Private speedboat tour to the islands

The best part of this Dubrovnik outing is the freedom to shape your day on the water. A private skipper takes your group from Lapadska obala to islands, coves, caves, and villages, so you can spend more time swimming at Koločep’s Blue Cave, lounging at Šunj Beach, or exploring Šipan instead of following a fixed crowd.

I like the private boat for up to six people, which makes the $395.43 group price far more appealing for a family or small group. I also like the practical touches: snorkel gear, a GoPro camera, life jackets, bottled water, soft drinks, and beer are provided.

The main catch is the extra fuel charge, listed in several possible amounts from €80 to €230. Confirm the exact total before booking. You also need good weather, and there is no hotel pickup or drop-off.

Key points to know before booking

• Swim into Koločep’s Blue Cave: Your boat anchors near the cave, and you can enter from the water with snorkel equipment provided.
• Spend time at sandy Šunj Beach: Lopud gives you a rare sandy-beach stop near Dubrovnik, plus a village with monasteries, churches, and a park.
• Your skipper shapes the day: Ivan and Robert are named skippers connected with the experience, and Robert speaks French.
• Choose a half-day or full-day outing: The tour runs about 4 to 10 hours, with options involving the Elaphiti Islands, Korčula, or Mljet.
• The price works best for a full group: The advertised cost is per boat for up to six people, not per person.
• Plan for extra fuel costs: A separate fuel surcharge applies, and the amount depends on the booking.

Why a private speedboat makes sense from Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik’s old town can feel packed, especially during the main season and when cruise ships are in port. Out on the Adriatic, the mood changes quickly. You get open water, rocky shores, small island villages, and the chance to stop when a bay catches your eye.

That flexibility is the real reason to choose this experience. On a shared boat, you follow the captain’s clock. Here, you can tell the skipper whether your group wants more swimming, more sightseeing, or more time ashore. The supplied details say stops are tailored to your preferences, though the exact route depends on the time you book and the option you choose.

The boat accommodates up to six people. At $395.43 per group, that works out to about $66 per person with six passengers, before the fuel charge. For two people, the price feels much less friendly. For a family or a group of friends splitting the cost, the private setup can offer good value, especially if you plan to use a full day on the water.

The trip starts and ends at Lapadska obala 4, near Dubrovnik’s Lapad waterfront. You arrange your own way to the meeting point, since pickup and drop-off are not included. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the experience is offered in English.

Koločep and the Blue Cave swim

Koločep is about 20 minutes by boat from Dubrovnik, making it a quick escape from the city. The island has two villages, Gornje Čelo and Donje Čelo, but the main attraction on this outing is the Blue Cave on the southern side.

The boat anchors near the cave, and you swim inside. This is not a walk-up attraction with a path and viewing platform. You enter from the sea, so you should be comfortable in the water and ready to manage a short swim. Snorkel masks are supplied, along with a GoPro camera for use during the outing.

I like this stop because it combines a small adventure with a simple reward. You are not just looking at the coast from the deck. You get into the Adriatic, see the cave from the water, and then cruise past the cliffs. The skipper can adjust the amount of time spent here, which matters if your group wants to linger in the cave or move on to another swimming spot.

The practical limitation is that cave conditions and weather affect the experience. The tour requires good weather, and the cave swim may not suit every child or adult. Life jackets are supplied for adults and children, but parents should still judge their own family’s comfort in open water.

Koločep is also a useful first stop because it sets the pace for the rest of the day. If everyone wants to swim, you can lean into that. If the group prefers views and island scenery, you can spend less time in the water and continue along the cliffs.

Lopud, Šunj Beach, and time ashore

Lopud offers a different kind of stop. Its main draw here is Šunj, a sandy beach where you can swim and sunbathe. Sandy beaches are not the norm along this rocky stretch of the Adriatic, so Šunj gives the day a classic summer feel.

You can stay aboard or go ashore. That choice is important for mixed groups. One person may want to swim from the boat, another may want to sit on the beach, and someone else may prefer a walk through the village. The tour allows each person to use the stop in a different way.

Cold water, beer, and soft drinks are available on the boat. That keeps the day easy, though lunch is not included. One of the named skippers, Ivan, recommended a restaurant on Lopud to one group, so you can ask your skipper about eating ashore. Treat that as local guidance rather than part of the package, since the meal itself is your responsibility.

Lopud village gives you something beyond sun and water. You might visit the Dominican and Franciscan monasteries, see small churches, or walk through Đorđić-Mayneri Park. The supplied tour details do not set a firm amount of time for each sight, so tell the skipper early if you want a proper village visit rather than a quick beach stop.

The trade-off is simple: every hour spent on the beach or in the village is an hour not spent cruising or swimming elsewhere. A private tour gives you control, but you still need to make choices. For a full day, that is part of the fun. For a shorter four-hour outing, you will want to focus on one or two priorities.

Šipan and the quieter side of the Elaphiti Islands

Šipan is the largest and most populated of the Elaphiti Islands. It is known for turquoise water, olive and pine trees, and a quieter rural feel. The island’s local products include homemade wine, olive oil, marmalade, fruit, and vegetables.

This is the stop for slowing down. Koločep is about the cave and cliffs. Lopud is about the sandy beach and village sights. Šipan brings nature, small-scale local production, and a calmer Adriatic setting. You might find secluded beaches and quiet bays along the way, depending on the route your skipper chooses.

