From Bay of Kotor: Blue Cave Private Speedboat Tour

The best part of this four-hour private speedboat ride is the mix of fast open-water cruising and easygoing swim stops. You pass Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks, peek into old submarine tunnels, hear about Mamula Island, then swim in the cool blue light of the Blue Cave.

I like the freedom of a private boat, especially since the skipper can adjust the pace. I also like the simple extras that matter on a hot day: drinks, snacks, snorkeling masks, onboard Wi-Fi, and a long stop at Žanjic Beach. The possible drawback is that the ride can feel lively in rougher water, and several stops are brief.

• Blue Cave swim: Spend about 25 minutes swimming and snorkeling in the cave’s unusual blue-lit water.
• Mamula Island history: Hear about the Austro-Hungarian fortress and its painful World War II past.
• Six-meter cliff jump: At Žanjic Beach, you can leap into the sea or simply stay on the pebbly shore.
• Private group value: The $483 price covers up to six people, making the cost easier to justify for a small group.
• Fast sightseeing route: See Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, submarine tunnels, Mamula, the cave, and the beach in one outing.
• Flexible skipper: Captains such as Marko and Nikolai are described as friendly, helpful, and willing to shape the day around your group.

A Four-Hour Ride From Kotor to the Open Bay

You meet at the MontenegroGlobe office near Kamelija shopping center, a short walk from Kotor’s Old Town and port. Look for the agency’s illuminated sign along the main road. In summer, parking can be difficult, so arriving on foot is the less stressful choice if you are staying near the center.

The boat ride begins with about 20 minutes on the water. That first stretch gives you a quick change of scene from Kotor’s stone streets to the broad, enclosed waters of the bay. Music plays during the ride, and the speedboat lets you cover ground quickly without giving up views of the shore.

This is a private group experience for up to six people. That matters more than it might seem. You are not sharing every swim stop with a large crowd, and the skipper can respond to your interests. One group can linger over photographs, while another can move on quickly and spend more time swimming.

The price is $483 per group, not per person. At the full six-person capacity, that works out to about $80.50 per person before any optional expenses. For a couple, it is a much bigger spend, but for a family or group of friends, the private boat, four hours of transport, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and several major sights make the cost more reasonable.

Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks

The first main stop is Perast and the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks. You have about 20 minutes here for a visit and photographs.

Our Lady of the Rocks is one of the Bay of Kotor’s most recognizable sights. The small island sits offshore with its church and museum, reached by a short boat landing. You can pay the €2 entry fee per person to visit the museum, or use your time to look around the island and browse the shops.

The short stop is useful for seeing the place, but it is not enough for a leisurely museum visit, shopping, and a long look at the church interior. If Our Lady of the Rocks is a major priority for you, ask the skipper how much time can be given to it. The private format gives you some room to discuss the pace, though the tour still has several other stops to fit into four hours.

I like this opening because it gives you cultural context before the swimming begins. You are not simply racing from one patch of water to another. You get a taste of the bay’s religious and maritime character, then return to the boat for the next section.

The Abandoned Submarine Tunnels

After another roughly 20-minute ride, the boat stops at the entrances to former submarine tunnels. The Yugoslav Army built these narrow openings into the coast, and they were used to hide submarines.

You do not receive a long visit inside the tunnels. The listed stop is about five minutes and is mainly for photographs. That is enough to understand the scale and purpose of the openings, but do not expect a full underground tour.

This is one of the more unusual stops because it shows a less polished side of the bay. The old military structures sit in sharp contrast to the clear water, resort beaches, and historic villages. I find that contrast useful. It reminds you that the Bay of Kotor is not only a pretty sailing route, but also a place shaped by military strategy and changing governments.

Keep your camera ready as the boat approaches. Five minutes passes quickly, and the stop is designed for a quick look rather than a long walk.

Mamula Island and Its Fortress

The speedboat continues for about 15 minutes before reaching Mamula Island. You get around 10 minutes for photographs and a look at the island.

Mamula is encircled by a large Austro-Hungarian fortress. During World War II, the site was used as a concentration camp. The skipper explains the island’s past, giving the stop a serious historical weight that the bright sea and sunny weather can easily hide.

Ten minutes is short, so this is another place where the guide’s explanation matters. A good skipper can give the structure meaning instead of treating it as just another photo background. Captains named Marko and Nikolai have been praised for being friendly, helpful, and willing to explain the sites along the route.

The stop may feel too brief if you want to explore every corner of the fortress. Still, the view from the water and the story behind the walls make Mamula worth including. I appreciate that the experience does not treat the island as a purely scenic stop.

Swimming in the Blue Cave

The boat reaches the Blue Cave after another 10 minutes. You have about 25 minutes for swimming and snorkeling in the cave’s blue-lit water.

This is the tour’s main water stop. Light entering the cave reflects through the sea, giving the water its distinctive color. The effect depends on the conditions, but the setting is made for a swim rather than a long formal visit. Snorkeling masks are included, so you can look below the surface instead of only taking a quick dip.

You should bring your own swimwear and towel. Sunglasses and a sun hat are also useful during the open-water portions, and a camera can capture the approach even if you decide not to take it near the water.

The time limit keeps the tour moving, but it also means you should be ready before the boat arrives. If you need a slow change of clothes or prefer extended snorkeling, 25 minutes may feel tight. For most people, it gives enough time to swim, look around, and enjoy the unusual light before the boat heads back toward the coast.

The cave is also the part of the day most affected by crowding and sea conditions, though the supplied information does not give a guaranteed schedule for those factors. Your skipper will manage the boat and timing.

Žanjic Beach and the Six-Meter Jump

After about 10 minutes on the water, the boat reaches Žanjic Beach for a 45-minute break. This is the longest stop of the tour and gives you time to slow down after the faster ride.

