Kotor: Private Blue Cave Tour – Swim & Relax at Your Pace

The main appeal here is simple: you get the boat to yourself. Instead of squeezing into a fixed group, you can spend your three hours cruising Boka Bay, stopping for photos, visiting Our Lady of the Rocks, and swimming at the Blue Cave at a pace that suits your group. I especially like the private setting and the chance to play your own music onboard.

I also like the useful extras: drinking water, Wi-Fi, life jackets for adults and children, snorkeling masks when available, and a waterproof phone case when available. The main thing to consider is the sea. The Blue Cave stop depends on safe conditions, and a speedboat can feel bumpy or windy, especially in spring and autumn.

Quick reasons to choose this private boat trip

• The full boat is yours: The price is $261 for up to six people, so a full group pays about $43.50 per person.
• The Blue Cave gets real swim time: You have about 20 minutes there, with the skipper adjusting the stop if the sea is not suitable.
• Our Lady of the Rocks adds a cultural stop: You can visit the island and optionally pay €3 cash for the museum.
• Former submarine tunnels add a bit of wartime atmosphere: The route includes two short stops or passes by the old naval tunnels.
• Your captain can shape the mood: Recent captains have included Marko, Alex, Sergey, Petra, Banjo, and Zdravko, with music, local explanations, and flexible swimming stops often part of the experience.
• The departure point is easy from central Kotor: City Park is about 200 meters from the Old Town’s Main Gate and close to the cruise port.

A private way to see Boka Bay

Boka Bay is best understood from the water. From a speedboat, you look back at stone settlements, church towers, steep mountains, and the narrow passages that give the bay its dramatic shape. A road trip can show you the same places from land, but it cannot give you this open-water view.

This tour is aimed at people who care more about comfort and freedom than a tightly scripted commentary program. Your skipper is also your guide, so you can ask questions as you go. An audio guide and written local information are available through a QR code in several languages, though the live guiding is in English.

The private format matters most if you are a couple, a family, or a group of friends. You do not need to wait for strangers to finish swimming or agree on every photo stop. You can keep the pace moving, linger at a viewpoint, or ask for a little more time in the water when conditions allow.

The boat is a speedboat, not a slow sightseeing vessel. That means you cover more of the bay in a short period, but you should expect wind, spray, and some movement. Bring a light layer in cooler months and keep your phone secure.

Starting at City Park near Kotor’s Old Town

The meeting point is City Park at Park Slobode 1, close to the water and roughly 200 meters from the Old Town’s Main Gate. It is also within easy walking distance of Kotor’s port, which makes the tour practical for people arriving by cruise ship.

If you come from a cruise ship, leave the ship and pass through security. Turn left, then turn left again at the small bridge toward the park. Near the seaside, look for the information desk where the skipper and a staff member will meet you.

Arrive at least 30 minutes early. This is especially important in summer, when traffic near the park can be slow and roadworks may add delays. Parking in Kotor can be scarce, so I would not cut it close if you are driving.

Hotel pickup is not included. You need to make your own way to the park, but the central location keeps that task fairly easy if you are staying in or near the Old Town.

Speeding out across Boka Bay

The first boat ride takes about 20 minutes. This is when the trip changes from a town visit into a proper coastal outing. You leave Kotor behind and get wide views of the water, mountains, and small settlements along the shore.

The speedboat lets you see several areas in one morning without spending the whole time in transit. You can take photos while underway, but hold onto hats and loose belongings. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so arrive with only the things you need for the boat and the swim.

The captain handles the route and safety decisions. Recent trips have included captains such as Marko, Alex, Sergey, Petra, and Banjo. Assignments can change, but the role is consistent: steering the boat, explaining local sights, and adjusting the route to the weather and sea.

You may also be allowed to play your own music. That small detail helps the private boat feel more like your group’s outing than a standard excursion. Keep the volume sensible so you can still hear safety instructions and enjoy the bay.

Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast

The first major stop is Our Lady of the Rocks, near Perast. You have about 20 minutes for a break, photographs, and a visit to the island. The little island church and museum are optional, and museum admission costs €3 in cash.

This stop gives the trip a useful change of pace. After the speedboat ride, you can walk around, look back toward Perast, and take in the bay from solid ground. The island is small, so 20 minutes is enough for a short visit but not enough for a long museum stop and an unhurried exploration.

Church and museum hours vary by season. They typically remain open until 17:00 in April, May, September, and October, until 18:00 in June, and until 19:00 in July and August. Hours can change, and the buildings may close earlier on some days. The island itself can still be visited if the church or museum is closed.

If you want to enter the church, bring something that covers your shoulders and legs. Swimwear is not suitable inside, even though the rest of this outing is built around being on the water. This is one reason a light cover-up is a smart addition to your packing list.

The old submarine tunnels

The route continues toward former submarine tunnels cut into the coast. These are brief stops, with about five minutes listed for each. One is described as a photo stop and visit, while the other is a short sightseeing stop.

Do not expect a long museum visit or a detailed military tour. The appeal is the setting: the boat brings you close to old naval infrastructure that is easy to miss from the road. The dark openings in the rocky shoreline make an unusual contrast with the bright water and mountain scenery.

The schedule lists two separate visits to the former submarine tunnel area. The exact order can shift because the skipper may respond to boat traffic, sea conditions, and local rules. Treat these as quick visual stops rather than the central reason to book.

For photographers, these pauses are useful. You can capture the tunnel entrances, the surrounding cliffs, and the boat itself from the water. The private arrangement may also make it easier to ask for a short photo pause along the coast if time and conditions permit.

