Blue Lagoon, Borkko Beach & Šolta from Split with LUNCH & DRINKS

The best part of this full-day boat trip is its mix of three different Adriatic stops: a beach break on Čiovo, a swim in the Blue Lagoon, and a slow hour in Maslinica on Šolta. You get scenery, water time, and a small island town without arranging several separate excursions.

I like the large, comfortable boat with covered seating, an open middle deck, and a sun deck with loungers. I also like the simple all-in-one pricing: lunch, water, snorkeling equipment, and local white wine after lunch are included. The main catch is seating. Outdoor spots can fill well before departure, and assigned places may not be changed later.

Key points to know before booking

• Three-level boat: Choose between covered lower seating, partly open middle-deck areas, and a top sun deck with loungers.
• Borkko Beach on Čiovo: You get about 90 minutes for swimming, snorkeling, or using the free sunbeds near the beach bar.
• Blue Lagoon lunch stop: Traditional Mediterranean lunch is served during the two-hour stay, with white wine available from lunch until the end of the trip.
• Maslinica on Šolta: Allow 75 minutes to walk, have coffee, swim, or look around this small fishing village.
• Snorkeling details: Equipment is included, but one recent account notes a €10 cash deposit, so ask at check-in and bring cash.
• A busy day at sea: The boat can carry up to 154 people, so arrive early if an outside seat matters to you.

What this Split boat trip is really like

This is a relaxed island-hopping day rather than a fast, small-boat adventure. You leave Split at 9:30 a.m. from the Max Nautica meeting point on Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda, then spend much of the day cruising between Čiovo, the Blue Lagoon, and Šolta.

The trip lasts about eight and a half hours. That gives you enough time for several stops, but it also means the boat itself is part of the experience. You will want to enjoy the ride, music, views, food, and social atmosphere, not treat the boat only as transport between swims.

The route gives you fine views toward Brač, Šolta, and Čiovo. A welcome drink starts the morning, and some departures have included coffee or a light breakfast snack. On the return leg from Maslinica, the crew serves chilled watermelon, a welcome touch after time in the sun.

The staff receive especially strong praise for being friendly and attentive. Tomislav, Josip, and Sandra are among the crew members specifically singled out in feedback, and the overall tone is informal and good-natured. The boat has clean toilets, space to walk around, and safety boxes for small valuables on some departures, though you should still keep important items secure.

Getting the best seat on the boat

This is the most important practical point. The boat has three main levels:

• A lower level that is fully covered
• A middle level with indoor and outdoor areas
• A top deck with sunbeds and open views

The top deck is the obvious prize on a sunny day. It gives you a place to stretch out and watch the islands pass, but the loungers are limited. Several accounts advise arriving early, and one person arrived 30 minutes before departure yet still ended up with an indoor seat.

The meeting time is 9:30 a.m., but if you care about a sunbed or an open-air seat, arrive well before departure. Seating may be allocated when you board, and the operator’s instructions have reportedly meant that assigned places cannot be swapped later.

This matters more than it might seem. A lower indoor seat protects you from strong sun and wind, but some passengers found the cabin stuffy because windows could not be opened. A smoking area near the front has also bothered some people. If you are sensitive to smoke or want a clear view, make an early arrival part of your plan.

Bring a hat, sunscreen, and a light layer. The sun deck can be very exposed, and several hours on bright water can catch you off guard. There is room to move around, so you are not locked to your seat for the entire day, but your main seating position still affects your comfort.

Borkko Beach gives you an easy first swim

The first listed stop is Beach Bar Borkko on Čiovo Island, with about one and a half hours here. You can swim from the beach area, snorkel close to shore, sit at the beach bar, or use the free sunbeds to dry off and take in the sun.

This is a useful opening stop because you are not thrown straight into a long swim. You can get comfortable in the water, test the snorkeling equipment, and settle into the pace of the day. The beach bar also gives non-swimmers a place to relax.

