Dubrovnik: All-inclusive Islands and Caves Private Boat Tour

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat tour is getting to places you cannot reach from shore: the Blue Cave, three Green Caves, and clear-water coves around the Elaphiti Islands. You can swim and snorkel, then trade the boat for a walk through a small fishing village or an hour on the beach.

I like two things in particular: the private format lets you shape the pace, and the skipper can help with practical choices, from picking a family-friendly stop to booking lunch by the sea. Snorkels and a coolbox of drinks are included, so you can spend more time enjoying the water and less time sorting the basics.

One consideration: the caves require swimming, and some passages call for repeated underwater submerging. This tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users, and the short four-hour option may feel rushed if you want to see several islands as well as swim.

• The cave route is the main event: Visit the Blue Cave and three Green Caves, with different passage sizes and swimming challenges.
• The boat is private: Your group can ask to linger, swim, or change the emphasis of the day.
• You can step ashore: Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan offer village walks as well as beaches and coves.
• Lunch costs extra: Your skipper can recommend a restaurant, reserve a table, and take you there by boat.
• Four to eight hours gives you choices: A longer trip leaves more room to relax between stops.
• Pickup and drinks are included: The tour starts and ends in Dubrovnik, with fuel in the price.

Caves First, Then the Elaphiti Islands

This is a private boat outing for people who want more than a quick coastal cruise. The plan combines the unusual experience of entering sea caves with time to swim, explore island villages, or stretch out on a beach. Your English-speaking skipper handles the boat and can help adapt the day to your group.

The route described includes the Blue Cave, the three Green Caves, Koločep, Lopud, Šipan, and Sikirica Cove. You will not necessarily have time to linger at every stop on a four-hour trip, so decide what matters most before setting off. If you want a relaxed swim, a village walk, and a proper lunch break, six hours or more is the more comfortable choice.

The outing is private rather than a shared boat trip. That matters if you are travelling with children, have different swimming abilities in your group, or simply want to spend your time in the places that interest you most. Skippers named by groups include Pasko, Bruno, Kiko, Bernardo, and Christian, though you should not assume you will be assigned a particular person.

Swimming Through the Blue and Green Caves

The Blue Cave is a natural starting point for the day’s swimming. It is accessible only by boat, and the appeal is the clear water inside the cave. Snorkels are provided, but entering the cave still means getting into the water and swimming in.

Close by are three Green Caves, each with its own character. The first is large and relatively easy to enter, making it a useful warm-up. The second is smaller and darker, while the third is a long, narrow channel that you can swim through and exit on the other side.

That last passage is the most demanding. It requires submerging a few times, and there is also a side route to a small cave with a shallow sandy bottom and no roof. If you are confident in the water, these details make the cave stop more than a quick photo opportunity. If you are uneasy in enclosed spaces or uncomfortable swimming underwater, tell the skipper and focus on the easier caves or open-water stops instead.

The cave visit is a good example of why a private boat can be useful. You can ask how challenging a passage is before trying it, and you do not have to follow a large group at a set pace. A skipper has even offered to accompany nervous swimmers, but do not treat that as a guaranteed service. Ask what support is available on the day.

Koločep: A Fishing Village Between Swims

After the caves, Koločep offers a change of pace. This small fishing village gives you the chance to walk around, visit a small shop, or pause for coffee by the sea. It is a modest stop, not a major sightseeing center, and that is part of its appeal: it gives you a glimpse of island life between the more active swimming stops.

How long you spend ashore depends on your priorities and the length of your tour. If you would rather maximize time in the water, keep the village visit brief. If your group includes children who need a break from swimming, a stroll and an ice cream can be a welcome reset.

Lopud: A Sandy Beach and a Village Walk

Lopud is home to Šunj, Dubrovnik’s best-known sandy beach. Its broad, shallow area makes it a practical choice for families with children, while beach bars, restaurants, sunbeds, umbrellas, and paddle cars offer ways to stay put for a while. In a region where many swimming spots are rocky, sand underfoot can be a welcome change.

The beach’s popularity is worth keeping in mind. It is not a secluded cove, and facilities mean you may be sharing the shore with other beachgoers. If quiet swimming matters more than sand and services, ask your skipper about smaller beaches or coves instead.

Golf carts can take you across the island to Lopud village. Alternatively, the boat can dock at the village’s small harbor. From there, you can visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, Đorđić-Mayneri Park, and small churches, or simply find another beach for a swim. The golf-cart option is useful if you want to see both sides of the island without making the crossing on foot, but it is not essential if your main goal is time by the water.

Šipan: A Small Harbor or Lunch by the Sea

Šipan is the largest of the Elaphiti Islands, and Suđurađ is another small fishing village where you can step ashore and explore. This stop can add a little local character to a day otherwise centered on swimming and scenery.

