From Perast: Boka Bay and Blue Cave Tour – Pick up

The best part of this tour is the change of pace. You leave Perast by speedboat, pass old churches and waterfront palaces, then reach military tunnels, an old prison island, and the glowing Blue Cave in one compact outing. Swimming inside the Blue Cave is the big payoff, when conditions allow.

I like the smart mix of culture and scenery, especially the stop at Our Lady of the Rocks and the cruise past Porto Montenegro and Porto Novi. I also like that the trip is short enough to fit neatly into a day in the Bay of Kotor, while still covering a wide stretch of coast.

The trade-off is the speed. Fast boats are fun, but rough water can make the ride hard on your back or stomach. Loud music has also been used on some departures, and the seating arrangement may feel tight when the boat is full.

Key points to know before you book

• Blue Cave swim: You get around 30 minutes for photos, free time, and swimming, but entering the water depends on weather and sea conditions.
• Four distinct stops: The route combines a small island church, WWII submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and the Blue Cave.
• Fast coastal sightseeing: You also pass through the Verige channel and view Porto Montenegro and Porto Novi from the water.
• Perast departure: Meet at the dock across from the market at Pristaniste Perast.
• Small-group feel: Private and small-group options are available, with an English-speaking guide.
• Good value at $53: The price covers the speedboat, guide, insurance, several stops, and the Blue Cave swim, but not the church entrance.

Why this Perast speedboat trip works so well

The Bay of Kotor rewards a boat tour because its best angles are from the water. From Perast, you can look back at stone buildings and church towers while the mountains rise behind them. A speedboat adds reach. Instead of staying near the town, you travel through the bay toward the outer coast and see places that are difficult to combine on foot or by car.

This is not a slow sightseeing cruise. The boat covers the route briskly, with short transfers between stops and enough time at the main locations to look around. The advertised duration is about two hours to 150 minutes, so you should think of it as a concentrated sampler rather than a full-day outing.

I especially like the variety. You are not spending the entire trip looking at pretty water. You get a little local history, a little military history, marina views, a former prison, and a natural swimming spot. That variety helps justify the $53 price.

The strongest practical reason to book from Perast is convenience. If you are already staying in or visiting Perast, you can begin at the waterfront rather than arranging a separate transfer to Kotor. The meeting point is at Pristaniste Perast, at the dock across from the market. Look for the market, then cross to the pickup area.

Leaving Perast and crossing the Bay of Kotor

The tour begins with a short speedboat ride from the Perast dock. The first views are already rewarding, with the town’s old waterfront buildings, churches, and mountain-backed setting opening up around you.

The boat gives you a broad view that you cannot get from the narrow waterfront streets. Keep your camera ready, but protect it from spray and hold onto loose items. A hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a towel are practical choices, even on a cooler day.

The boat ride itself is part of the experience, but it is also the part most affected by wind. Several departures have been described as comfortable and smooth, while choppy conditions made the ride difficult for some people. The skipper has received especially strong praise for handling waves safely, yet good boat handling cannot remove every jolt.

If you are prone to seasickness, I would think carefully before booking. The tour is not suitable for people with serious back problems, pregnant women, or people who regularly struggle on boats. Comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for water activities are recommended.

Our Lady of the Rocks, Perast’s island landmark

Your first major stop is Our Lady of the Rocks, a small artificial island near Perast. You get about 20 minutes for a visit, a walk, photographs, and free time.

The island is famous for its church and its unusual origin as a man-made platform built up over time in the bay. Your guide explains the island’s story, giving the stop more meaning than a quick photo from the boat. This is a good place to listen, since the setting is compact and the visit moves quickly.

The church entrance is not included in the tour price. If you want to go inside, bring suitable clothing. Bathing suits are not allowed in the church, so keep a cover-up or change into proper clothes before arriving if you plan to enter.

Twenty minutes is enough to see the island and take photos, but not enough for a long visit. I would treat this as a focused stop, not a full museum visit. The church entrance fee is an extra cost, and the dress code matters.

