Dubrovnik: All-inclusive Islands and Caves Private Boat Tour

The best part of this Dubrovnik outing is the chance to reach sea caves and quiet coves that are awkward or impossible to visit from land. You can swim into the Blue Cave, pass through the three Green Caves, and stop whenever the water looks too good to ignore. I especially like the flexible private format and the mix of swimming, island villages, sandy beaches, and a long lunch stop.

I also like that skippers such as Pasko, Bruno, Bernardo, Christian, Chico, and Kiko tailor the day to your group instead of running a fixed sightseeing march. The main consideration is the boat: it may feel snug for a larger party, and lunch costs extra. The advertised $454 price covers a private group of up to four.

Key points at a glance

• Swim through four sea caves: Enter the Blue Cave and explore three Green Caves, including a narrow passage that requires several underwater swims.
• Choose four to eight hours: A four-hour trip can cover the main sights, while six to eight hours gives you more time for beaches, lunch, and unhurried swimming.
• Visit three Elaphiti islands: See fishing villages on Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, each with a different feel.
• Snorkel at Sikirica Cove: Shallow water and sea vegetation make this a gentle final stop before returning to Dubrovnik.
• Private guidance matters: English-speaking skippers can adjust the route, book lunch, explain local sights, and help nervous swimmers.
• Bring a lunch budget: Fuel, pickup, drop-off, and drinks are included, but restaurant meals are not.

Why the caves make this more than a standard boat ride

Many boat trips from Dubrovnik offer the same broad promise: blue water, island views, and a swim stop. This one has a more active center. You are not simply looking at caves from the deck. You can put on the supplied snorkel gear, enter the openings, and see how the light changes inside.

The Blue Cave is the headline stop. It is reached only by boat, and the appeal comes from swimming into its clear water rather than admiring it from shore. Your skipper can accompany you into the cave, which is useful if you feel unsure about the entrance or the open-water swim.

The three Green Caves add variety. The first is large and easy, making it a sensible warm-up. The second is darker and tighter. The third is a long, narrow channel that you can pass through and exit on the other side before swimming around to return.

That last cave is the most demanding section. You need to go underwater several times, and the route includes a small side opening with a shallow sandy bottom and no roof. You should be comfortable swimming in open sea before choosing this tour, especially if you want to explore every cave rather than simply watch others go in.

The caves are not a good fit for anyone who dislikes confined spaces or underwater passages. The activity is also listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users. That is not a minor footnote: boarding, swimming, and moving around a boat all require physical ease.

A flexible start from Dubrovnik

The tour begins and ends in Dubrovnik, with pickup and drop-off included. That removes one common nuisance from a boat day: finding your way to an unfamiliar marina or arranging a separate ride back after several hours in the sun.

The exact start time depends on availability. You can choose a four, six, or eight-hour outing in practice, with the shorter option concentrating on the caves and the nearest island stops. Several families found four hours enough for a good look at the main sights, but the longer trips allowed more time to swim, eat, and sit at anchor.

I would choose six hours for most people. It gives you room for the caves, one or two islands, lunch, and Sikirica Cove without making every stop feel rushed. Choose eight hours if you want a slow day, a proper restaurant meal, and plenty of time floating in a secluded bay.

The private setup is valuable here. Your skipper can ask what matters most: more swimming, a village walk, a sandy beach, or a restaurant by the sea. You are not locked into the priorities of a large shared group.

Koločep, a small village stop with a local feel

Koločep is a small fishing village and a useful change of pace after the caves. Instead of jumping straight from one swim stop to another, you can walk around, look at the waterfront, and get a drink or ice cream from the small shop and coffee bar.

Do not expect a major sightseeing center. Koločep is appealing because it is modest. The stop gives you a taste of island life without requiring a long visit or a formal tour. If your group includes children, the simple break from the boat can be welcome.

The village stop also shows why a private boat works better than a tightly timed island cruise. You can keep the walk short, linger by the sea, or return to swimming if the village does not hold your attention for long.

Lopud and Šunj Beach for sand, shade, and a longer pause

Šunj Beach on Lopud is the most obvious beach stop. Its broad shallow area suits families with children, and the beach has sun beds, umbrellas, paddle cars, bars, and restaurants. The water is easy to enter, and the setting is less rocky than many Dalmatian swimming spots.

The tradeoff is that Šunj is the most developed stop on the route. You get useful facilities, but not complete solitude. If you want a quiet cove with nothing but sea and stone, ask the skipper to give you more time elsewhere.

From Lopud, golf carts can take you across the island to Lopud village. The tour can also dock directly in the village harbor. There you can walk to the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, see small churches, and visit Đorđić-Mayneri Park.

The village is the better choice if you want a little culture with your beach day. Šunj is better if your priority is a shallow swim, a lounger, or a relaxed family lunch. You may be able to include both, but your available time will determine how long you get at each.

The restaurants at Lopud are not included in the tour cost. Your skipper can recommend a place and book a table, which is a useful service during a busy summer day. Still, ask about the menu and expected price before settling in, since your $454 covers the boat experience, not food.

Šipan and Suđurađ, the quieter island finish

Šipan is the largest of the Elaphiti islands visited on this route. The stop is Suđurađ, another small fishing village where you can walk around and enjoy a quieter waterfront.

You can also choose Bowa, a restaurant set in one of Šipan’s many bays. This offers a more scenic meal stop, but it is still an optional restaurant expense. If you want to keep the day focused on swimming, tell the skipper. If lunch with a sea view is part of your ideal outing, Šipan is the natural place to spend more time.

