From Bay of Kotor: Blue Cave Private Speedboat Tour

The best part of this four-hour private speedboat tour is its mix of sea adventure and serious history. You race out of Kotor Bay to the Blue Cave, abandoned submarine tunnels, Mamula fortress, and Žanjic beach, with time to swim, snack, and set your own pace.

I like the private group format, which gives you more say over how long you stop at each place. I also like the small touches: drinks, a snorkeling mask, onboard Wi-Fi, and skippers such as Marko and Nikolai who have been praised for being friendly, flexible, and calm on rougher water. The main drawback is that the ride can feel lively and exposed, so this is not the right pick if you want a quiet cruise or have mobility limits.

Key points at a glance

• Blue Cave swim: Spend about 25 minutes in clear water lit by the cave’s blue glow.
• Private boat for up to six: The $483 group price works out to about $80.50 per person if you fill all six places.
• Three very different historic stops: See the artificial island of Our Lady of the Rocks, Yugoslav submarine tunnels, and Mamula’s former fortress prison.
• Žanjic gives you a choice: Relax on the pebble beach, swim, eat at a local restaurant, or leap from a 6-meter cliff.
• Flexible skipper-led outing: English is spoken, and the private setup lets your group decide where to linger.
• Fast return to Kotor: The speedboat covers a lot of ground in four hours, but the ride may be bumpy in bigger waves.

A fast, varied route from Kotor Bay

This tour is designed for people who want to see several of the bay’s signature sights without spending a full day on a large sightseeing boat. You meet at the MontenegroGlobe office near the Kamelija shopping center, only a few minutes from Kotor’s old town and port, then walk to the boat.

The route begins with roughly 20 minutes on the water. That first stretch gives you views of Kotor Bay and gets you quickly toward Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks. Music may play during the ride, and drinks are included, so the mood can feel more like a private outing with friends than a formal guided cruise.

That contrast is part of the appeal. You get some commentary about the places you pass and visit, but you are not locked into a long lecture. Guides named Marko and Nikolai have been praised for being sociable, helpful, funny, and responsive to individual requests. Guide assignments can vary, but the format encourages a relaxed conversation rather than a fixed script.

Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast

Your first major stop is the small island of Our Lady of the Rocks, reached after about 20 minutes by speedboat. The island is artificial, created over centuries by sinking boats and placing rocks in the bay. Its church and museum give the stop more substance than a simple photo break.

You have about 20 minutes here. You can pay the €2 entry fee per person to visit the museum, browse the shops, or simply take photographs and enjoy the view across to Perast. The time is enough for a quick look, but not for a slow museum visit and a long wander.

This stop works best if you like having choices. Some people will want the church and museum, while others will prefer to stay near the water. Since the stop is brief, decide early how you want to use it. The entry fee is not included, so bring a little cash if the museum is a priority.

Perast itself is one of the prettiest settlements along the bay, with stone buildings and a waterfront setting that looks especially good from the boat. You may not get an extended walking visit in town, so think of this portion as a taste of the area rather than a full Perast tour.

Yugoslav submarine tunnels

After another 20-minute ride, the boat pauses at the entrances to abandoned submarine tunnels built by the Yugoslav Army. These are practical military structures cut into the shore, not polished tourist attractions.

You spend about five minutes here, mainly taking photographs from the boat. The short stop makes sense because the tunnels are viewed from outside. Do not expect to walk deep inside or explore a restored museum.

Still, this is one of the most unusual points on the route. The openings look stark against the coast, and your skipper can explain how the tunnels were used to shelter submarines. It is a quick reminder that the bay is more than a pretty holiday setting. Its sheltered waters also made it valuable for military planning.

Keep your camera ready before the boat stops. Five minutes passes quickly, and the best view may be from the water rather than at the tunnel entrance itself.

Mamula Island and its difficult past

The boat then continues toward Mamula Island, a small, fortified island at the entrance to the Bay of Kotor. The fortress is from the Austro-Hungarian period and was later used as a concentration camp during World War II.

You have about 10 minutes for a photo stop and a brief visit. Your skipper provides background on the island, helping you understand why the walls and setting matter. The stop is short, so it is better suited to a quick walk and historical explanation than a full examination of the fortress.

Mamula can be a sobering pause in an otherwise playful day. The bright sea and open sky do not erase the site’s wartime past. I appreciate that the tour includes this context instead of treating the island as only a photogenic ruin.

The exact amount of walking depends on what is open and how your group uses the time. If you want a long historical visit, four hours is too short for that level of exploration. If you want to see the fortress, hear its story, and keep moving, the stop fits well.

The Blue Cave is the main event

About 10 minutes after Mamula, you reach the Blue Cave. This is the tour’s central attraction, and you spend around 25 minutes swimming and snorkeling there.

Sunlight enters through an underwater opening and gives the water its blue-lit appearance. You can swim through the cave and use the included snorkeling mask to look below the surface. Drinks are also included, which is useful after the speedboat ride and swim.

The cave stop is active rather than purely scenic. Bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, and a camera that you are comfortable taking near water. A sun hat is useful on the open boat, though you will want to secure it while the boat is moving.

The swimming time is limited, but that is normal for a half-day route with several stops. You are not spending hours at one beach or cave. Instead, you get a concentrated taste of the water, followed by another short ride and a longer break at Žanjic.

Sea conditions matter here. The boat is open and fast, and bigger waves can make the ride lively. One skipper was specifically praised for handling rougher water well, but no captain can remove the effects of wind and waves. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where you feel most stable and ask the skipper for practical advice.

