Half-Day Elafiti Islands Private Speed Boat Tour by Quicksilver 675

The best part of this private speedboat trip is the freedom to shape the day around the water. You can swim into Kolocep’s Blue Cave, cruise past its cliffs, then linger at Lopud’s sandy Sunj Beach or head into the village. It is a quick way to trade Dubrovnik’s old-town streets for open water and island time.

I like two things in particular: your skipper can adjust the pace and stops to suit your group, and snorkel gear, a GoPro camera, water, beer, and soft drinks come with the boat. Skippers Ivan and Joseph have both been praised for being friendly and flexible, with Ivan also taking a group to quieter spots away from other boats.

The main catch is the extra €80 fuel surcharge per booking, which is separate from the $399.25 group price. There is no meal or pickup service, so you need to reach the meeting point at Gruz port yourself and plan lunch around the four-hour outing.

Key points

• Blue Cave by swim: The boat anchors near the cave on Kolocep, and you swim in from there.
• Private, flexible route: Only your group takes part, so you can choose how long to spend at the stops.
• Two hours at Lopud: Make time for Sunj Beach, or go ashore to see the village’s churches, monasteries, and park.
• Small-group price: The $399.25 rate covers up to six people, plus an €80 fuel surcharge per booking.
• Useful gear and drinks included: Snorkel equipment, a GoPro camera, life jackets, bottled water, beer, and soft drinks are provided.
• Plan for your own lunch and transport: Meals and pickup or drop-off are not included.

A private boat day, not a fixed island circuit

This four-hour trip leaves from Gruz port, on Dubrovnik’s waterfront, aboard a Quicksilver 675 speedboat. It is a private activity, so the boat is reserved for your group rather than shared with strangers. That matters most if you want to set your own pace: you can spend more time swimming, shorten a stop, or ask your skipper for recommendations.

The route takes in the coast near Dubrovnik, Kolocep, and Lopud. The schedule suggests about 30 minutes around Dubrovnik, 45 minutes at Kolocep, two hours at Lopud, and 45 minutes on the return. Since the trip is customizable, treat those timings as a guide rather than a promise that every stop will be timed to the minute.

Skippers Ivan and Joseph are names you may encounter, though a particular skipper is not guaranteed. The practical value of a good skipper is more than a pleasant conversation. You get someone who can help adapt the outing to what your group wants, and who may know where to pause if you would rather avoid the busiest spots.

Leaving Gruz with Dubrovnik behind you

The boat departs from Lapadska obala 4 at Gruz port. The first stretch is part of the outing, not just a transfer: you get views of Dubrovnik from the water, including the bridge entering the city, Copacabana, and Daxa, sometimes called the island of ghosts. The coast also gives you a different sense of the city’s setting than you get from its walls and lanes.

This opening leg lasts around 30 minutes. It is a good time to settle in, take in the shoreline, and tell your skipper what matters most to your group. If you want an unhurried swim at the cave or more time on Lopud, say so early. Flexibility is a real advantage of a private boat, but it works best when you use it.

There is no pickup or drop-off service. You need to make your own way to Gruz and return to the same meeting point at the end. The tour is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket.

Kolocep’s Blue Cave is the swim stop

Kolocep lies about 20 to 25 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik. Its two villages are Gornje Celo and Donje Celo, but the main draw on this trip is the Blue Cave on the island’s southern side. Your skipper can anchor nearby, and you swim from the boat into the cave.

That detail is worth keeping in mind: this is not a cave visit from a dock or a walk-in stop. You need to be comfortable getting into the water and swimming to the entrance. Snorkel masks and a GoPro camera are provided, so you can explore with basic gear already on board rather than arranging a rental yourself.

The planned stop is about 45 minutes, including time to swim and cruise along the cliffs. If the cave is your priority, ask your skipper to allow enough time for it. The boat’s flexibility may help, but the total tour still lasts around four hours, and the next stop is Lopud, where there is a good case for saving time to relax.

The cave is a natural highlight, but conditions at sea and the ability to swim affect how much you can enjoy it. The tour information calls for moderate physical fitness, and life jackets are available for both adults and children. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Lopud gives you a choice of beach or village

Lopud gets the longest stop, about two hours, and that is sensible. Sunj is known for its sandy beach, giving you time to swim and sunbathe rather than hop off the boat for a quick look. You can stay on board or go ashore, so the stop can suit both a group keen on the water and someone who would rather take a break on land.

