Dubrovnik: All-inclusive Islands and Caves Private Boat Tour

The best part of this Dubrovnik boat tour is the chance to swim into sea caves that you cannot reach from land. I especially like the mix of cave swims and island villages, plus the freedom of a private boat where your skipper can slow down for a quiet bay instead of following a fixed group schedule.

I also like that fuel, pickup, drop-off, snorkels, and drinks are built into the price. The main catch is that lunch costs extra, and the cave swims require you to swim underwater several times. If you dislike confined spaces or have limited mobility, this is not the right outing.

Key points at a glance

• Three Green Caves: Start with a large cave, then try a darker chamber and a narrow passage that requires several underwater swims.
• Blue Cave swimming: Enter by boat and swim in its clear water, with snorkel gear supplied.
• Sikirica Cove: Finish with a calm swim and snorkel in shallow water filled with sea vegetation.
• Elaphiti island villages: Walk around Koločep, Lopud, or Suđurađ instead of spending the whole day on the water.
• Private timing: Choose a shorter four-hour trip or allow six to eight hours for a slower day with lunch and longer beach stops.
• Family-friendly beach stop: Šunj Beach on Lopud has shallow water, beach services, and room for a relaxed break.

Why this private boat trip works so well

Dubrovnik’s Old Town can feel crowded, especially when cruise passengers arrive. This tour gives you a clean break from the streets and takes you into the open water around the Elaphiti Islands, a chain of small islands just northwest of the city.

You are not simply riding past the coast and taking photographs. The day is built around swimming, snorkeling, short walks, and quiet stops. That makes it a better choice for you if you want active time in the sea rather than a history lecture from a boat.

The private format is the real advantage. Your skipper can ask what your group wants to do, then adjust the pace. A family with young children can spend longer at Šunj Beach, while a group of confident swimmers can give more time to the caves and secluded coves.

Skippers named in the tour’s guest feedback include Pasko, Pasco, Bruno, Kiko, Bernardo, Chico, and Christian. The repeated praise centers on friendly service, local area knowledge, careful boat handling, and the willingness to tailor the day. Communication before departure has also been clear, even for last-minute bookings.

The listed price is $454 for a group of up to four. That works out to $113.50 per person if four people share the boat. Fuel is included, as are pickup and return to Dubrovnik, a coolbox with drinks, and snorkeling equipment. Lunch is not included, so budget separately if you want a restaurant stop.

The Blue Cave and three very different Green Caves

The cave section is the tour’s main event, but it is not one uniform experience.

The famous Blue Cave can only be reached by boat. You enter the water and swim inside, surrounded by clear blue water and the cool shade of the rock. You should be comfortable putting your face in the water, and you should expect to duck underwater to enter rather than simply walk or float inside.

Snorkels are provided, which saves you from packing your own equipment. Still, bring a swimsuit and consider using a waterproof phone case if you want photographs. The boat trip is centered on getting wet, not watching from the deck.

The three Green Caves offer more variety. The first is large and easy, a useful warm-up before the tighter spaces. The second is smaller and darker, so it feels more adventurous without requiring a long swim.

The third cave is a narrow channel. You can swim through it, come out on the other side, and circle back around the outside. You need to duck underwater several times to pass through. There is also a side route leading to a small open cave with a shallow sandy bottom and no roof.

This section is best for confident swimmers. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments or wheelchair users, and the cave passages are another reason to think carefully about your comfort in water and enclosed spaces. If one cave feels too tight, tell your skipper. The private setup makes it easier to skip a section without holding up a busload of people.

Koločep, a small island village with time to wander

After the caves, the boat can stop at Koločep, a small fishing village with a quieter feel than Dubrovnik.

You can walk around, look at the waterfront, and stop at the small shop or coffee bar by the sea. This is a simple visit, not a major sightseeing program, but that is part of its appeal. You get a glimpse of island life instead of spending every minute chasing the next swimming spot.

Allow yourself enough time to slow down here. A cold drink and a short walk can be welcome after the cave swims, especially if children are in your group. The village also gives you a chance to dry off before the next beach stop.

Do not expect a long list of attractions or a large town center. Koločep is valuable for its scale and pace. If your ideal boat trip includes local atmosphere between swims, it fits. If you want nonstop snorkeling, you may prefer to spend more time at the coves.

Šunj Beach on Lopud is the easy family stop

Šunj is described as Dubrovnik’s most famous sandy beach, and it brings a different mood to the day. The water stays shallow over a broad area, making it a practical choice for children and for anyone who wants to wade rather than swim in deep water.

You will find bars and restaurants, sun beds, umbrellas, and pedal cars for rent. That makes Šunj more developed than the secluded coves, but it also means you have useful services close by. A one-hour stop can work for a quick swim, while a longer break gives you time for lunch and a proper rest.

From Šunj, golf carts can take you across the island to Lopud village. The tour can also dock directly at the village harbor. If you choose to explore Lopud, you can visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, Đorđić-Mayneri Park, and small churches.

You can also skip the walk and continue swimming at smaller sandy beaches. This flexibility is one of the tour’s strongest features. You do not have to choose between a beach day and a village visit before you leave Dubrovnik. Your skipper can help shape the stop around your group.

Families should note that Šunj is likely to be the most straightforward swimming stop, thanks to the shallow water and services. Couples or adult groups may prefer to spend less time here and save the longer pause for a quieter bay.