The island stops are not interchangeable. Koločep feels like a brief village visit, Lopud combines beach and sightseeing, and Šipan offers a slower meal or harbor stop. That progression keeps the day from becoming a string of identical swimming breaks.

Sikirica Cove is the calm final swim

Sikirica Cove is planned as one of the last major stops, and that makes sense. The cove has clear, shallow water and plenty of sea vegetation, creating good conditions for snorkeling before the boat heads back to Dubrovnik.

This is the place to slow down. Rather than rushing from one attraction to the next, you can float at anchor, watch the bottom through the water, and take one final swim. Afterward, you can return to the bow with a drink from the coolbox and enjoy the open-water ride back.

The tour includes drinks, with water and beer specifically provided on outings. Fuel is included as well, so you do not face a surprise surcharge simply because the boat covers several islands. Snorkels are supplied, and some outings have also included towels and pool noodles, though I would confirm what is available when booking if those items matter to you.

What your skipper adds to the day

The skipper is more than the person at the wheel. Pasko, Bruno, Bernardo, Christian, Chico, and Kiko are all named by people who took this outing, and the strongest pattern is personal attention.

A good skipper can make the caves feel less intimidating, point out the best place for a swim, suggest a sensible lunch stop, and adjust the schedule when children need a break. Pasko is noted for arranging lunch and keeping the day comfortable. Bruno is described as especially accommodating for families and willing to adapt the stops. Kiko is praised for local insight and clear communication, including an easy meeting arrangement near the cruise dock.

Some outings have included small personal touches, such as letting children briefly take the wheel under close supervision or playing the group’s own music through the boat speaker. These details are not the core product and should not be expected as a guarantee, but they show how the private format can feel more personal than a standard excursion.

You can also ask for help if you are nervous about entering the caves. One skipper offered to swim in with a hesitant participant. That kind of support is useful, but you should still judge your own swimming ability honestly.

Is the $454 price good value?

At $454 for a private group of up to four, the cost works out to about $113.50 per person before lunch and any optional extras. That is not a bargain-priced beach transfer, but it is a fair rate if you value a private boat, fuel, pickup, drinks, and an English-speaking skipper.

The value improves when you compare it with buying separate transport to several islands and arranging your own route. You are paying for the boat, the skipper’s local planning, and the ability to change the pace. A family or two couples can make especially good use of the fixed group price.

The advertised rate is for up to four people. Some past outings included five or six people, but you should ask the provider about the current arrangement and price for a larger party. One boat was described as roomy enough for four but potentially small for a bigger group.

Lunch is the main extra cost. You can eat at Lopud, Suđurađ, or Bowa, and the company can recommend and reserve a table. That convenience is helpful, but budget separately for the meal, drinks beyond the supplied coolbox, and any golf cart ride on Lopud.

Four hours, six hours, or eight?

A four-hour trip suits you if your main goal is the caves and a quick island taste. You can cover the Blue Cave, Green Caves, and selected island stops, but you will have less time to linger.

Six hours is the best all-round choice for most groups. It allows a more relaxed visit to the caves, one beach or village stop, lunch, and Sikirica Cove. Families with young children particularly benefit from this extra breathing room.

Eight hours is best for a full day on the water. You can combine Koločep, Lopud, Šipan, the caves, a proper meal, and longer swim breaks without treating every stop like a timed inspection.

The longer duration does not necessarily mean more places. Its real value is time: time to swim again, sit in a quiet bay, explore a village at an easy pace, or wait for lunch without worrying about the clock.

Practical advice before you book

Bring swimwear, sun protection, and something dry for the ride back. The activity is built around swimming, snorkeling, and sun exposure, so you will be happier with a towel, water-resistant phone protection, and footwear that works around rocky edges.

Tell the provider about children, nervous swimmers, and your preferred balance of beach, village, caves, and lunch. The more clearly you explain your priorities, the more useful the private format becomes.

Do not assume every person in your group must enter the caves. You can remain on the boat or swim in open water, but anyone attempting the narrow Green Cave passage should be comfortable going underwater several times.

The tour has a 4.9 rating from 48 reviews, and the praise centers on the skippers’ kindness, prompt transfers, clear communication, flexibility, and careful handling of the boat. That matches the design of the experience: its success depends less on a scripted speech and more on how well the skipper reads your group.

Should you book this private boat tour?

Book it if you want an active sea day with real flexibility, not a passive cruise past the islands. It is especially good for families, two couples, and small groups who want caves, snorkeling, a sandy beach, and a village or restaurant stop in one outing.

Choose six hours if you want the best balance. Choose eight if lunch and unhurried swimming matter as much as sightseeing. The tour is less suitable if you need wheelchair access, dislike swimming in open water, or want a completely secluded beach with no restaurant or beach facilities.

At $454 for up to four, it becomes a strong value when shared by a full group. Add the price of lunch, confirm the boat size for larger parties, and tell the skipper what you want from the day. With those points settled, this is a practical way to trade Dubrovnik’s city traffic for caves, clear water, and a slower view of the Elaphiti islands.

FAQ

Where does the tour begin and end?

Pickup and drop-off are provided in Dubrovnik. The activity starts and finishes in Dubrovnik.

How long does the boat tour last?

The tour lasts between four and eight hours. Starting times depend on availability.

What is included in the price?

Pickup and drop-off, fuel, and a coolbox with drinks are included. Snorkeling equipment is provided for the cave and swimming stops.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the company can recommend a restaurant, reserve a table, and take you there by boat.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route can include Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. Stops include Koločep village, Šunj Beach and Lopud village, and Suđurađ on Šipan.

Can I swim through the caves?

You can swim into the Blue Cave and explore three Green Caves. The third Green Cave is a narrow passage that requires several underwater swims.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments.