Elaphite Islands Luxury Private Boat Tour with Cap Camarat 7.5

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat trip is control. Captain Šime, also called Simon, takes only your group of up to seven aboard a Cap Camarat 7.5 and adjusts the day to suit you. You can linger at a cave, skip a stop, swim longer, or head for a quiet bay.

I like the private format and the easy extras: drinks, towels, snorkeling gear, and a GoPro are included. I also like the hotel pickup and drop-off, which removes much of the usual marina fuss. The main catch is simple: a four-hour trip can feel short, especially if you want to see all three islands.

Key points

• Private boat for up to seven: You share the Cap Camarat 7.5 only with your own group.
• Flexible route: Spend more time at Kolocep caves, Lopud’s Šunj Beach, or swimming bays based on your wishes.
• Sipan needs time: The third island is mainly included on six and eight-hour trips.
• Useful onboard kit: Water, soft drinks, beer, white wine, towels, snorkeling equipment, and a GoPro are provided.
• Strong local hosting: Šime is praised for his communication, local knowledge, safe handling, and help with restaurant reservations.
• Good port-day option: Pickup and return can make a four-hour outing workable during a cruise stop.

Why a private Elaphite Islands trip works so well

Dubrovnik’s old town gets the attention, but the coast explains why this region is special. Offshore, the Elaphite Islands offer clear water, small villages, rocky coves, caves, and a slower rhythm than the city walls.

A private boat lets you enjoy those places without being tied to a fixed group schedule. If your children want more time in the water, you can stay. If you would rather cruise past a stop, you can move on. That freedom is the real product here, more than any single cave or beach.

The boat carries up to seven people, so this works best for a family, a group of friends, or a couple willing to pay for extra space and personal service. The listed price is $544.43 per group, not per person. For seven people, that is about $78 each before any additional arrangements. For two people, the cost per person is much higher, but you are paying for privacy, flexibility, drinks, equipment, and transfers.

The perfect score and full recommendation rate reflect the strongest parts of the experience: Šime’s friendly manner, careful attention to requests, and ability to shape the outing around your group. Still, weather matters, and the sea day requires good conditions.

Kolocep: caves first, with time to swim

Kolocep is the usual opening act, and it gives the trip its most memorable scenery. The route includes the Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves, with about two hours suggested for this island.

The names tell you what to expect: rocky openings, shaded interiors, and water that looks different as sunlight reaches each cave. You may visit some caves simply to look inside, while others are suited to swimming or snorkeling. The supplied equipment means you do not need to arrange your own mask and snorkel.

The Blue Cave is especially worth handling wisely. It is a popular stop, and an early start can make a difference. One family with limited time from a cruise port began early and reached the first cave before the larger boats. That meant a short, quiet spell with the cave largely to themselves.

You cannot guarantee empty caves, but your private captain can help with timing. This is one reason a private boat has an edge over a fixed group excursion. You are not waiting for a full busload of people to finish taking photos or get back aboard.

Kolocep is also where the flexible format matters most. You might want to swim into a cave, take photographs from the boat, or simply sit in the shade and enjoy the cliffs. Tell Šime what kind of morning you want. He can suggest a sensible order and adjust the pace.

Lopud and Šunj Beach: a proper island break

Lopud receives about three hours on the stated route, making it the main stop on a four-hour trip as well as a longer one. Its sandy Šunj Beach offers something different from the rocky coves around the islands.

That contrast is useful. After cave visits and time on the boat, you can stretch your legs, swim from a beach, or walk toward the village. Lopud also has restaurants, so it is the natural place for a meal on a six or eight-hour outing.

Šime has helped arrange lunch reservations, which is a thoughtful touch when your time ashore is limited. Restaurant availability and meal prices are not included in the tour price, so plan to pay separately. You should also allow time for lunch if you choose the longer trip. An eight-hour day is not eight hours of nonstop cruising and swimming.

The village adds a little local life to what could otherwise be a pure sightseeing ride. Walk around, have a drink, or take a relaxed meal before returning to the boat. If you are traveling with young children, Lopud gives them a change of pace. A four-year-old or nine-year-old may not want to spend the entire day moving between caves, and the flexible schedule lets you slow down.

One practical point: beach time is not automatically better than cave time. If the sea is calm and your group loves swimming, you may prefer to keep moving along the coast. If you want a beach, lunch, and a village stroll, Lopud deserves a generous portion of your schedule.

Sipan: save the third island for a longer tour

Sipan is the last of the three main Elaphite Islands and is mainly visited on six and eight-hour departures. On a four-hour trip, it may be included only if earlier stops are brief.

This is the clearest reason to choose your duration carefully. Four hours can cover Kolocep and Lopud nicely, but trying to add Sipan may turn the day into a rushed checklist. I would choose four hours if you have a cruise-port schedule, want caves and one beach, or prefer a compact outing.

Choose six hours if you want several swimming stops, a relaxed lunch, and a chance to visit more than two islands. Choose eight hours if the boat day is one of the main events of your Dubrovnik stay. Time passes quickly once you stop for swimming, photographs, caves, and lunch, and several people wished they had booked the full day.

The longer options also give Šime more room to respond to the weather and your mood. You can spend longer in one bay without sacrificing the rest of the route. That is a better use of time than racing from island to island just to say you visited all three.

What comes with the boat

The Cap Camarat 7.5 is a private motorboat sized for groups of up to seven. The key advantage is not just comfort. It is having enough room for your group without strangers deciding when to leave a beach or cave.

