Reviewed · ISLAND HOPPING TOURS

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands

★ 5.0 · 21 reviews Operated by Nauticstar Excursions · Bookable on Viator
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The best part of this private speedboat tour is the freedom to see three Elaphiti Islands in one long, well-paced day. You move from caves and clear bays to a sandy beach, a historic monastery, an old fishing village, and quiet swimming spots without sharing the boat with a large crowd. Captain Maro knows the area well and can shape the day around swimming, walking, snorkeling, or lunch.

I like the mix of natural stops and real island villages, especially Šunj Beach, Lopud, and Suđurađ on Šipan. I also like that drinks, snacks, fuel, fees, and snorkeling equipment are covered, so the quoted group price is easier to understand. The main consideration is the long 8.5-hour schedule: you need to be comfortable with sun, boat time, and several active water stops.

Key details before you book

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Key details before you book

  • Three Elaphiti Islands in one day: See Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan, with several stops around the coast.
  • Blue Cave and Green Caves: Snorkel inside a blue-lit cave and three green caves near Kolocep.
  • Two hours at Šunj Beach: Swim, walk on the shallow sand, snorkel, or stop at a restaurant for food.
  • Three hours on Lopud: Allow time for swimming, a walk, the 15th-century Franciscan Monastery, and lunch.
  • Private group of up to eight: You avoid a large shared excursion and have more room to adjust the day.
  • $611.46 per group: If eight people join, the cost works out to about $76 per person, before lunch.

Why a private boat works well around Dubrovnik

The Elaphiti Islands are close enough to Dubrovnik for a full-day outing, but varied enough to make a private boat useful. You are not simply sailing to one beach, taking a quick photo, and returning. The day links caves, snorkeling bays, island paths, historic buildings, and seaside villages.

That variety matters because the weather and your energy can shape the day. If you want more time in the water, the secluded swimming stops help. If you prefer a slower shore visit, Lopud gives you room for a walk, monastery visit, garden shade, and lunch.

A private boat is also a good fit for families or small groups with different interests. One person can snorkel while another prefers a beach walk. You can spend less time on activities that do not suit your group, though the exact flexibility of the schedule depends on the captain and conditions on the day.

Captain Maro is the named captain associated with this outing. The available feedback gives him particular credit for knowing where to go and for making the day feel relaxed and personal. That is important on a route with many possible coves and beaches, where local judgment can make the difference between a rushed stop and a pleasant one.

More Island Hopping Tours in Dubrovnik

Leaving Dubrovnik by the western coast

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Leaving Dubrovnik by the western coast

The boat leaves from Dubrovnik’s main port. The opening ride lasts about 15 minutes and includes views of the western approach to the city on the way toward Kolocep.

This is a useful start rather than dead travel time. You get a different view of Dubrovnik from the water, and the city’s walls and coastline recede as the islands come closer. Keep your camera ready, but also use this first stretch to settle into the boat and apply sun protection.

The ride is short, but the whole day is not. You will spend roughly 8 hours and 30 minutes on the outing, so bring a hat, sunglasses, and anything you personally need for a long day outside. Drinks and snacks are supplied, but lunch is not included.

Blue Cave: a short snorkeling stop

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Blue Cave: a short snorkeling stop

The first main stop is Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave, with about 30 minutes for snorkeling inside the cave. The appeal is the color and enclosed setting, a sharp change from the open sea and bright coast outside.

Thirty minutes is enough for a focused visit, but it is not a leisurely beach session. You will want to be ready when the boat arrives, especially if several people in your group want time in the water. Snorkeling equipment is included, which saves you from packing your own mask and gear.

The cave is best for people who enjoy seeing the coast from the water rather than simply sunbathing. If you are not comfortable snorkeling, you may find this stop less rewarding, and the tour data does not promise a separate land-based activity here.

Kolocep and its three Green Caves

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Kolocep and its three Green Caves

The boat continues to Kolocep for another 30-minute snorkeling stop, this time at three Green Caves. The appeal is variety: after one enclosed cave, you get a set of nearby cave formations and another chance to see the coastline from water level.

The short stop keeps the day moving, but it also means you should treat these cave visits as highlights rather than extended swims. The provided snorkeling equipment is especially useful here, since you can go directly from the boat into the water without arranging separate gear.

Kolocep is one of the three islands included in the day, though the scheduled cave stops focus on the water rather than a long village visit. If you want more time on land, Lopud and Šipan offer the better opportunities.

Two hours at Šunj Beach

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Two hours at Šunj Beach

Šunj Beach is the day’s longest beach stop, with about two hours. It is known as the most famous sandy beach in the Dubrovnik region, and its shallow sandy water gives you a break from the cave-focused morning.

I like this stop because it offers several ways to spend your time. You can swim, snorkel, walk along the shallow sand, or sit down for a coffee or snack at the restaurant. You are not locked into one activity, which makes Šunj a sensible part of the day for a mixed group.

The trade-off is that this is a popular beach, not a private cove. The tour also does not include lunch, so anything you eat at the restaurant is at your own expense. That is easy to plan for, but you should remember that the included snacks are not a replacement for a full meal if you have a large appetite.

Two hours gives you enough time to enjoy the beach without making the stop feel like a rushed swim. It also creates a natural pause before the longer visit to Lopud.

