Private 2-hour Our Lady of the Rock & Perast by speedboat

Boka Bay reveals itself best from the water, where steep Montenegrin mountains drop toward the Adriatic and old stone villages sit along the shore. I like the private speedboat format because you avoid a crowded boat and can enjoy the views at your own pace. I also like the efficient route: Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast fit into a short outing from Kotor.

The main drawback is the meeting point. You are told to meet at Kotor’s Sea Gate, but one booking ended with a long wait in the hot sun because the host was waiting near the cruise tender drop-off instead. Confirm the exact place and contact details before you leave your ship or hotel.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to six people: The $259 price covers the whole group, not each person, making it far better value for a small party than a per-seat excursion.
• Our Lady of the Rocks stop: You visit the man-made island that holds a special place in local tradition. Admission is not included.
• Perast is more than a photo stop: You get 30 minutes to walk around this graceful baroque village beside the bay.
• A quick route from Kotor: The schedule allows 30 minutes cruising out, 30 minutes at Our Lady of the Rocks, 30 minutes in Perast, and 30 minutes back.
• Swimming is possible, but not promised: Snorkeling gear and towels are supplied, and one captain allowed a quick dip. Ask your skipper on the day.
• Simple inclusions: Water, towels, snorkeling equipment, travel insurance, and an English-speaking skipper are included.

Why a speedboat is a smart way to see Boka Bay

Boka Bay is not a place you fully understand from a road beside the water. From a speedboat, the proportions make sense. You see the mountains rising around the sheltered sea, the narrow shoreline villages, and the changing view back toward Kotor.

This is a private trip, so you share the boat only with your own group, up to six people. That matters most if you are traveling with family or friends. You can sit together, take photos without strangers in every frame, and ask the skipper about the bay as you go.

The boat also makes a two-hour visit practical. A longer full-day cruise may suit you if you want more swimming and a slower pace, but this shorter tour focuses on two of the bay’s best-known stops. I see it as a good first look, especially if Kotor is one stop on a busy cruise schedule.

The price is $259 per group. For six people, that works out to roughly $43 per person. For two people, it is a much bigger spend, but you are paying for privacy and a dedicated skipper rather than a seat on a shared boat. The value improves sharply as your group gets larger.

Meeting at Kotor’s Sea Gate

Your meeting point is in front of the Main Gate, also called the Sea Gate, of Kotor’s Old Town. The skipper or a member of the Miro & Sons team is supposed to meet you there with a sign showing your name, then escort you to the speedboat.

That arrangement should be easy in theory. Kotor’s Old Town is compact, and the Sea Gate is a clear landmark. Still, I would treat this as the one part of the experience that needs extra care.

A July booking resulted in a wait of nearly 30 minutes in direct sun because the representative was waiting near the place where cruise tenders dropped people off. The information given to the booking party pointed them to the Sea Gate, so the two sides missed each other. If you are coming from a cruise ship, allow time to get off the ship, walk through the port area, and reach the stated meeting point. Keep the provider’s phone contact handy and call promptly if nobody appears.

That issue does not change the appeal of the boat trip, but it can affect your mood and your schedule. It is especially important here because the experience lasts only two hours. A 30-minute delay is a quarter of the whole outing.

Thirty minutes across the Bay of Kotor

Once you are on board, the first 30 minutes are devoted to the cruise through the Bay of Kotor. The speedboat gives you a broad view of the water and mountains, while the skipper handles the route.

This is the part where you should keep your camera ready, but do not spend every second looking at a screen. The pleasure is in seeing the bay open around you. The Adriatic is close at hand, while the Montenegrin mountains form a dramatic wall around the water.

The tour promises an English-speaking driver, and the trip is designed to include an introduction to Montenegrin history and heritage along the way. The supplied information does not name the skipper, so you should not expect a particular guide. You will meet the person assigned to your departure.

The speedboat ride is also part of the fun. It is quicker and livelier than a slow sightseeing boat, though you should keep sunscreen on and bring anything you need for comfort in the sun. Sunscreen is the one item specifically recommended, and it is good advice.

Our Lady of the Rocks and its man-made island

The first stop is Our Lady of the Rocks, a small man-made island near Perast. Its setting is the star here. The island sits on the bay with mountains behind it and open water around it, giving you a view that feels much larger than the site itself.

The island is important to local heritage and tradition. Your stop gives you time to look around and understand why it matters to people from the region, rather than simply photographing it from the boat.

You have 30 minutes here. That is enough for a focused visit, but it is not a long museum session. Entrance fees to the island are not included in the tour price, so bring money for admission. This is the clearest extra cost to plan for, and it is worth asking about the current fee when you book or meet the skipper.

Do not confuse Our Lady of the Rocks with a natural island. Its man-made character is one of the details that makes the stop special. The island’s setting, local meaning, and short boat approach create a strong contrast with the much larger mountain walls around the bay.

One booking also included a quick swim during the outing. Snorkeling equipment and towels are supplied, but swimming is not listed as a fixed part of the schedule. Ask the skipper if conditions and timing allow it. With only two hours, a swim may shorten your time at one of the formal stops.

Thirty minutes in baroque Perast

After Our Lady of the Rocks, the boat continues to Perast, one of the most attractive settlements on the bay. You get another 30-minute break here, enough for a short walk, photographs, and a look at the village’s stone buildings and waterfront setting.