The condition of this stop is worth understanding. The operator says Borkko replaced a shipwreck stop after the wreck was removed from the sea in late September. That makes the exact experience seasonal and subject to route changes. Some departures have included swimming over the wreck, while others have used Borkko instead.

If seeing the wreck is your main reason for booking, ask about the current route before you commit. Do not assume that a trip advertised with snorkeling will always include the wreck. Even when the wreck is available, it may require a fairly long swim from the boat, and the underwater sights at the regular swimming areas can be modest, with only occasional fish reported.

The Blue Lagoon is the day’s main water stop

The Blue Lagoon, also called Krknjaši Bay, receives about two hours. This is where the tour combines lunch with its longest single stop, so you do not need to choose between eating and enjoying the bay.

The traditional Mediterranean lunch may include grilled mackerel, chicken, or a vegetarian option, along with bread and salad. You give your preference at check-in. Fish, meat, and vegetarian choices are available, which makes the meal easier for mixed groups.

Food quality is not completely consistent in the accounts. Some people found the grilled fish and salad tasty, while others considered the meal basic. The safest expectation is a filling, straightforward boat lunch rather than a restaurant meal. You may receive bread, cabbage-style salad, and a choice of main dish. The meal is included, so it does its job well for a day on the water.

Water is included, and local white wine is available without limit from lunch until the end of the excursion. You can also choose water or lemonade instead. Extra cocktails and beer may be available for purchase, but they are not part of the listed inclusions.

After lunch, you can swim from the boat, use the included snorkeling equipment, jump from the main deck, or sit on the sundeck. The water is clear, though one account found parts of the lagoon shallow. Snorkeling here is pleasant for a casual look beneath the surface, but you should not book this as a serious marine-life excursion.

The Blue Lagoon can be the most attractive stop for photographs, with pale water, open views, and boats scattered across the bay. It can also feel crowded, especially when several day boats arrive together. The two-hour stay gives you time, but some of that period is naturally taken up by docking, lunch, and instructions.

Maslinica shows a quieter side of Šolta

Maslinica is a classic Dalmatian fishing hamlet on the western end of Šolta. The boat stays for about one hour and 15 minutes, enough for a quick look at the waterfront, coffee, a swim, or a relaxed walk through the village.

This stop adds something the swimming bays cannot. Instead of another stretch of open water, you get a small settlement with traditional architecture, a calmer pace, and a chance to see how a working island community feels. It is not a major sightseeing town, and that is the appeal. You can wander without building a complicated plan.

Keep your expectations in proportion. Seventy-five minutes is enough to walk around and stop for a drink, but not enough for a long island exploration. You will need to watch the return time, especially if you stop for coffee or an ice cream.

The village is also a useful break from the boat. If you have had enough sun or want to stretch your legs, Maslinica gives the day a change of rhythm. If swimming is your priority, there may be time for a quick dip near the shore, but this is not the place to linger for half a day.

Lunch, drinks, and what the price includes

At $78.60 per person, this tour sits in a sensible middle range for a full day from Split. Its value comes from the package: boat transport, three stops, lunch, water, snorkeling equipment, welcome refreshments, and unlimited white wine after lunch.

A smaller private or semi-private boat can offer more personal space and easier access to outdoor seating, but usually at a higher cost. This boat gives families and groups a way to reach several island locations without paying for a private charter.

The included meal and drinks also make budgeting easier. You are not constantly adding ferry tickets, restaurant bills, or equipment rental. Still, bring money for anything extra, such as cocktails or beer, and for the possible snorkeling deposit.

Breakfast and coffee have been included on some departures, but the core advertised meal is lunch. Do not plan on a full breakfast unless the operator confirms it for your date.

The boat can accommodate up to 154 people. That is a substantial group, not an intimate sailing outing. The tradeoff is clear: you get more room, several deck choices, toilets, and a steady platform, but the experience may feel busy when boarding and moving between decks.

Snorkeling, swimming, and the shipwreck question

Snorkeling is included in the tour, and you can use the equipment at the swimming stops. Still, the underwater experience depends on the route, the weather, and your expectations.

