Elaphite Islands: Private boat tour (Cap Camarat 7.5wa)

The best part of this outing is control. You get a private Cap Camarat 7.5wa, a skipper-guide named Simon, and the freedom to spend more time swimming, visiting caves, or walking ashore instead of following a fixed group schedule. The route links Grebeni with Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan.

I like the small private setting, with only your group of up to seven on board. I also like the useful extras: hotel pickup, drinks, towels, snorkeling gear, and a GoPro are included. The main consideration is food, which costs extra, and a four-hour trip may feel rushed if you want to see all three islands properly.

Key points at a glance

• Three islands in one private trip: Visit Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan, with Grebeni included at the start.
• Koločep’s cave stops: See the Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves by boat.
• Your schedule controls the day: Choose a 4 or 8-hour tour and decide where to linger.
• Šunj Beach adds sand and swimming: Lopud’s sandy beach gives you a change from rocky Croatian shores.
• Useful gear is included: Towels, drinks, snorkeling equipment, and a GoPro come with the boat.
• Strong personal service: Simon is praised for being timely, polite, flexible, and attentive to each group’s wishes.

Why a private Elaphite Islands tour works so well

The Elaphite Islands sit just off Dubrovnik, but the day feels far removed from the city streets and cruise-ship crowds. A private speedboat lets you see several islands without committing to a large excursion group or a rigid timetable.

That flexibility matters here. The route covers three islands, but each has a different character. Koločep is about caves and clear water. Lopud gives you Šunj Beach and a chance to walk through a populated island settlement. Šipan offers another stop, plus the option of eating at a restaurant.

You can take the four-hour version if you mainly want a fast outing with swimming and a few scenic stops. I would choose eight hours if you want the full route at an unhurried pace, especially if lunch on Lopud or Šipan matters to you.

The price is $530 for the entire group of up to seven people. That is not a cheap solo excursion, but the calculation changes with a full boat. Split seven ways, it works out to about $76 per person before any restaurant bill. For a couple, the cost is much harder to justify. For a family or group of friends, the private boat, included transport, and ability to set the pace make the price more reasonable.

Leaving Dubrovnik with pickup included

The day begins with pickup in Dubrovnik. A car or van collects you at the address you provide about 20 minutes before the boat tour starts, which saves you the trouble of arranging a separate transfer to the marina.

That detail is easy to overlook, but it adds real value. You do not need to navigate Dubrovnik’s busy streets in search of a meeting point, and you can start the boat portion with less fuss. Pickup and drop-off are included, along with fuel, so there are fewer extra costs to track.

Bring swimwear. Towels are supplied, but you will want your bathing suit ready before boarding if you plan to make full use of the swimming and snorkeling stops.

The boat is a brand-new Cap Camarat 7.5wa. It is a speedboat rather than a slow sightseeing vessel, so the ride between islands is part of the fun. At the same time, anyone prone to motion sickness should keep the speedboat format in mind. The tour is built around being on the water, not simply looking at it from a shaded deck.

Grebeni provides the opening view

The first stop is Grebeni, a small group of rocky islets near Dubrovnik. It gives you an early taste of the coast before the boat continues toward the Elaphite Islands.

This opening section is more of a scenic boat cruise than a long land visit. You should not expect a full walking stop here. Its value is in the approach: open water, rocky shores, and a clear sense that Dubrovnik is quickly receding behind you.

From there, the boat heads toward the three main islands on the route: Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. The order and length of the stops can change because this is a private outing. If you want more swimming and less time ashore, say so. If you want lunch and a walk, the skipper can shape the day around that instead.

Koločep and its three caves

Koločep is the most cave-focused part of the trip. The planned stops are the Green Cave, the Blue Cave, and Three Caves, each viewed from the boat and paired with the chance to swim or use the snorkeling equipment.

Cave visits are weather and water dependent in practical terms, even though the tour description does not set out a separate weather policy. Conditions can affect how long you stay and how close the boat can get. The private format helps because you are not tied to the needs of a large group.

The supplied GoPro is a useful touch here. You can use it to record time in the water and the cave stops, rather than relying only on phone photos. Goggles and snorkeling equipment are also provided, so you have what you need to look below the surface without packing a full kit.

Do not expect a museum-style explanation at each cave. The appeal is visual and physical: a boat ride into coastal formations, then time in clear water. Simon acts as both skipper and English-speaking guide, so you can ask questions as the route unfolds.

Koločep may be the strongest match for you if you care most about swimming, snorkeling, and unusual coastal scenery. If you dislike getting wet or prefer long walks, this section will be less rewarding.

Lopud brings you to Šunj Beach

After Koločep, the boat continues to Lopud and stops at Šunj Beach. The sandy shore is a useful change from the rocky coastline found across much of Dalmatia.

Šunj is a good place to stretch out, swim, and spend time without needing to keep moving from one cave to the next. The tour does not include food, so keep that in mind if you expect to stay around the beach for a while. Drinks are supplied, including water, cola, white wine, and beer, but a meal is your responsibility.

The beach stop can also expose the tradeoff built into the route. The longer you spend at Šunj, the less time remains for the island walk or Šipan. That is not a flaw in the tour. It is simply the decision you get to make because the boat is private.

After Šunj, you can visit the populated part of Lopud for a walk. This gives the outing some variety. You are not confined to beaches and caves, and you can see a little of island life before returning to the water.

If you want lunch, Lopud has restaurants. You may also choose to eat on Šipan instead. Since food is not included, ask Simon how much time you want to allow for the meal before settling into the schedule.

