Dubrovnik:All inclusive Private Tour with Blue Cave Visit

The best part of this Dubrovnik outing is the freedom to shape the day around your group. You can swim in the Blue Cave, poke through the Three Green Caves, stop at Šunj Beach, or simply float in a quiet bay while your skipper handles the boat. Local skippers such as Kiko, Bruno, Pasko, and Bernardo are praised for good timing, lunch advice, and friendly service.

I like two things especially: the private setup means you are not tied to a fixed group schedule, and the skipper can arrange lunch at an island restaurant. Starting early is smart, since the Blue Cave can be much calmer before the day’s boat traffic arrives. The main drawback is that the smaller boat may feel tight for six adults, and rough water can make cave swimming impossible.

Key points to know before booking

• Private boat for up to six: Your group has the boat to itself, with fuel and skipper included in the price.
• Three route lengths: Choose four hours for the main sights, six hours for extra island time, or eight hours for a full Elaphiti Islands day.
• Blue Cave and Three Green Caves: Swimming, snorkeling, and cave exploring are central to the shorter route.
• Flexible local guidance: Your skipper can adjust the pace, suggest quiet coves, and recommend a restaurant.
• Šunj Beach adds a sandy stop: It gives you time away from the boat for swimming, sun, drinks, or lunch.
• Bring practical family gear: Lifejackets are provided, but one family brought their own children’s vests.

A private boat day from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik’s old stone walls get most of the attention, but the coast is where the city feels most relaxed. This private outing takes you away from the harbor and toward the Elaphiti Islands, a group of green, hilly islands west of Dubrovnik.

You are not joining a large excursion boat with a fixed script. Your group has the boat, skipper, cooler, Bluetooth speaker, pool noodles, goggles, and lifejackets. That matters because a cave stop can last ten minutes or half an hour, depending on how much you want to swim.

The listed price is $352 per group of up to six. For six people, that works out to less than $59 each before any restaurant bill, which is strong value for a private boat and skipper. For two people, the per-person cost is much higher, but you are paying for privacy and control rather than the cheapest seat on the water.

Fuel is included, as is a selection of drinks. The drinks are not unlimited, so do not treat the cooler as an all-day bar. Food is not included, though your skipper can reserve a table and take you to the restaurant by boat.

Four hours for the essential stops

The four-hour outing is the sensible choice if you want the main coastal sights without giving up most of your day. It can run in the morning or afternoon, and the usual plan includes the Blue Cave, the Three Green Caves, and Šunj Beach.

The Blue Cave is the headline stop. Light entering through the cave opening gives the water its bright blue appearance. You may swim in the clear water if conditions allow, and goggles are available. Some skippers, including Pasko, have offered to accompany nervous swimmers into the cave, which is useful if you are unsure about jumping in from the boat.

The cave experience depends on the sea. Rough water can make swimming uncomfortable or unsafe, and one family had to skip cave swimming because of choppy conditions. Your skipper can adjust the plan, but the Blue Cave cannot be guaranteed as a calm-water experience on every departure.

The Three Green Caves offer a different setting. Instead of one famous chamber, you get a small cave system with places to explore and swim. The appeal is less about ticking off a sight and more about being in the water, looking through rock openings, and finding a quiet place to float.

Šunj Beach gives the four-hour route a useful change of pace. After time in the caves, you can swim from shore, relax on the sand, or find a drink. A skipper may point you toward a less obvious bar near the beach. The stop also works well for families who need a break from constant boat time.

Four hours is enough to see the main attractions, but it can feel brisk if your group wants long swims, a proper meal, and time in an island village. One group of four enjoyed the shorter route but wished they had booked eight hours for a slower day.

Six hours adds Lopud or Šipan

The six-hour morning trip keeps the Blue Cave, green caves, and Šunj Beach, then adds time for Lopud or Šipan. This extra stretch is where the trip becomes more than a swim-and-photo outing.

Lopud gives you a chance to walk through an island settlement and pause for lunch. Šipan offers another setting, including the village of Suđurađ, where a skipper can arrange a restaurant stop. The exact island depends on your interests, weather, and timing.

I think six hours is the best middle ground for many groups. It gives you the signature caves, a beach, and enough breathing room for a meal or village visit. Families with children have found this length manageable, while groups without young children may prefer the full day.

Lunch costs extra, but having your skipper call ahead can remove much of the guesswork. A seaside table is part of the pleasure here, though you should ask about the menu and prices before ordering. The restaurant is not included in the tour price simply because your skipper makes the reservation.

Eight hours across all three Elaphiti Islands

The eight-hour option is the full-day version. It visits Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, with time for swimming, beaches, rocky coves, quiet bays, villages, and lunch.

Koločep is a good fit for the water-focused part of the day. You may stop near a cave or cove, use the pool noodles, and swim from the boat. Lopud gives you more of an island stop, with Šunj Beach and a village atmosphere. Šipan works well for a longer meal and a slower look at island life.

The value of eight hours is not simply the number of places visited. It lets you stay at a good swimming spot instead of cutting it short because the next stop is waiting. It also leaves room for a restaurant lunch without making the rest of the route feel rushed.

The tradeoff is time and energy. A full day in sun, wind, and moving water can be tiring, especially for small children. If your group mainly wants the Blue Cave and a beach, four hours may be enough. If you want an island meal, a village, several swims, and time to sit quietly on the boat, eight hours earns its keep.