Žanjic is a pebble beach, so water shoes or sturdy sandals may be more comfortable than bare feet, though footwear is not listed as a required item. You can sunbathe, swim, or sit by the shore. The beach stop also gives you the option of eating lunch at a local restaurant.

Lunch is not included in the tour price, so budget separately if you choose the restaurant. The available time is long enough for a meal or an unhurried swim, but it is not a full afternoon at the beach.

For extra excitement, you can jump into the sea from a six-meter-high cliff. This is an optional activity, not a requirement. I would treat it seriously: only jump if you are comfortable with the height and the conditions, and ask the skipper for guidance. If that sounds like too much, Žanjic works perfectly well as a regular swimming and sunbathing stop.

This is also where the private format can help. A group with children may prefer a calm beach break, while a group of adults may want more time for the cliff jump. The skipper can help shape the stop within the tour’s fixed schedule.

What the Boat Ride Feels Like

A speedboat is the right transport for this route because the sights are spread around the bay and toward the coast. The listed travel sections add up to a substantial amount of time on the water, with a final ride of about 40 minutes back to Kotor.

You get drinks and snacks onboard, plus free Wi-Fi. Those are practical touches rather than grand luxuries. The drinks help during the hot parts of the ride, snacks keep you going if you skip lunch, and Wi-Fi can be handy for sharing photos or staying in touch.

Music is part of the atmosphere. One account of the trip describes party music playing for much of the ride, with the group dancing onboard. That could be fun if you want an upbeat outing. If you prefer quiet sightseeing, tell the skipper. The private group setup makes that conversation easier than it would be on a shared boat.

The water can become rough, and the speedboat ride may feel bouncy. One account specifically praised Nikolai for handling larger waves well. Still, anyone prone to seasickness should think carefully about the format and sit where the skipper recommends.

Guides, Flexibility, and Group Size

The tour is conducted in English, with a live skipper and a private group. Marko and Nikolai are names connected with this experience, and both are described as friendly, sociable, caring, and helpful.

The captain is more than a driver here. You rely on the skipper for local explanations, route management, safe handling in changing waves, and advice about the cliff jump. The best part of the private format is the chance to communicate directly. You can ask for more information at Mamula, move through a quick photo stop, or focus on swimming when the schedule allows.

The tour does have a planned structure. You should not assume that every stop can become an hour-long visit. The route includes seven water and sightseeing sections, and the total time is only four hours. Think of it as a lively sampler of the bay rather than a slow historical tour.

The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users, and it is listed as unsuitable for people over 95. Bikes, alcohol, and drugs are not allowed. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, a hat, and a camera.

Is $483 Good Value?

The price looks high if you are booking for one or two people. At $241.50 each for a pair, the private boat is a premium choice. You are paying for privacy, speed, and the ability to set the tone of the outing, not simply for transport between beaches.

For six people, the calculation changes. The cost comes to about $80.50 per person, with drinks, snacks, transport, snorkeling masks, travel insurance, and onboard Wi-Fi included. You also get a guide, several historic stops, a Blue Cave swim, and beach time in one half-day.

The €2 charge for Our Lady of the Rocks is separate, and lunch at Žanjic is also extra. Those costs are small compared with the tour price, but it is still useful to carry cash or confirm payment options before you go.

I think the tour offers its best value to families or friends who would otherwise book separate boat seats or want a private schedule. Couples may prefer it if the Blue Cave and Mamula are high priorities and the extra privacy matters.

Who Should Book This Boat Trip?

I would choose this trip if you want to see a lot of the Bay of Kotor area in a short time and prefer active sightseeing to a slow cruise. It suits people who enjoy swimming, short historical stops, music, open water, and the option of a little adventure.

Families can benefit from the private arrangement, especially because the skipper can keep an eye on the group and adjust the pace. The beach and swimming stops also give children a break from formal sightseeing, though the speedboat and cliff jump require sensible supervision.

History fans will appreciate the submarine tunnels and Mamula, but this is not a dedicated history tour. The explanations are fitted around a fast route. If you want long museum visits or detailed architectural commentary, choose a slower land-based outing.

This tour is less suitable if you dislike boat motion, need extended time at each stop, or want a quiet, luxury-style cruise. You should also avoid treating the six-meter jump as a central promise. It is an optional extra at Žanjic, not the reason to book the trip.

Final Verdict: Book It for Variety and Private Flexibility

Book this tour if you want one energetic half-day covering caves, beaches, islands, military sites, and swimming. The route is packed, the private boat keeps the group together, and the $483 price makes more sense when shared by up to six people.

I would skip it only if you want a slow cultural tour, dislike rough water, or plan to spend most of the day on one beach. For everyone else, the combination of Blue Cave swimming, Mamula’s sobering past, Perast views, and the relaxed stop at Žanjic gives you a lively introduction to the bay without requiring a full day.

FAQ

How long is the Blue Cave speedboat tour?

The tour lasts four hours, including the boat rides, sightseeing stops, swimming, snorkeling, and beach time.

How much does the private tour cost?

The price is $483 for a private group of up to six people.

Where do I meet the tour?

You meet at the MontenegroGlobe tour agency near Kamelija shopping center, a few minutes from Kotor’s Old Town and the port.

Is lunch included?

No. You can choose to eat at a local restaurant during the 45-minute stop at Žanjic Beach, but lunch is not included in the tour price.

Is the Our Lady of the Rocks entry fee included?

No. Entry to Our Lady of the Rocks costs €2 per person.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, a sun hat or hat, and a camera. Drinks and snorkeling masks are provided.

Is the tour available in English?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide and is operated as a private group experience.