The island is also a useful early pause after the first fast ride. You can stretch your legs, hear the guide’s explanation, and get a sense of the bay’s religious and maritime traditions before the route turns toward the open coast.

Verige channel and the view toward Porto Montenegro

After leaving the island, the boat continues through the Verige channel. This is one of the narrower passages in the Bay of Kotor, and the change in scale makes the trip feel more like a journey through connected waterways than a simple coastal ride.

From the boat, you see Porto Montenegro and Porto Novi. These are modern luxury marina developments, a clear contrast with Perast’s older stone buildings and church domes. You do not spend a long time ashore at either marina, so the value here is visual: you get a water-level look at the yachts, waterfront construction, and newer side of Montenegro’s coast.

I like this part because it gives the tour some contrast. The bay is not frozen in the past. Traditional settlements, military sites, luxury marinas, and natural swimming spots all share the same route.

You should not book this tour expecting a marina shopping stop. Porto Montenegro and Porto Novi are sightseeing views from the boat. Your guide may point out what you are seeing, but the route does not list time to go ashore.

WWII submarine tunnels cut into the coast

The former submarine tunnel is one of the tour’s most unusual stops. The boat pauses for roughly 10 minutes for photographs, allowing you to see the abandoned entrance where submarines were hidden during World War II.

You do not explore the tunnel on foot. This is a photo stop from the water, so expectations matter. The site is valuable because it gives the trip a darker, more tangible layer. Smooth marina views and bright sea colors are only part of the bay’s story. These rough military structures show how the coast was used for defense and secrecy.

The stop is brief, but that suits the tour’s format. A speedboat can bring you right up to the entrance, let you photograph it, and then continue without turning the day into a military-history excursion.

If you enjoy old fortifications, wartime sites, or places that feel less polished than a standard sightseeing stop, this may be one of your favorite moments. If you want to go inside the tunnel, you should know that the scheduled experience is a viewing stop, not an underground visit.

Mamula Island and the former prison

The next photo stop is Mamula Island, also called Lastavica. The island is known for its former prison, sometimes compared with Alcatraz because of its isolated position.

The boat spends about 10 minutes here. You see the island from the water and learn about its former role, but there is no listed shore visit. That limitation is worth noting. Mamula is more about atmosphere and context than a long guided tour of the prison buildings.

Its location makes the stop memorable. A small fortified island surrounded by open water naturally raises questions about who was held there and why the site was chosen. Your guide can provide the basic background while you take photos from the boat.

This is another reason the route feels well planned. The tour does not spend all its time on postcard scenery. It includes places connected to conflict, imprisonment, and military control, then follows them with a swim in one of the bay’s most striking natural sites.

Swimming in Montenegro’s Blue Cave

The Blue Cave is the main event for many people. You get around 30 minutes for a break, photographs, free time, and swimming when conditions permit.

The cave’s blue color comes from sunlight entering through the water and reflecting inside the cavern. The effect can look intensely blue, especially when the sea is calm and bright. It is the kind of place where the view changes once you get into the water, because you are no longer looking at the cave only from the boat.

Swimming is not guaranteed. Rough seas or poor weather can make entry unsafe, and the operator reserves the right to change the route. In bad sea conditions, the alternative may include Porto Montenegro or Porto Novi. The tour can also be canceled if conditions are unfavorable.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, and a camera. A waterproof phone pouch is sensible, though it is not listed as required. You may also want a dry layer for the ride afterward, since a wet swimsuit and a fast boat can make the return trip feel cooler.

Do not confuse this with a long cave expedition. You are there for a short swim and photo session. The appeal is the unusual light, the clear water, and the chance to enter by boat. The exact color and swimming conditions will depend on the day.

The Blue Cave is also where the trip’s weather risk matters most. Calm water can make the stop magical. Wind can make the ride uncomfortable and may remove the swimming portion altogether. That is not a flaw unique to this operator, but it is important when you are paying for a water-based experience.