Some departures have featured the shipwreck, which can be the highlight for people who enjoy snorkeling. It may be a long swim from the boat, so confident swimmers will get more from it than those who prefer to stay close to the beach.

Other departures use Borkko Beach instead, particularly after the wreck was removed in late September. At Borkko and the Blue Lagoon, you may see a few fish and enjoy clear water, but the seabed is not presented as a major reef site. Bring your mask if you have a favorite one, but you do not need to rent equipment separately.

There is one practical wrinkle: although snorkeling equipment is included, a recent departure required a €10 cash deposit. The supplied details do not make clear if this applies on every date, so ask at check-in and carry some cash. That small step can prevent missing the main activity.

The swimming water can feel chilly outside the warmest summer period. In October, one account found the sea cold but still enjoyed the stop. If you are visiting in the shoulder season, pack a dry cover-up and do not count on spending every minute in the water.

Weather, timing, and the group size

The tour requires good weather. If poor conditions cancel the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund. The operator also requires a minimum number of people, and one late-season departure was canceled the evening before because that number was not reached.

That cancellation policy is fair, but the timing can be inconvenient if your stay in Split is short. Book early enough to leave room for another plan, especially outside the main summer season.

Bad weather can also shorten the day or change the route. One account described a late departure and reduced time at the stops after a weather-related change. Boat schedules depend on sea conditions, docking, and the need to return to Split on time.

You should also allow for the possibility that the exact order of the stops changes. The core attractions remain Borkko, the Blue Lagoon, and Maslinica, but the shipwreck is not guaranteed. The operator has already altered that part of the route when conditions or local changes required it.

The return is to the same Max Nautica meeting point in Split. The tour ends there, making it easy to continue into the old center and visit Diocletian’s Palace afterward if you still have energy.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this trip to families, couples, solo visitors who like meeting people, and anyone who wants an easy island day without managing ferries. The larger boat feels reassuring for a first boat outing, and the combination of covered and open seating gives you some choice.

It also works well for people who want swimming but not a full day of swimming. Maslinica breaks up the water stops, and the boat provides toilets, food, shade, and places to sit between activities.

It is less suitable if you want a quiet, private cruise, guaranteed sunbed access, or advanced snorkeling. The group may be large, outdoor seating is limited, and underwater sights can be simple. If you dislike smoke, board early and avoid areas near the smoking section.

The tour is also a good fit for mixed groups. A keen swimmer can use the lagoon and snorkeling gear, while someone else can stay on the boat, sit at Borkko Beach, or explore Maslinica. Vegetarian, meat, and fish lunch choices help keep the day practical for families.

Should you book the Max Nautica day trip?

Book it if you want good overall coverage for one day: several Adriatic stops, a spacious boat, included lunch, drinks, and a village visit. The crew’s friendly service, clean facilities, music, and comfortable size add real value at $78.60.

Arrive early, ask about seating and the current shipwreck route, and bring cash for the possible snorkeling deposit. Treat the meal as simple rather than gourmet, and understand that snorkeling may mean clear water and a few fish rather than a major underwater spectacle.

I would choose this tour for convenience, value, and variety. I would not choose it for privacy or guaranteed access to a sunbed. With the right expectations, it is a pleasant way to trade Split’s city streets for a full day of sea, swimming, lunch, and a taste of island life.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and end?

The tour starts at Max Nautica, Obala Hrvatskog narodnog preporoda, 21000 Split. It ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the boat leave?

The listed start time is 9:30 a.m.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours and 30 minutes.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a choice of fish, meat, or vegetarian food. You provide your preference at check-in.

Are drinks included?

A welcome drink, water, and local white wine after lunch are included. The white wine is available without limit from lunch until the end of the tour. Extra cocktails and beer may cost more.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes, snorkeling equipment is included. One departure required a €10 cash deposit, so ask about the current deposit arrangement at check-in.