Onboard, you receive:

• Water and soft drinks
• Beer and white wine
• Towels
• Snorkeling equipment
• GoPro use

The drinks are useful in the Croatian sun, though alcohol and swimming require sensible judgment. You can relax with a beer or glass of wine while cruising, but do not treat the included drinks as the focus of the outing. The caves, water, and islands are the reason to book.

The GoPro is a nice bonus for anyone who wants underwater memories without bringing expensive equipment. Ask about its use at the start so you understand how it is handled and returned. Towels also save space in your luggage, especially if you are packing for a cruise day.

The boat has been described as clean, comfortable, and luxurious by people who used it. Those terms matter most on a six or eight-hour trip, when a cramped boat can wear you down. On a four-hour trip, the private space still makes the ride more pleasant than a crowded excursion.

Šime makes the difference

A boat and a beautiful coastline are not enough to guarantee a good day. The captain controls the pace, safety, timing, and practical details. Here, Šime is repeatedly singled out for friendly communication, local insight, patience, and flexibility.

He contacts you before the trip to confirm the pickup point and answer questions. He has also helped groups find the boat from cruise ships, including one case where the pickup point was about a ten-minute flat walk from the ship. Hotel pickup and return are included, and a driver named Ana has handled transfers for some departures.

The personal service continues once you are underway. Šime can recommend a route, answer questions about Dubrovnik and the islands, help with photographs, and call a restaurant ahead for lunch. He has also adjusted plans for groups interested in quiet spots, lighthouses, extra swimming, or a particular cave.

That does not mean you should arrive without a plan. Think about your priorities before boarding:

• Caves and photography
• Beach time
• Snorkeling
• A village walk
• Lunch on Lopud
• Quiet coves
• Seeing all three islands

Tell him your top two or three choices. A private trip works best when the captain knows what matters to you.

Four, six, or eight hours?

The duration changes the character of the experience.

Four hours is a smart choice for a short visit or cruise stop. You can see Kolocep’s caves, spend time around Lopud and Šunj Beach, and still return with time for other Dubrovnik plans. The tradeoff is that Sipan may be missed, and swimming or lunch can reduce sightseeing time.

Six hours gives you breathing room. You can combine caves, swimming, Lopud, a meal, and additional island scenery without hurrying every stop. For many people, this is the best balance between cost and time.

Eight hours turns the outing into a full water day. You can visit the three islands, stop in bays, swim at an unhurried pace, and eat lunch on Lopud. The cost per person becomes more reasonable when shared by a larger group, and the extra time helps justify the private charter.

I would not book eight hours simply because longer sounds better. If your group does not enjoy sitting on a boat, swimming, or taking long breaks, four or six hours may be enough. But if you love being on the water, the full day gives the route room to breathe.

Who should book this boat tour?

This trip suits you if you value control more than the lowest possible price. Families can set a child-friendly pace, couples can avoid a large group, and friends can combine swimming, sightseeing, drinks, and lunch without negotiating with strangers.

It is also a good fit for cruise passengers. Pickup details should be confirmed in advance, but the short four-hour option can fit neatly around time in port. One group returned to the ship for lunch and still had time to visit Dubrovnik’s walled city later.

The experience can work for wheelchair users, but boarding needs to be discussed before booking. Šime has checked access needs in advance, which is encouraging, but the provided information does not promise full wheelchair accessibility. Contact the operator with your exact requirements.

You should think twice if your budget is tight or if you prefer a structured tour with a set narration and fixed stops. A group boat may cost less. Here, the value comes from privacy, customization, equipment, drinks, and a captain who pays attention to your preferences.

Booking, weather, and practical details

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity is offered in English. Pickup is available, and the tour operates near public transportation. The experience is private, so only your group participates.

Good weather is required. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time, but cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted.

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and a phone or camera if you want extra photographs. The operator supplies towels and snorkeling gear, but your group still needs to be ready for time in the sun and on the water.

The most important planning choice is duration. If you want Kolocep and Lopud, four hours can work. If Sipan, lunch, and a slower pace matter, book six or eight hours.

Is the Elaphite Islands private boat tour worth booking?

I would book this tour if you have at least four people to share the cost, care about a flexible route, and want more than a quick ride past the islands. The combination of private space, included drinks and equipment, hotel transfers, and Šime’s hands-on service gives the price real value.

For two people, compare the cost with a group boat before deciding. You will pay more per person, but you also avoid strangers, fixed timing, and a one-size-fits-all route.

Choose four hours for a tight schedule, six hours for the best balance, and eight hours if the sea is a central part of your Dubrovnik visit. If you want caves, swimming, a sandy beach, and a relaxed island meal in one day, this is one of the more practical ways to arrange it.

FAQ

How much does the private boat tour cost?

The listed price is $544.43 per group of up to seven people. The cost is not listed per person.

How long does the tour last?

You can choose a tour lasting approximately four to eight hours. Six and eight-hour trips are more likely to include Sipan.

How many people can join the private boat?

The Cap Camarat 7.5 accommodates a private group of up to seven people.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Kolocep, Lopud, and Sipan. Sipan is mainly visited on six and eight-hour tours.

What can I see on Kolocep?

The Kolocep stop includes the Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves. You can spend as much time as your private schedule allows.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Round-trip transfers from your hotel to the boat are included, and pickup is offered.

What is included onboard?

Beer, white wine, soft drinks, water, towels, snorkeling equipment, and a GoPro are provided.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.