Kotor: Private Blue Cave Tour – Swim & Relax at Your Pace

The best part of this private speedboat trip is simple: the day belongs to your group. You can pause for photos, linger near a swimming spot, and enjoy the Bay of Kotor without being packed onto a shared boat with strangers. The Blue Cave is the main prize, but the ride through Boka Bay gives the outing much of its charm.

I especially like the small-group format, which works well for couples, families, and friends who want room to relax. I also like the flexible captain-led style. Captains named Marko, Alex, Petra, Sergey, and Mirko have all been singled out for friendly service and a willingness to adjust the pace. The main drawback is that the sea can be rough, and the Blue Cave stop may need to change or be shortened when conditions are poor.

The essential points at a glance

• Private boat for up to six: You get the speedboat and skipper for your own group, rather than joining a crowded shared excursion.
• Three-hour coastal route: The trip includes Our Lady of the Rocks, former submarine tunnels, and the Blue Cave.
• Blue Cave swimming stop: Plan on about 20 minutes at the cave, conditions permitting, with masks available if supplies allow.
• Flexible photo breaks: Your captain can pause at scenic points when the sea, traffic, and local rules allow.
• Easy Kotor meeting point: City Park is about 200 meters from the Old Town’s Main Gate and close to the port.
• Good value for a full group: At $261 for up to six people, the cost works out to about $43.50 each if you fill the boat.

Why a private boat changes the day

Boka Bay is beautiful from shore, but the water gives you a better sense of its scale. From the speedboat, you pass stone villages, small churches, steep mountain walls, and quiet stretches of coast that are hard to appreciate from a road or crowded coach.

A shared boat can be cheaper per person, but it also fixes your timing. Here, your captain can slow down for a photo, explain a landmark, or make a more suitable swim stop if the water is unsettled. That flexibility is not just a luxury. It matters when you are traveling with children, celebrating a birthday, or simply do not want your morning dictated by a loud timetable.

The boat is private for your group of up to six, and the captain also serves as your guide. English is the stated guiding language. An audio guide and written local information are available through a QR code in several languages, so bring a smartphone with an internet connection.

The mood is informal. Previous outings have included onboard music, and some groups have been able to play their own selections. Wi-Fi and drinking water are included. You can bring snacks and drinks, but large bags and luggage are not allowed.

Leaving Kotor from City Park

The meeting point is at Kotor Boat Tours, Montenegro Submarine, in City Park, Park Slobode 1. It is a useful location for cruise passengers because it sits close to both the port and the Old Town.

From a cruise ship, leave the ship and pass through security. Turn left, then turn left again at the small bridge toward the park. Near the water, look for the information desk, where staff and the skipper wait for the group.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early. This is especially important if you are driving. Summer parking near the park can be very limited, and roadworks and traffic on the main road can slow your arrival. I would not try to cut this close, since missing the departure may mean waiting for another available time slot.

Wear clothes you can move in, and bring sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, a towel, swimwear, and a camera. In spring and autumn, take a light jacket. The boat can feel cool once it is moving, even if Kotor is warm.

Cruising past Perast to Our Lady of the Rocks

The first boat ride takes about 20 minutes. The route brings you toward Perast and the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks, one of the most recognizable sights in the bay.

The island visit lasts about 20 minutes. You can walk around, take pictures, and, if open, enter the church and museum. Admission is optional and costs €3 in cash. The church and museum usually close earlier in the cooler shoulder months, with typical closing times of 17:00 in April, May, September, and October, 18:00 in June, and 19:00 in July and August. These hours can change, and the island itself can still be visited if the interior is closed.

Bring a cover-up if you plan to enter the church. Swimwear is not suitable inside, even if you have just come from a swim stop.

This is a short visit rather than a full historical tour. The skipper can give local background, while the QR audio guide provides added information if you want more detail. The small island is photogenic, but it can feel busy at popular times, and the official skip-the-line benefit does not apply here. Entry is usually quick anyway.

The former submarine tunnels

After the island, the speedboat continues for about 15 minutes to a former submarine tunnel in Kotor. The stop is listed as a five-minute photo and sightseeing visit.

The route then includes another 15-minute boat ride and a second five-minute stop at a former submarine tunnel. The two tunnel entries are shown separately in the schedule, so expect two brief looks or sightseeing pauses rather than one long visit. These military-era openings cut into the coast and offer a striking contrast to the churches and stone villages around the bay.

Do not expect a museum visit or a long guided walk. The appeal is the setting and the chance to see parts of the coast that are easy to miss from land. Your captain may explain the sites and allow time for photos, but the exact order can change with local rules and sea conditions.

For many people, these stops are interesting extras rather than the chief reason to book. The Blue Cave and the open-water ride are the real focus. Still, the tunnels break up the trip and give you a more varied view of Boka Bay.

Reaching the Blue Cave

The final outward boat ride takes about 15 minutes before you reach the Blue Cave. The scheduled swimming stop is around 20 minutes.

The cave is known for blue reflections in the water. Sunlight entering through the opening creates the color, and the effect is strongest when conditions and the angle of the light cooperate. You can swim, take photographs, and enjoy the water without the stop feeling like a rushed dip between larger tour groups.