The island is not presented as a formal tasting tour, so do not book this expecting a structured food program. The appeal is seeing a less hurried side of the islands and asking your skipper where it makes sense to stop. Since the route is private, your group can decide how much time to give Šipan.

The full Elaphiti route is described with roughly two hours at each of the three islands, but the tour itself lasts about 4 to 10 hours. That means the listed stop times are best understood as flexible planning guidance, not a promise that every booking follows the same schedule. Confirm your preferred route and timing before departure.

Korčula and Mljet options

The experience also offers a full-day outing around Korčula or Mljet. These are not small add-ons to the Elaphiti route. They are better suited to a longer day, since the tour description presents them as alternate day plans.

The supplied information does not provide a detailed stop-by-stop plan for either island. That is a reason to ask specific questions before you pay: How much time will be spent cruising? Which bays or villages are planned? Is swimming the focus, or will there be time ashore? What fuel charge applies to that route?

This private format is useful when you already know what kind of day you want. You can explain your interests to the operator and let the skipper shape the details. Just do not assume that the Korčula or Mljet outing includes the same Blue Cave and Šunj Beach stops, since those are described as part of the Elaphiti Islands route.

The skipper can make or break the day

A private boat is only as good as the person at the helm. Ivan is praised for making a group feel safe and relaxed, and for knowing where to take them when they asked him to fill in the rest of the day. Their outing included several islands, swimming in bays and caves, and a lunch recommendation on Lopud.

Robert is also named as a skipper. He helped one group see the main sights despite a tight schedule caused by a ship departure. He also speaks French, which may help French-speaking groups communicate more easily.

Those details point to the practical value of a local skipper. You do not need to arrive with a perfect plan. You can state your must-sees, then ask the captain to handle the order and pacing. Still, be clear about your time limit, especially if you are connecting with a cruise ship or another scheduled departure.

The boat has been described as a Quicksilver Sundeck speedboat in a response from the operator. The supplied information does not give its exact seating layout or storage capacity, so pack lightly and ask about luggage if you plan to bring more than a beach bag.

What is included, and what costs extra

The package includes:

• Skipper
• Snorkel equipment
• GoPro camera
• Life jackets for adults and children
• Bottled water
• Soft drinks
• Beer
• Local taxes

Fuel is not included. Several fuel surcharge amounts appear in the booking information: €80, €100, €190, and €230 per booking. Since the amount is not tied clearly to each route in the supplied details, confirm the charge for your selected destination before booking.

There is no stated lunch inclusion. If you eat at a restaurant on Lopud or elsewhere, plan to pay separately. The drinks aboard are useful, but they do not replace a meal on a long outing.

The value depends heavily on group size and duration. Six people sharing a private boat can make the base cost reasonable, particularly for a full day. A couple paying the whole amount may prefer a shorter trip or a shared excursion, unless privacy and flexible routing are the main goals.

Who will enjoy this boat day most

I would recommend this for families and small groups who want control over the day. Children can use the supplied life jackets, and adults can decide how much swimming, beach time, and sightseeing suits the group. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

It also fits friends who want a relaxed day with drinks aboard and no need to coordinate with a large party. Couples can enjoy it too, but the per-person value is weaker unless the private setting matters greatly to you.

This is less suitable if you dislike open-water swimming, want a fixed historical tour, or need hotel transportation included. It may also be a poor match for anyone with a tight schedule if the weather looks uncertain. The trip depends on good conditions, and changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted.

The activity is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, but the Blue Cave stop involves entering the water, so consider your own swimming ability before you book.

Practical planning for the day

Bring a swimsuit, sun protection, and a towel, even though the boat supplies snorkel equipment and drinks. Keep your plans flexible. The strongest part of this experience is the skipper’s ability to adjust the day, not a rigid checklist of stops.

If you want the Blue Cave, say so at the start. If your priority is Šunj Beach, ask for enough shore time. If you want monasteries, churches, or Đorđić-Mayneri Park, make that clear before the boat leaves Lopud.

Check the start time against your other plans. One group had less time because of a ship schedule, although Robert helped them see the main highlights. That is a useful warning: tell the operator about any departure deadline, and do not assume a full-day route will fit into a narrow window.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book this private Dubrovnik island tour?

Book it if you have up to six people, want a private boat, and care more about swimming, coves, beaches, and flexible timing than a formal sightseeing program. The combination of Koločep’s Blue Cave, Lopud’s sandy Šunj Beach, and Šipan’s quieter scenery gives the Elaphiti route a good mix.

The strongest reasons are the personal pacing, local skipper input, and the ability to avoid a crowded group boat. Ivan and Robert are named skippers, and the available feedback gives special weight to their safe handling, friendly approach, and ability to adjust the day.

Before booking, confirm the exact fuel surcharge, route, start time, and amount of shore time. If your group is small, compare the total cost with a shared cruise. If you can fill the boat and want the freedom to choose your bays and beaches, this is one of the more practical ways to turn Dubrovnik into a day on the Adriatic.

FAQ

Where does the private speedboat tour start and end?

The tour starts at Lapadska obala 4, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia, and ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people can join the private boat?

The advertised price covers one private group of up to six people.

How long does the tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 4 to 10 hours, depending on the route and whether you choose a half-day or full-day outing.

Which destinations can I choose?

You can choose a half-day or full-day outing around the Elaphiti Islands, or a day around Korčula or Mljet. The detailed Elaphiti route includes Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkel equipment, life jackets for adults and children, and a GoPro camera are provided.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, soft drinks, and beer are included. Lunch is not listed as included.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. Free cancellation for a full refund is also available when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.