Swimming at the Blue Cave

The Blue Cave is the highlight for most people booking this trip. The cave is known for blue reflections in the water, and the tour allows roughly 20 minutes for swimming.

That timing is enough for a refreshing dip and a few photographs, but it is not a full beach afternoon. If swimming is the main point of your outing, tell the skipper early. Captains have adjusted swim time for groups when conditions allowed, and one past trip used a calmer swimming stop near the submarine base when the sea was rough.

The cave is not guaranteed in every condition. Weather, wave height, and local safety rules can affect access. The operator may cancel or reschedule the tour if conditions are unsafe, and the skipper has the final say on where it is safe to enter the water.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Snorkeling masks are available when supplies allow, but do not depend on them as a guaranteed item. The same goes for the waterproof phone case. Bring your own protection for your phone if taking pictures in the water matters to you.

The long ride back to Kotor

After the Blue Cave, the return speedboat leg is listed at about 70 minutes. This is the longest uninterrupted ride of the trip, so it is a good time to settle back, enjoy the bay, and take in the views without trying to fit in another major stop.

The ride can be the most exposed part of the outing. On a calm day, it should feel like a pleasant coastal cruise. In wind or rougher water, you may feel more spray and bouncing. People with back problems, pregnant women, wheelchair users, and people with mobility impairments are advised not to take this experience.

The boat has safety equipment, including life jackets and child-size life jackets on request. A first aid kit, insurance, fuel, and a licensed captain are included. Drinking water is provided, and some past groups have brought drinks and snacks onboard, but large bags are not permitted. Confirm any food or drink plans with the operator before departure.

What the $261 price really buys you

The listed price is $261 per private group of up to six. For six people, that works out to about $43.50 each. For two people, the same boat costs about $130.50 per person, so the value changes sharply with group size.

For a full group of six, this is a strong price for a private speedboat, captain, fuel, insurance, water, safety gear, and several stops. You are paying not only for transportation, but also for control over the pace and the comfort of avoiding a packed boat.

For a couple, it is a more deliberate splurge. A shared trip may cost less, but it will not give you the same privacy, freedom with music, or ability to adjust a swimming and photo stop. If you dislike crowded excursions, the extra cost can make sense.

Optional costs are limited. The Our Lady of the Rocks museum costs €3 cash, while church access and opening times depend on the day. Hotel transport is not included, and you need to reach the meeting point yourself.

Practical details that affect your day

The experience lasts three hours, with starting times available according to the date you choose. The listed route includes about 20 minutes to Our Lady of the Rocks, two short five-minute tunnel stops, around 20 minutes at the Blue Cave, and the boat rides between them.

The tour includes skip-the-line access where available, but that does not apply at Our Lady of the Rocks. The church is small and entry is usually quick anyway. There is no need to treat the phrase as a promise of special priority at that stop.

The audio guide requires a smartphone with internet access through mobile data or Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is listed onboard, but it is still wise to arrive with your phone charged. You will also want enough storage for photos and a dry place for your belongings.

Pack light:

• Comfortable shoes for the island
• Swimwear and a towel
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a sun hat
• A light jacket in spring and autumn
• A camera or protected phone
• Comfortable clothes and a church cover-up if needed

Smoking is not allowed in the vehicle. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so leave suitcases at your accommodation or in an appropriate secure place.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful when your Kotor schedule may change.

Who will enjoy this most

I would pick this for a small group that wants the main sights of the bay without giving up personal space. Families benefit from the private boat and child-size life jackets, while friends can combine music, photos, and swimming without negotiating with a larger group.

It also suits couples who want a special outing and do not mind paying more per person for privacy. The trip has enough variety to keep a three-hour morning interesting: open-water cruising, an island visit, old submarine tunnels, and a swim.

It is less suitable if you want a slow historical tour with long explanations at every stop. The live guide speaks English, but the route is built around movement and scenery rather than extended time ashore. It is also a poor fit if you are uncomfortable on fast boats or need step-free access.

The Blue Cave should be treated as a weather-dependent feature, not an absolute promise. If the sea is rough, the skipper may shorten or change the swim stop. That is frustrating if the cave is your sole reason for booking, but it is the right safety choice.

Should you book this Kotor Blue Cave tour?

Book it if you want a private speedboat, a real swim stop, and flexible time for photos. The price is particularly good for up to six people, and the central meeting point makes it easy to fit into a Kotor morning.

I would pause before booking if you are visiting in cooler weather, dislike boat movement, or want a long visit at the church and museum. For everyone else, this is a practical way to combine Boka Bay scenery with the Blue Cave without spending the day in a crowded excursion. Arrive early, pack light, bring a cover-up, and keep your plans flexible enough for the sea to have the final word.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at City Park, Park Slobode 1, about 200 meters from Kotor’s Old Town Main Gate and within walking distance of the Port of Kotor.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive at least 30 minutes before departure.

How long is the tour?

The advertised duration is three hours.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The tour is for a private group of up to six people.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The route includes about 20 minutes of swimming at the Blue Cave, conditions permitting.

Can the Blue Cave stop change?

Yes. The skipper may adjust the route or swimming location according to sea conditions, weather, and local regulations.

Is Our Lady of the Rocks included?

The island visit is included. Optional church and museum tickets are not included. The museum admission is €3 cash.

What language is the live tour in?

The live tour guide speaks English. An audio guide and written local information are available through a QR code in multiple languages.

Can children join the tour?

Child-size life jackets are available on request. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, or wheelchair users.