Snorkeling masks are available subject to supply. A waterproof phone case may also be available, but it must be returned afterward. Bring your own towel and sunscreen, and keep your phone secure. The boat has safety equipment and child-size life jackets on request.

The swimming time is not long. Twenty minutes gives you a refreshing break, but it is not enough for a leisurely beach afternoon. If swimming is your top priority, ask the skipper at the start about the day’s conditions and how much flexibility is possible. Past captains have adjusted stops when the sea was rough, including finding a calmer place near a submarine-base entrance.

That is one of the practical strengths of a private trip. The captain cannot control the weather, but can sometimes find a safer alternative. The tour may be canceled or rescheduled if the sea or weather is unsafe, and the Blue Cave stop itself depends on conditions.

The long ride back to Kotor

The return ride is scheduled at about 70 minutes. This is the longest continuous stretch on the water, so it helps to know what you are signing up for.

You will have time to look back at the bay from a different angle, listen to music, and take more photos if the boat slows at suitable points. The ride can be exhilarating in good weather, but a speedboat is not as gentle as a larger vessel. Anyone with back problems, limited mobility, or a pregnancy should not book this activity. Wheelchair users cannot be accommodated.

Bring a warm layer in spring and autumn. Even on a sunny day, wind on the return ride can make the boat feel chilly. If you are prone to motion sickness, the combination of speed and open water deserves some thought before booking.

The captain’s manner matters here. The strongest part of the experience is not a formal lecture, but the personal attention. Captains such as Marko have been praised for good music and a fun atmosphere, while Alex helped make a child’s birthday special. Mirko was noted for changing the timing to allow more swimming, and Sergey gave one group a relaxed sense of privacy. These examples point to the kind of service you can reasonably hope for, though the assigned captain will depend on the day.

What the $261 price really buys you

The price is $261 for a private group of up to six people. Fill all six seats and the cost is about $43.50 per person. For a couple, the per-person cost is high, but the privacy and control may still justify it if you value comfort more than the lowest possible fare.

The price includes the licensed captain and crew, fuel, insurance, drinking water, onboard Wi-Fi, safety equipment, and the audio and written guide material. Child-size life jackets can be requested. There is no separate hotel pickup, so you need to reach City Park yourself.

I see this as a good value for a family or group of friends. You are paying for the whole boat, not six individual seats. A group of six can spread out, choose its music, ask for photo pauses, and avoid the packed feeling that can spoil a popular coastal outing.

The value is less clear for solo visitors or couples on a tight budget. In that case, compare the price with a shared boat before booking. This private option makes the most sense when the group will use the flexibility rather than simply sit through the same fixed route.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend the tour to:

• Couples who want a peaceful morning or afternoon on the water.
• Families with older children who can manage a speedboat and swimming stop.
• Friends who want their own music, photo time, and a more relaxed schedule.
• Cruise passengers looking for a three-hour outing close to the port.
• Anyone who dislikes large excursions with fixed stops and little personal space.

I would be more cautious if you need a very smooth ride, want a long swim, or are mainly interested in detailed history. The tour gives you local explanations and digital information, but it is primarily a scenic boat trip with sightseeing stops, not a museum-led history program.

The Blue Cave is also weather dependent. If your main goal is guaranteed swimming, this is not the safest choice because conditions may force a different stop or a change in schedule.

Booking and practical details

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available. Check the start time when booking because departure times vary by availability.

The tour lasts three hours, though the listed travel and stop times add up to just over three hours on paper. That is normal for a route affected by loading, sea conditions, and changes in pacing, but avoid planning another fixed activity immediately afterward.

The tour is conducted in English, with multilingual audio and written information available by QR code. Make sure your phone has mobile data or Wi-Fi. The operator asks you not to smoke in the vehicle, and large bags or luggage are not allowed.

FAQ

Where does the Blue Cave tour start?

It starts at City Park, Park Slobode 1, at Kotor Boat Tours, Montenegro Submarine. The meeting point is about 200 meters from the Main Gate of Kotor Old Town and within walking distance of the port.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. If you are driving, allow extra time for traffic, roadworks, and limited summer parking near the park.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. The speedboat is private for your group, with space for up to six people and a licensed skipper who also acts as your guide.

How long is the tour?

The advertised duration is three hours. The route includes speedboat rides, a visit to Our Lady of the Rocks, two short former submarine tunnel stops, and about 20 minutes for swimming at the Blue Cave.

Is swimming at the Blue Cave guaranteed?

No. The Blue Cave stop depends on weather, sea conditions, and local regulations. The tour may be changed, rescheduled, or canceled if conditions are unsafe.

Are church and museum tickets included?

No. Optional admission to the Our Lady of the Rocks church and museum costs €3 and must be paid in cash. The island can still be visited if the interior is closed.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a camera, and comfortable clothes. A light jacket is useful in spring and autumn, when it can feel chilly on the water.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want your own boat, a flexible captain, and a proper swim stop rather than the cheapest seat on a fixed group excursion. It is especially good value for six people, and the private setting works well for families, couples, and friends.

Skip it if you need guaranteed calm water, extensive historical commentary, or a wheelchair-accessible activity. For everyone else, this is a well-balanced way to see the bay, visit Our Lady of the Rocks, peek into the former submarine tunnels, and reach the Blue Cave without feeling hurried.