The listed extras are $100 for fuel on this route and a $100 local skipper fee. Food is also separate.

Who should not take this tour?

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