The return ride to Perast

After the Blue Cave, the boat makes the longer return run to Perast, listed at about 40 minutes. This is your chance to settle in and enjoy the bay from a different angle.

Some departures include free drinks, and music may play during the ride. Music can add energy to a speedboat trip, but it is worth knowing that the volume has not always suited everyone. If you prefer quiet sightseeing, a private option may give you more control over the mood, though the available details do not promise a specific music policy.

Seating also deserves a practical note. On a small boat, the front seats usually give the strongest sense of speed and the clearest forward view, but space can be limited. If you are traveling as a family or group, arrive prepared to share seating rather than assuming everyone will remain in one position for the entire trip.

The skipper’s handling is a major part of comfort. The boat has been described as smooth in calm water, and the captain has been praised for managing choppy waves. Still, a fast boat over rough water will move sharply, so people with back trouble or seasickness should choose a slower, calmer outing instead.

What $53 includes and what it does not

At $53 per person, this tour offers solid value if you want to cover several parts of the bay in a short time. You are paying for a two-hour speedboat tour, an English-speaking guide, insurance, the stop at Our Lady of the Rocks, views of two luxury marinas, the submarine tunnels, Mamula Island, and the Blue Cave swimming opportunity.

The price does not include entrance to the church on Our Lady of the Rocks. That is a small but important extra if you want to go inside.

The value is strongest for people with limited time. A private boat for the same number of stops would likely cost more, while a slower trip might not reach all the same locations. The small-group and private options give you a way to choose a more personal setting if that matters to you.

I would not call this the best value for someone who wants a quiet, slow cruise or a detailed visit inside historic sites. You are buying access and coverage, not long stays at each stop. At this price, the tour makes sense as a high-energy overview with one major swim.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check availability when you book.

Who should book this boat tour?

I would recommend it to you if you want a compact outing that combines scenery, history, and swimming. It suits couples, friends, and small groups who like moving quickly and seeing several different sites in one ride.

It is especially useful if you are based in Perast and do not want to spend extra time arranging transport to another port. It also fits well into a day when you want to leave room for exploring Perast, Kotor, or another part of the bay afterward.

Families should consider the seating and speed before booking. Children who enjoy boats may have a great time, but babies under one year are not accepted, and the tour is not designed for wheelchair users. People over 70 and anyone over 260 pounds, or 118 kilograms, are also listed as unsuitable for this activity.

Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear, towel, and camera. Do not bring pets, and smoking is not allowed. The tour operates in rain or shine, with raincoats provided in wet weather, but the route may change or the trip may be canceled if the sea becomes unsafe.

Should you book the Perast Blue Cave tour?

Book it if you want maximum variety in roughly two hours and you are comfortable with a fast ride. The route gives you a strong taste of the Bay of Kotor, from the small church island and old waterfronts to submarine tunnels, Mamula, modern marinas, and the Blue Cave.

Think twice if you are prone to seasickness, have back problems, need step-free access, or want guaranteed swimming. The Blue Cave is weather-dependent, and rough water can change both the comfort of the ride and the route.

For most able-bodied visitors who enjoy speedboats, the $53 price is fair. I would choose an early departure if available, since one 9 AM outing had calm water and especially good Blue Cave conditions. If you want the best chance of a relaxed experience, calm weather matters more than any fixed schedule.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

The meeting point is Pristaniste Perast. You will see a market, and the speedboat pickup dock is across from it.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about two hours to 150 minutes. Starting times vary, so check availability when booking.

Is an English-speaking guide included?

Yes. The tour includes a live English-speaking guide.

Is swimming in the Blue Cave guaranteed?

No. Swimming is subject to weather and sea conditions. In rough seas, the route may change to an alternative such as Porto Montenegro or Porto Novi.

Is the entrance to Our Lady of the Rocks church included?

No. The church entrance is not included. If you enter, you must follow the dress code and cannot wear a bathing suit.

What should I bring?

Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, swimwear, towel, camera, and comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for water activities. Be prepared for possible seasickness.