Šipan and Suđurađ for a slower lunch break

Šipan is the largest of the Elaphiti Islands included in this route. The stop can focus on Suđurađ, another small fishing village, or on Bowa restaurant, set in one of the island’s many attractive bays.

Lunch is extra, but the company can recommend a restaurant, reserve a table, and bring you there by boat. That is a useful service in a day where timing matters. You avoid wandering around looking for a table after arriving wet and hungry, though you should still ask about the menu and cost before committing.

Suđurađ is the better choice if you want a small village walk. Bowa is the better choice if your priority is a meal by the sea. You may also choose to skip lunch and use this time for swimming, but a longer tour gives you more room to make that call without rushing.

The difference between four and eight hours matters here. A four-hour trip can cover the major cave and island highlights, but it will feel active and tightly paced. Several groups found six hours to be a comfortable middle ground, with enough time for caves, Lopud, a village or lunch, and a final swim.

An eight-hour outing suits you if you want a full day on the water. It gives you more time to linger, eat, swim, and simply sit at anchor. The boat is not just transport between stops; part of the pleasure is floating in a quiet bay with a drink while the sea does very little.

Sikirica Cove gives the day a peaceful finish

Sikirica Cove is the final must-see stop. Its clear water, shallow areas, and sea vegetation make it a strong place for snorkeling before you return to Dubrovnik.

This is less about a single dramatic sight and more about the feel of the water. You can float, look down through the clear sea, and take your time before climbing back aboard. The cove provides a calmer finish than ending with another busy beach or village.

After the swim, you can settle on the bow with a drink from the coolbox and watch the sun move toward the horizon. This quiet pause is important. A private boat tour can become tiring if every stop is another activity, so ending with unhurried time at anchor gives the day a better rhythm.

The water and cave conditions can affect the exact order of stops. Your skipper may adjust the route to keep the boat comfortable and safe. A private tour does not mean every stop is guaranteed in precisely the same sequence, so keep some flexibility in your expectations.

What the boat setup means for your day

Pickup and drop-off in Dubrovnik are included, which simplifies the start and finish. One group with three children found the transfer prompt and easy, and another group said the boat was within comfortable walking distance of the cruise dock. Confirm your exact pickup point when booking, particularly if you are arriving by ship.

The tour is led in English and operates as a private group. You are not paying for a scheduled public boat with strangers, and you can play your own music through the boat speaker if that arrangement is available on your outing. Some groups have also had towels and pool noodles provided, but ask in advance rather than treating those items as guaranteed inclusions.

Drinks in the coolbox include water and, according to the guest feedback, local beer has been served. Snorkels are supplied. Lunch is the main extra expense, along with optional beach services such as sun beds, umbrellas, pedal cars, or golf cart transport.

The boat has been described as comfortable with room for four. If your party is larger, check the exact boat capacity and pricing before booking. The advertised rate is for up to four people, while larger family groups have also taken similar outings, so the final arrangement should be confirmed directly.

Bring sun protection, a swimsuit, a dry change of clothes, and footwear that can handle a rocky shoreline. Littering is not allowed, a small rule that matters when your day includes quiet coves and natural caves.

Who should book this Dubrovnik experience?

I would choose this tour for a family that wants a mix of easy beach time and active swimming. Šunj’s shallow water, the private skipper, and the ability to adjust the route make it more manageable than a rigid group excursion.

It also suits couples and friends who want a private day with several choices. You can swim through caves, stop for a beer, explore a village, eat by the sea, or spend longer floating in a quiet cove. The trip works best when everyone in your group is happy to be in and out of the water.

Strong swimmers will get the most from the Blue and Green Caves, especially the narrow third cave. You do not need to attempt every passage, but the tour is built around water access rather than sightseeing from a dry deck.

I would not book it if you need step-free access, use a wheelchair, dislike swimming underwater, or want a purely historical tour. You should also think about the price if you are traveling alone or as a couple, since the group rate offers better value when shared by four people.

FAQ

How long does the private boat tour last?

The tour lasts between four and eight hours. You need to check available departure times when booking, and six hours is a useful middle option if you want caves, islands, a meal or village stop, and time to swim without rushing.

What is included in the price?

Pickup and drop-off in Dubrovnik, fuel, a coolbox with drinks, and snorkeling equipment are included. The tour is private and led in English.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but the company can recommend restaurants, reserve a table, and take you there by boat. You pay for the meal separately.

Do I need to bring snorkeling equipment?

No. Snorkels are provided. You should still bring swimwear, sun protection, and a change of clothes suitable for a day spent swimming and boating.

Can I enter the caves?

You can swim into the Blue Cave and explore the three Green Caves. The third Green Cave requires several underwater swims through a narrow channel, so you should be comfortable in the water. The caves are not accessible by land.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

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

Should you book it?

Book this Dubrovnik boat tour if you want your day to revolve around the sea, with enough variety to keep it from becoming a simple beach transfer. The strongest reasons are the private timing, the cave swims, the clear water at Sikirica Cove, and skippers such as Pasko, Bruno, Kiko, and Bernardo who have been praised for careful, personal service.

For the best value, bring three other people and choose six to eight hours. That gives you room for a village, Šunj Beach, a possible lunch at Šipan, and the final cove without racing from stop to stop. Choose four hours only if you mainly want the caves and a few fast swims.

The $454 price is reasonable for a private group when shared by four, especially with fuel, transfers, drinks, and snorkels covered. Add lunch and optional beach activities to your budget, then book with confidence if you are an able swimmer looking for a lively, personal day beyond Dubrovnik’s city walls.