Žanjic beach, lunch, and the 6-meter jump

The final major stop is Žanjic beach, where you have about 45 minutes. This is the most flexible part of the tour. You can swim, sunbathe on the pebbles, stroll along the shore, or choose lunch at a local restaurant.

The beach is pebble-covered, so water shoes may make getting in and out more comfortable, though they are not listed as required equipment. The supplied essentials include swimwear and a towel, so bring those from the start. There is no need to pack a full picnic because a local restaurant is available, but lunch is not included in the tour price.

For a little more drama, you can jump into the sea from a 6-meter-high cliff. This is an optional activity, not the point of the visit for everyone. I would treat it as suitable only if you are a confident swimmer, comfortable with the height, and willing to follow the skipper’s safety instructions.

The beach stop is valuable because it slows the day down. The earlier stops are short and structured around photographs, explanations, and swimming. Here, you get time to simply sit by the water. Families may prefer the beach and restaurant, while a group of friends may make the cliff jump the highlight.

You should also keep an eye on the clock. Forty-five minutes is enough for a swim and a snack, but not for a long meal followed by a leisurely beach afternoon. The boat still has a 40-minute ride back to Kotor.

What the $483 group price really buys

The price is $483 for a private group of up to six people. Fill every place and the cost is about $80.50 per person. For a couple, the per-person cost is much higher, so the value depends heavily on your group size.

The strongest value comes from privacy and flexibility. You are not sharing the boat with a large crowd, and the skipper can respond to your interests. Previous trips with Marko and Nikolai were described as individually tailored, with groups choosing where to spend more time and where to move on.

The price also includes the speedboat, drinks, snorkeling mask, travel insurance, and onboard Wi-Fi. Our Lady of the Rocks is the main extra cost, with a €2 entry fee per person if you choose the museum. Lunch at Žanjic is also separate.

I would consider this good value for a group of five or six that wants swimming, history, and a fast boat ride in one morning or afternoon. It is less compelling for a solo visitor or couple mainly seeking a calm scenic cruise. In that case, the private-group price may be hard to justify.

Speed, music, and the feel on board

This is a speedboat tour, not a slow ferry ride. The boat lets you cover the distance between Kotor, Mamula, the Blue Cave, and Žanjic in a single half-day, but the trade-off is a bumpier ride and less shelter from the sun.

Music is part of the atmosphere. One previous skipper used a phone to play party music for much of the outing, and the group enjoyed dancing on the boat. That sounds fun for a social group, but it may not suit someone hoping for a silent nature tour.

The private setting makes it easier to set the tone. You can tell the skipper what kind of day you want, within the fixed route and available time. The tour is conducted in English, and the guide explains the main sights as you go.

Free Wi-Fi is a useful extra if you want to send a photograph or stay in touch, though the scenery and swimming are the real reasons to book. Bring your own camera and protect it from splashes.

Who should book this tour

I would recommend this tour to a group of friends, a family with older children, or a small party that wants an active half-day near Kotor. It suits people who like moving between several places instead of spending the entire day in one bay.

It is also a good choice if you value a skipper who can adjust the rhythm. The private format lets you ask questions, request more swimming time when possible, or move on from a stop that does not interest you.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also not suitable for people over 95 years old, according to the activity restrictions. The boat, swimming, beach access, and cliff jump all require a reasonable level of mobility and comfort around water.

Families should think about their children’s tolerance for speed, sun, and short stops. The tour includes kids in its past bookings, and one skipper was praised for being attentive to a family, but the boat ride remains active and exposed.

Timing, meeting point, and what to pack

The tour lasts four hours, with departures available at different times depending on the date. Meet at the MontenegroGlobe office near the Kamelija shopping center, a few minutes from the old town and port. Look for the agency’s illuminated advertising along the main road.

Parking can be difficult in summer, when spaces are limited and car traffic increases. If you are driving, allow extra time rather than arriving at the last minute.

Pack:

• Swimsuit and towel
• Sunglasses and a sun hat
• Camera
• Comfortable clothing for an open speedboat

Snorkeling masks and drinks are provided. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed, and bikes are not suitable for this activity.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms make it easier to fit the outing around changing weather or cruise-port plans, but you should still check the available starting time before booking.

Should you book the Blue Cave speedboat tour?

Book it if you want a high-energy half-day that combines swimming, coastal scenery, military history, a beach break, and the option of a cliff jump. The route is well suited to a private group that can split the $483 cost among five or six people.

Skip it if you want a slow, quiet boat ride, a long visit at each historic site, or a fully inclusive beach lunch. You should also think twice if fast boats make you uncomfortable or if you need step-free access.

For the right group, this tour packs a lot into four hours without losing the pleasure of being on the water. I would book it with friends or family, bring swimwear, and agree in advance on your priorities: museum, cave swim, beach lunch, or the 6-meter jump.

FAQ

How long is the Blue Cave private speedboat tour?

The tour lasts four hours, including the boat rides and stops at Our Lady of the Rocks, the submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, the Blue Cave, and Žanjic beach.

Where does the tour begin?

Meet at the MontenegroGlobe tour agency near the Kamelija shopping center, a few minutes from Kotor’s old town and port.

How many people can join the private group?

The price covers a private group of up to six people.

Is lunch included?

No. You can choose to eat at a local restaurant during the Žanjic beach stop, but lunch is not included in the tour price.

Is entry to Our Lady of the Rocks included?

No. Entry costs €2 per person if you choose to visit the museum on the island.

What is included in the tour price?

The price includes drinks, a snorkeling mask, speedboat transport, boat transport, and travel insurance. Free onboard Wi-Fi is also provided.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. It is also listed as unsuitable for people over 95 years old.