Cold water, beer, and soft drinks are available on the boat. There is no meal included, so do not count on this being a lunch outing. If you want a proper meal during the day, plan it before or after the cruise rather than assuming you can fit it into the beach stop.

Lopud village offers another way to use your time. You can visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, Đorđić-Mayneri Park, small churches, and a botanical garden. The tour details do not set out a guided walking route or time for each site, so ask your skipper what is realistic before leaving the boat. Two hours can pass quickly if you try to combine a beach visit with a full village walk.

For many groups, the best plan is to pick one main purpose for Lopud. If the point is a summer beach break, stay near Sunj and enjoy the water. If you are more interested in the island’s village and historic sites, use the time ashore for a walk and accept that you may have less time to swim.

The return is part of the coastal scenery

The return to Gruz takes about 45 minutes. That gives you another stretch of island coastline from the water, rather than an abrupt end after the beach. The route is described as a coastal cruise, so you can use this leg to relax, take photos, or ask your skipper about what you have seen.

The reviews of the trip give particular praise to friendly, accommodating skippers and the boat’s clean condition. Ivan and Joseph are both named as guides who made the outing feel personal; one account also describes being taken to places away from other boats. Those are useful signs of the kind of service this private format can offer, but they are not a guarantee of a particular guide or an empty anchorage.

What the price buys, and what it does not

The listed price is $399.25 per group of up to six people. For a full group, that is about $66.54 per person before the fuel surcharge, although the per-person cost rises if fewer people join. Add the €80 fuel surcharge per booking; because it is in a different currency, your final total depends on the exchange rate and any payment terms.

The price includes the skipper, snorkel equipment, life jackets for adults and children, bottled water, beer, soft drinks, and taxes, fees, and handling charges. Having drinks and basic water gear on board helps keep the day simple, particularly when you are moving between swim stops. The GoPro camera is also provided for the cave visit.

Meals are not included, and there is no pickup or drop-off. So the best value comes when your group wants a private boat and will make use of the flexible schedule, swimming stops, and included gear. If you are travelling alone or as a pair and mainly want transport between islands, a private boat may be more than you need.

Who will get the most from this trip

This is a strong choice for families or friends who want a short, private day on the water and can agree on a shared pace. It suits groups that like swimming, want a sandy beach stop, or prefer a skipper’s local suggestions to a fixed schedule. The private format also makes it easier to balance different interests, though four hours is still a short window for trying to do everything.

It is less suitable if you do not want to swim, need a meal included, or expect transport from your accommodation. The Blue Cave stop involves swimming in from the boat, and the trip calls for moderate physical fitness. If anyone in your group has concerns about swimming or boat conditions, ask the operator before booking.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather cancels 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; cancellations or changes inside that window are not accepted. It is booked, on average, about 13 days ahead, so leaving it until the last minute may limit your choice of dates.

Should you book the Elafiti Islands speedboat tour?

Book it if you value privacy, want a skipper who can tailor the outing, and are happy to spend much of the day on or in the water. The combination of Kolocep’s cave, Lopud’s long beach stop, and a coastal cruise makes four hours feel varied without trying to cover every island in the archipelago.

Before you pay, account for the €80 fuel surcharge, make a plan for lunch, and check that everyone is comfortable with a swim from the boat. If those details suit your group, this is a practical way to see a little of the Elafiti Islands without giving up control of the day.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about four hours. The planned stops add up to roughly 30 minutes around Dubrovnik, 45 minutes at Kolocep, two hours at Lopud, and 45 minutes on the return.

How much does the private boat tour cost?

The group price is $399.25 for up to six people. There is also an €80 fuel surcharge per booking.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes a skipper, snorkel equipment, a GoPro camera, adult and children’s life jackets, bottled water, beer, soft drinks, and taxes, fees, and handling charges.

Is food included?

No. A meal is not included, so plan to eat before or after the tour.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Lapadska obala 4, Gruz port, Dubrovnik, and ends back at the same meeting point. Pickup and drop-off are not included.

Do I need to swim to visit the Blue Cave?

Yes. The boat anchors near the cave, and you swim from the boat into it. Snorkel masks and a GoPro camera are provided.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes the tour to be canceled, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.