Šipan completes the island-hopping route

Šipan is the third Elaphite Island on the route. The stop is another chance to go ashore, pause for lunch, or simply enjoy the water and scenery from the boat.

The supplied information does not promise a particular town, landmark, or guided walking route on Šipan. That is useful to know before booking. This is not a tightly programmed sightseeing tour with a long list of named monuments. Its strength is the ability to adjust the day around swimming, food, and quiet time on the water.

For an eight-hour outing, Šipan gives you breathing room at the end of the route. You can spend time here without feeling that every earlier stop must be cut short. On the four-hour version, the island may become a brief cruise-by or a shorter stop, depending on the choices you make earlier.

The boat then returns to Dubrovnik, with drop-off included. You finish where you started, without needing to find your own way back after a full day in the sun.

Simon’s role makes the private format useful

A private boat only delivers good value if the skipper listens. Simon’s service is the clearest strength attached to this experience. He is described as friendly, accommodating, polite, and attentive to what each group wants from the day.

That matters because the tour can be shaped in opposite ways. You might want the classic route with the caves, Šunj Beach, island walks, and lunch. Or you might care more about privacy and swimming in quieter areas. Simon has been praised for adjusting the outing to that second kind of request and for getting an early start when possible to avoid some crowds.

You should tell him your priorities at the beginning. Say if you want more time in the water, a proper meal, a walk on Lopud, or a quicker look at several places. The more clearly you explain your preferences, the more useful the private format becomes.

The guide is English-speaking, and he also handles the boat. That combined role keeps the experience personal, but it means this is not a large tour with several staff members or a formal lecture at every stop.

What is included, and what you still need to budget

The package includes:

• Fuel
• Skipper and English-speaking guide
• Pickup and drop-off in Dubrovnik
• Water, cola, white wine, and beer
• Towels
• Snorkeling equipment
• GoPro use

Food is not included. Restaurants are available on Lopud and Šipan, so you can buy lunch during the trip, but allow for that cost in your budget.

The included drinks are especially handy on a hot day. You do not need to bring a cooler full of supplies, though you may still want personal snacks if you have dietary needs. Only swimwear is specifically listed as something to bring, but a cautious packer might also carry sun protection and a phone pouch. Those extra items are suggestions rather than included tour features.

The GoPro and snorkeling gear make the package feel more complete than a basic boat transfer. They also reduce the amount of equipment you need to rent or carry from Dubrovnik.

Four hours or eight hours?

The four-hour option suits you if you want a short escape from Dubrovnik. It can cover a selection of caves, a swim, and part of the island route, but you should not expect to linger everywhere. With three islands and several named stops, time disappears quickly.

The eight-hour option is the better choice for the full experience. It gives you room for Koločep’s caves, Šunj Beach, a walk on Lopud, time on Šipan, and a restaurant lunch if you want one. It also makes the private format more valuable because you can pause instead of racing from one stop to the next.

The exact start time depends on availability. Since the outing is private, confirm the duration and your preferred priorities when booking. You are paying for control, so use it.

Who should book this boat tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to a group of friends or a family that can share the $530 price. Seven people fill the boat’s stated capacity and bring the per-person cost down. The setup also works well for people who want a private day rather than a social boat with strangers.

It is a good match for you if you want:

• Swimming and snorkeling in clear water
• Cave stops near Koločep
• A sandy beach at Šunj
• A flexible route
• Hotel pickup and drop-off
• Drinks and equipment included
• The option of lunch on Lopud or Šipan

It is less suitable if you want a detailed historical tour, a guaranteed long visit at every island, or an all-inclusive meal. The focus is the sea, the caves, the beach, and your own schedule.

The tour has a perfect 5.0 rating from three verified bookings, including strong praise for Simon’s timing, courtesy, flexibility, and the clean, functional boat. That is a small sample, so I would treat it as encouraging rather than final proof. Still, the comments point to the aspects most likely to shape your day: a reliable skipper, a tidy boat, and genuine control over the route.

My verdict: book it when your group values freedom

This is a worthwhile splurge for a group of up to seven that wants to see the Elaphite Islands without a fixed group schedule. The best value comes from combining the eight-hour option, the included transfer and equipment, and a clear plan for how you want to divide your time.

Choose four hours for a brisk coastal outing. Choose eight hours for the complete island day, with room for swimming, Šunj Beach, a walk, and lunch. If your main goal is a quiet swim away from busy boat stops, tell Simon before departure.

I would book this tour if privacy, flexibility, and time on the water matter more to you than keeping costs low. For a couple, compare the price with other boat options first. For a full group, the private Cap Camarat, included extras, and responsive skipper make the $530 easier to defend.

FAQ

Where does the private boat tour begin?

Pickup is provided in Dubrovnik, from the address you specify. A car or van arrives about 20 minutes before the boat tour begins.

How long does the tour last?

You can choose a four-hour or eight-hour tour. Starting times depend on availability.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. Grebeni is visited at the beginning of the cruise.

What caves can you see on Koločep?

The planned Koločep cave stops are the Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves.

Does the tour visit a sandy beach?

Yes. The boat stops at Šunj Beach on Lopud, which is a sandy beach.

Is the boat private?

Yes. Only your group is on the boat, with a maximum group size of seven people.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup and drop-off in Dubrovnik are included. The vehicle collects you at your stated address before the boat tour.

Are drinks and snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Water, cola, white wine, beer, towels, and snorkeling equipment are included. GoPro use is also included.

Is lunch included?

No. Food is not included, but restaurants are available on Lopud and Šipan if you want to buy lunch.