Perast has a different feel from Kotor. Kotor is fortified and urban, with narrow lanes inside its walls. Perast is smaller and more open to the bay, with baroque architecture facing the water. That change of pace is one reason the combination works so well.

I would use the time carefully. Walk along the waterfront, look back at the mountains and islands, and enjoy the village rather than trying to force in a full meal. Thirty minutes goes quickly, and the boat must return on schedule.

Perast is also a good place to appreciate the bay’s history through its buildings. You are not simply seeing a pretty shoreline. The village’s grand stone facades hint at the wealth and maritime connections that shaped this part of Montenegro.

The short stop has a tradeoff. You get a clear taste of Perast, but not enough time for a leisurely exploration. If Perast is your main reason for visiting the bay, you may prefer a longer land-based visit. If you want to combine it with Our Lady of the Rocks in a compact private trip, the 30-minute pause is useful.

The 30-minute return to Kotor

The final half-hour is the cruise back to Kotor and Park Slobode. This is a good time to take in the bay from a different angle. Views often change simply because you are facing the opposite direction, and the ride gives you a last chance for photographs.

The return also makes the timing easy to understand. Thirty minutes out, 30 minutes at Our Lady of the Rocks, 30 minutes in Perast, and 30 minutes back adds up to the advertised two hours. There is little spare time, so arrive early and keep your stops focused.

You finish at Park Slobode, close to Kotor’s Old Town. Since the trip begins and ends near the city center, it can fit neatly before or after sightseeing in the old city, assuming your departure time works with your plans.

What the private format adds

A private group is the biggest practical advantage. On a shared boat, you follow someone else’s timetable and may spend the trip beside a large group. Here, the boat is reserved for up to six people, and the skipper can speak directly with you.

That does not mean every request can be added. The published schedule is tight, and the route includes two specific stops. Still, you can ask questions, request a short pause for photos, or ask about a quick swim without having to negotiate with a boat full of strangers.

For families, privacy can make the trip easier. You can board with your own group and avoid worrying about holding up other people. For couples, the private boat creates a more personal setting, though the per-person price is less attractive with only two passengers.

The speedboat itself gives the outing a lively feel. You are not spending two hours simply drifting along. You move between Kotor, the island, and Perast quickly, leaving enough time for the main sights.

What is included, and what you still pay for

The package includes the skipper, private boat, water, towels, snorkeling equipment, and travel insurance. Those inclusions keep the planning simple. You do not need to arrange a separate boat, bring your own towel, or buy water before departure.

The important exclusion is admission to Our Lady of the Rocks. That fee is paid separately, so do not assume the $259 covers every cost connected with the island.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. If you use a wheelchair, I would still confirm the boarding arrangement in advance. The available details do not explain the boat ramp, transfer process, or whether the particular vessel can accommodate every chair.

English is the stated language. The skipper is the driver and your point of contact on the water. No individual guide name is provided, so the quality of the commentary may depend on the person assigned that day.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold the booking without paying immediately. Those policies are useful if your Kotor schedule may change, but they do not solve the meeting-point problem, so confirm that detail before departure.

Who should book this two-hour trip

I would recommend this tour to you if you want the major highlights of the inner bay but have limited time. It is particularly well suited to a group of four to six, since the fixed price becomes much better value when shared.

It also suits you if you prefer a private setting and want more energy than a slow boat cruise. The combination of mountain views, a local island, and Perast gives you a good sample of Boka Bay without taking a full day.

You may want something else if you dislike tight schedules. The two 30-minute stops are enough for a taste, not a long visit. You might also prefer a longer tour if swimming is your main goal, since a dip is not guaranteed and could reduce your sightseeing time.

Cruise passengers should plan carefully. The experience itself is short, but reaching the meeting point and returning to your ship takes extra time. Do not cut it close, especially after the reported confusion between the Sea Gate and the tender landing area.

Should you book it?

I would book this private speedboat tour if you are traveling with a small group, want to see both Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast, and value a direct route from Kotor. The scenery is the main reward, and the island and baroque village give the ride real substance beyond a quick boat loop.

I would hesitate only if you are a couple watching every dollar, need a long visit at either stop, or want guaranteed swimming. Before paying, confirm that the meeting point is definitely the Sea Gate, ask about the separate island admission, and check what time you must be back in Kotor.

With those points clear, the tour offers a brisk, attractive introduction to Boka Bay and a good private-group experience for the right party size.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet?

You meet in front of the Main Gate, or Sea Gate, of Kotor Old Town. A member of the Miro & Sons team should be there with a sign showing your name and escort you to the boat.

How long is the boat tour?

The experience lasts two hours. The planned schedule includes 30 minutes cruising through Boka Bay, 30 minutes at Our Lady of the Rocks, 30 minutes in Perast, and 30 minutes cruising back to Kotor.

Is the boat private?

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

Is admission to Our Lady of the Rocks included?

No. Entrance fees to Our Lady of the Rocks are not included in the tour price.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the private speedboat, English-speaking skipper, snorkeling equipment, towels, travel insurance, and water.

Is swimming part of the tour?

Swimming is not listed as a guaranteed activity. Snorkeling equipment and towels are provided, and you can ask the skipper if a quick swim is possible during your trip.