Lopud: three hours for a slower island visit

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Lopud: three hours for a slower island visit

Lopud receives the most time, about three hours, and it is the most flexible shore stop. You can walk, swim, eat lunch, or visit the 15th-century Franciscan Monastery.

The monastery adds historical interest to a day otherwise centered on the sea. You can also walk in the shade of its botanical garden, which is welcome after hours under the sun. The combination of a historic building, garden paths, restaurants, and swimming makes Lopud more than a quick beach stop.

The long time allowance is one of the strongest parts of the tour. You are not forced to choose between seeing Lopud and having lunch. You might spend part of the stop walking and visiting the monastery, then have a meal and finish with a swim.

Lunch remains extra, but Lopud is the place in the schedule where you are most likely to want a proper meal. Since the exact restaurant is not specified, plan to choose and pay for your own food on the island.

Lopud is described as the most popular tourist place in the Elaphiti Islands. That means it may feel more developed and active than the secluded swimming stops later in the day. For many people, that is a plus because you have more choice. If you want only remote beaches and no village atmosphere, Lopud may be the least quiet part of the route.

Šipan and the old village of Suđurađ

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Šipan and the old village of Suđurađ

After Lopud, the boat visits the southern coast of Šipan and the village of Suđurađ for about 30 minutes. Suđurađ is described as the oldest fishing village in the area, giving this stop a more traditional coastal character.

The time here is brief, so think of it as a compact sightseeing visit rather than a full island tour. You can take in the shoreline and village atmosphere before returning to the boat. This stop helps balance the beaches and caves with a place shaped by fishing and everyday island life.

If your main goal is to swim all day, the 30-minute village visit may feel like a pause in the action. If you want the day to include more than water activities, it is a worthwhile change of pace.

Sikirica Cove and a secluded final swim

Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands - Sikirica Cove and a secluded final swim

The final part of the route takes you to Brsecine for two 30-minute stops. First comes Sikirica Cove, described as the best snorkeling place in the region, followed by swimming at a secluded beach.

These stops are useful late in the day because they return you to the water after the land-based time on Lopud and Šipan. Sikirica Cove gives you another chance to use the supplied snorkeling equipment, while the final beach stop is simply for swimming and quiet time.

Two half-hour stops are enough for a quick snorkel and swim, but not for a long, unhurried beach session. If your group prefers extended time in one place, the private format may allow some discussion with Captain Maro, but the published schedule sets out these stops as short visits.

The secluded beach is also a nice contrast with Šunj. Šunj offers sand, shallow water, and a restaurant. The final beach stop is presented as a quieter place to swim, with no meal or major sight listed. That contrast gives the day a satisfying rhythm.

What the $611.46 group price really buys

The price is $611.46 for a private group of up to eight people. With a full group, that works out to about $76.43 per person. For four people, it is about $152.87 per person, so the value improves sharply as you fill the boat.

The cost includes fuel, all fees and taxes, drinks, snacks, and snorkeling equipment. Those inclusions matter on a full-day boat trip because fuel and gear can otherwise create unpleasant add-ons. Lunch is the main planned extra expense.

I see the price as reasonable for a group that wants privacy and a full route through three islands. You are paying not just for transport, but for an eight-and-a-half-hour private outing with several water stops and time to explore Lopud. A couple or small group should compare the per-person cost carefully, since a shared boat may be cheaper.

The strongest value comes when your group has eight people or close to it and wants different types of stops. If you only want a short swim and a beach visit, this full-day tour may offer more time and cost than you need.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would choose this outing for a group that wants a full day on the water without a fixed large-group format. It suits friends, families, and couples who enjoy combining swimming, snorkeling, light sightseeing, and lunch on shore.

It is also a good choice if you want a local captain to guide the route. The positive feedback specifically highlights Maro’s familiarity with the area and the relaxed, personalized feel of the day. That local knowledge is most useful when your group wants advice on where to spend its free time.

You should think twice if you dislike boats, sun, or repeated water stops. The schedule includes several snorkeling and swimming opportunities, and the total duration is long. People who need a tightly planned cultural tour with extended time at historic sites will find that the sea remains the main attraction.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The experience is near public transportation, and confirmation is provided at booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time. Canceling or changing the booking less than 24 hours ahead does not qualify for a refund.

Should you book the Elaphiti Islands speedboat tour?

Book it if you want to see a lot in one day and your group values privacy. The Blue Cave, Green Caves, Šunj Beach, Lopud, Suđurađ, and Sikirica Cove create a varied route, while the three-hour Lopud stop prevents the day from becoming a string of rushed photo breaks.

I especially like this tour for a full group of up to eight. The per-person value becomes much stronger, and a private boat lets your group enjoy the relaxed, personalized approach associated with Captain Maro. Bring sun protection, budget separately for lunch, and expect the day to center on swimming and snorkeling.

Skip it if you want a short excursion, a quiet boat ride with little activity, or a tour focused mainly on Dubrovnik’s historic sights. For everyone else, this is a practical way to trade the city for the islands and experience several sides of the Dubrovnik coast in one outing.

FAQ

How long does the private speedboat tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes, including the return to Dubrovnik’s main port.

How many islands does the tour visit?

The route visits three Elaphiti Islands: Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with drinks, snacks, fuel, and all fees and taxes.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is at your own expense, with time available to eat at a restaurant during the Šunj Beach or Lopud stops.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private boat accommodates a group of up to eight people, and only your group participates.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.

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