Lunch is not included in the tour price. Your skipper can recommend a restaurant, reserve a table, and bring your group there by boat. One option mentioned for Šipan is Bowa, a restaurant in one of the island’s coves. Restaurant meals are an added cost, so ask about the plan before you leave if you want to keep to a budget or have a particular lunch preference.

A restaurant stop takes time, but it also turns the outing into a fuller day rather than a string of brief swims. If you book a four-hour trip, there may be limited room for a long meal and all the other stops. A six-hour or eight-hour outing gives you more breathing space.

Sikirica Cove: A Quiet Final Swim

Sikirica Cove is described as a calm place to swim and snorkel before heading back to Dubrovnik. Its shallow water and abundant sea vegetation make it appealing for a slower final stop, especially after the more active cave passages. You can float, look beneath the surface, and enjoy a drink aboard the boat before returning.

The cove is a fitting finish because it lets you wind down rather than rush straight from a busy beach to the harbor. The tour description suggests a drink as the sun sets, but the actual timing depends on your chosen start and duration. Ask about the schedule if sunset is important to you.

Four Hours or a Longer Island Day?

The tour lasts between four and eight hours, with available start times varying. A four-hour trip can work if you want a sampler of the caves and islands, and one group found it possible to see several beautiful places in that time. But seeing a lot is not the same as having time to enjoy each stop.

For a more leisurely outing, six hours is a sensible middle ground. It allows room for cave swimming, a beach visit, a village stop, and perhaps lunch without making every pause feel like a countdown. Eight hours suits groups who want to linger, though you should still discuss your priorities with the skipper so the route fits your day.

Families in particular may appreciate extra time. Children can spend longer at the shallow beach, and the group can take breaks between cave swims. The private format also makes it easier to adjust the day to young swimmers, though the caves themselves remain water-based activities.

What the Price Includes, and What It Does Not

The listed price is $454 per group of up to four, with fuel, pickup and drop-off, and a coolbox of drinks included. For a full group of four, that works out to about $114 per person before any additional costs. The per-person value changes with group size, and you should check the price for a group larger than four rather than assuming the same rate applies.

The private boat and skipper are a meaningful part of the value. You are paying for a day that can be adjusted around your group, rather than simply buying a seat on a fixed island route. That flexibility is especially useful if you want more swimming, need a family-friendly pace, or prefer a restaurant stop to another beach.

Lunch is not included, though the skipper can recommend and book a place. Drinks are included, and groups have described being served cold water and beer. Snorkels are provided as well. Towels and pool noodles have been available to some groups, but they are not specified as standard inclusions, so bring what you need rather than counting on them.

Pickup and drop-off are included, and the route begins and ends in Dubrovnik. Groups have described transfers as smooth, including pickup from accommodation, while another found the meeting point easy to reach from the cruise dock. Confirm your exact pickup arrangement when you book.

A Good Fit for Swimmers, Families, and Small Groups

This tour suits couples, families, and small groups who want a private day on the water and enjoy swimming. The caves add a bit of adventure, while the island villages and sandy beach provide options for anyone who wants a break from snorkeling. The skipper’s local recommendations can also help make the route feel more personal than a standard boat transfer.

It may not suit you if you cannot swim, dislike enclosed water passages, or need step-free access. The activity is specifically not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users. Even confident swimmers may prefer to skip the narrow Green Cave passage, and that is a reasonable choice. The boat day has plenty of appeal beyond that one challenge.

The strongest element is the combination of attentive skipper service and a flexible route. Past groups have singled out skippers such as Pasko, Bruno, Kiko, Bernardo, and Christian for being considerate, sharing local information, and helping tailor stops. That kind of care matters on a private trip: a good skipper can make the day easier for children, point out a quiet swimming place, or help you fit lunch into the route.

Should You Book This Dubrovnik Boat Tour?

Book it if your ideal day includes sea caves, clear-water swimming, and a choice between island villages and beaches. The private setup, included fuel and drinks, and help arranging lunch make the price more understandable, especially when four people share the cost. I would favor six hours over four if your schedule allows, since the route has enough variety to reward a slower pace.

Think twice if you want a land-based sightseeing tour, have limited mobility, or are uncomfortable swimming through cave passages. You can still ask to focus on easier stops, but the core experience is built around getting in the water. For a small group eager to explore the coast at its own pace, this is a practical way to turn a Dubrovnik day into an island day.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The tour lasts between four and eight hours. Check available starting times when choosing a duration.

What is included in the price?

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

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the skipper can recommend restaurants, book a table, and take you there by boat.

Which places can the tour visit?

The described route includes the Blue Cave, three Green Caves, Koločep, Lopud, Šipan, and Sikirica Cove. The exact pace and stops can be discussed with your skipper.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Families have taken the tour, and Šunj Beach on Lopud has a large shallow area that is suitable for children. The caves involve swimming, and one passage requires repeated underwater submerging, so consider your children’s comfort in the water.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

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

Can I cancel or pay later?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. A reserve-now, pay-later option is also offered.