Why the skipper makes or breaks the day

A private boat is only as good as the person running it. Here, the skipper is both driver and local guide. Kiko has been praised for getting an early start, choosing good stop lengths, explaining local points of interest, and suggesting lunch. Bruno has been noted for being patient with families and adjusting the route to suit children. Pasko has been praised for safety, local knowledge, and a relaxed manner.

That flexibility is the real advantage over a standard group cruise. You can ask to stay longer at a swimming spot, shorten a stop, change the music, or spend more time in a village. The Bluetooth speaker lets you play your own music, which can make a private boat feel more like your own small day out.

The skipper can also help with practical choices. If the sea is rough, the route can shift toward a more comfortable beach. If children need a break, you can spend time on shore. If the group wants a long lunch, the skipper can plan around it.

Do not expect a formal historical lecture at every stop. The value is local judgment: where to swim, when to arrive, how long to stay, and which restaurant fits your group.

Timing, pickup, and meeting point

Early departure is one of the smartest choices you can make. An 8 a.m. start helped one group reach the first stops before the main rush. Morning departures also give the six-hour route enough time for lunch and island exploring.

The regular meeting point is at Lapadska obala 4, at the last small wooden pontoon opposite the small sandy parking area. Arrive at least ten minutes early. Pickup and drop-off can be arranged if you select that option, and boat pickup may be possible elsewhere if your accommodation can be reached from the water.

The operator normally contacts you before departure to confirm the exact time and location. That is useful because Dubrovnik has several harbors and waterfront access points. If you are arriving from a cruise ship or staying near the coast, confirm the meeting point rather than assuming the boat leaves from the Old Town harbor.

The tour information gives a duration range of 150 minutes to eight hours, but the practical choices described are four, six, or eight hours. Check the available start times when booking, especially if you need to fit the trip around a flight, cruise departure, or another Dubrovnik activity.

What is supplied, and what you should bring

The boat includes fuel, skipper, a coolbox with drinks, Bluetooth speakers, pool noodles, goggles, and lifejackets. That covers the basics for a swim day.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sun protection, dry clothes, and any medication you need. Food is not supplied. You can buy lunch at an island restaurant, but it is wise to bring a small snack if anyone in your group gets hungry between stops.

For children, lifejackets are available, though one family preferred bringing their own properly fitted vests. Ask ahead if you have a very young child or a swimmer who needs a particular size. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility impairments, and getting on and off a small boat requires reasonable steadiness.

The boat has room for six, but space can feel limited when everyone carries bags, towels, and beach gear. Keep luggage light. A small waterproof bag is more useful than a large suitcase.

Who will enjoy this most

This outing suits couples who want a private day on the sea, families who need flexible timing, and small groups celebrating together. A six-person hen party used the boat to combine swimming, scenery, lunch, and drinks without sharing the day with strangers.

It also suits people who care more about swimming and island scenery than formal sightseeing. The trip is active, but it is not a demanding sports excursion. You can swim, use a noodle, sit on the boat, visit a beach, or stop for lunch.

The experience is less suitable if you dislike boats, are prone to seasickness, need step-free access, or want a carefully scripted cultural tour. Rough conditions can affect the caves, and the smaller boat may not feel spacious for six adults who want to lounge all day.

Is the $352 price good value?

For a full group of six, the price is attractive because it includes the boat, skipper, fuel, basic equipment, and selected drinks. You avoid separate fuel charges and can arrange pickup if that option is chosen. The private format also saves you from fitting your day around a large boat’s schedule.

For two people, the price is harder to justify if your only goal is a quick swim at the Blue Cave. The value improves if you want privacy, your own music, flexible stops, and a restaurant reservation handled by the skipper.

The tour earns its price most clearly on the six-hour and eight-hour options. More time allows you to use the private format properly, rather than spending much of the booking rushing between two or three stops. Remember to budget separately for lunch and any drinks or purchases on the islands.

Should you book this boat tour?

Book it if you want a flexible day around Dubrovnik’s islands and your group values privacy. I would choose the six-hour morning option for most people: it covers the Blue Cave, green caves, Šunj Beach, and an island stop without the long commitment of a full day.

Choose four hours if your schedule is tight or you mainly want swimming and caves. Choose eight hours if you want all three Elaphiti Islands, a proper lunch, village time, quiet coves, and a slower pace.

Start early, pack lightly, and accept that sea conditions may change the plan. With those points in mind, this is a strong choice for a small group that wants the Adriatic on its own terms, with a local skipper guiding the way.

FAQ

How long does the private boat tour last?

The available options are four hours, six hours, or eight hours. The activity information also lists a duration range from 150 minutes to eight hours, so check the available departure times and selected option when booking.

How many people can join the private boat?

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

What does the four-hour tour usually include?

The usual four-hour route includes the Blue Cave, the Three Green Caves, and Šunj Beach. It can be booked in the morning or afternoon.

What does the six-hour tour add?

The six-hour morning tour includes the four-hour route and extra time to visit Lopud or Šipan. You can use that time to explore an island or have lunch.

Which islands are visited on the eight-hour tour?

The full-day route visits Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. It can include caves, beaches, rocky coves, quiet bays, villages, and lunch at a seaside restaurant.

Are drinks included?

Drinks are included on every tour, but they are not unlimited. Food is not included.

Can the skipper arrange lunch?

Yes. The skipper can recommend restaurants, reserve a table, and take you there by boat. You pay for the meal separately.

Where is the regular meeting point?

The meeting point is at Lapadska obala 4, at the last small wooden pontoon opposite the small sandy parking area. You should arrive at least ten minutes before departure.

Is pickup available?

Pickup and drop-off are available if that option is selected. Boat pickup may also be possible at another waterfront location if it can be reached by boat.