2025 Private Boat To Blue Cave 3 hours ADVENTURE

The Blue Cave is the main attraction here, with a 30-minute stop for swimming in its clear, blue-lit water when sea conditions and boat traffic permit. The trip also packs in Our Lady of the Rocks, Mamula Fortress, the old submarine tunnels, and a sea-level view of Perast.

I like the mix of swimming and history. You get time for a proper water stop, then hear stories about a prison island and military tunnels. I also like the private format and the price: $241.87 for up to six people can be good value for a family or small group.

The main caution is that this is a speedboat outing, not a slow sightseeing cruise. Much of the three hours is spent moving between stops, and the Blue Cave swim can be canceled by wind, water conditions, or heavy boat traffic.

Key points to know before you book

• The Blue Cave gets the longest stop: You have about 30 minutes for swimming and photos when conditions allow.
• Four distinct stops fit into three hours: The route combines nature, island churches, wartime history, and military structures.
• Aki and Bobin are named skippers: Aki is noted for detailed explanations and careful handling in strong wind, while Bobin added music and commentary.
• The price covers a private group of up to six: At $241.87 total, the per-person cost falls sharply when six people share the boat.
• Perast is viewed from the water: You get a useful sea-level look at its Venetian-style buildings without a separate town visit.
• Warm layers matter outside summer: The ride can feel cold, especially in November, even when the sights are good.

What this Kotor boat trip is really designed to do

This is a compact coastal outing built around variety. You are not spending three hours at one beach or taking a slow architectural cruise. Instead, the speedboat links several places around the Bay of Kotor and the open-water approach toward the Blue Cave.

That makes the tour a useful choice if you have limited time. In one morning or afternoon, you can swim, photograph an island church, hear about a World War II prison, enter a former submarine tunnel, and look back at Perast from the sea.

The tradeoff is easy to understand: more stops mean less time at each one. Only the Blue Cave receives a substantial stay, while Mamula Fortress and the submarine tunnel get about 10 minutes each. You should book this for an active overview, not for long museum visits or relaxed time ashore.

The boat leaves from Hawaii Boat Tours Kotor at Park Slobode 1 and returns to the same meeting point. The listed three hours include travel time, so the actual sightseeing and swimming time together are shorter than three hours.

The Blue Cave: the trip’s main event

The Blue Cave is where the tour spends the most time, with an expected stop of about 30 minutes. Sunlight entering the cave gives the water its striking blue appearance, and the clear water makes this the natural swimming point on the route.

You can swim inside or near the cave when the sea is safe and access is practical. Bring a swimsuit, towel, and a way to protect your phone if you want photographs from the water. The stop is also worthwhile if you prefer to stay aboard and take pictures, though swimmers will get more from it.

Do not treat the swim as guaranteed. Heavy boat traffic and water conditions have already caused the stop to change for some departures. On those occasions, the skipper found another place for swimming, so the day may still include a dip, but not necessarily in the Blue Cave itself.

This is one reason I would avoid booking the tour around a single perfect photograph. The cave is a strong draw, but the sea decides how the visit works. Wind, waves, and congestion can change the plan.

Our Lady of the Rocks and the view toward Perast

The stop at Our Lady of the Rocks lasts about 20 minutes. The small island and its church are among the most recognizable sights in the Bay of Kotor, and the short visit gives you time for photographs and an introduction to the island’s unusual story.

The tour description does not promise an interior church visit, so think of this as a brief island stop rather than a full cultural tour. You will have time to look around, take pictures, and hear the basic background from the skipper.

The boat also passes with a panoramic view of Perast. From the water, you see the town’s Venetian-style architecture and coastline in one frame. This viewpoint is especially useful because Perast is best understood as part of the bay, with its buildings pressed along the shore and the mountains rising behind them.

I like this part of the route because it slows the trip slightly after the speedboat ride. Still, 20 minutes is brief. If you want extensive time inside the church or a long walk through Perast, you will need a separate visit.

Mamula Fortress and the weight of its story

Mamula Island brings a darker subject to the outing. The fortress was used as a prison during World War II, and the skipper explains its past during the stop.

You get about 10 minutes here, so expect a short look rather than a detailed historical tour. The value comes from hearing the place explained while you are actually beside it. A bare fortress can seem like just another photogenic structure from the water. Its prison history gives the island a more serious meaning.

This stop may appeal most if you enjoy military history and local stories. It may feel rushed if you want to walk through the fort or study the structure closely. The supplied details do not promise entry into the fortress, so you should view this as an exterior stop with commentary.

The tone of this portion also depends on the skipper. Aki is specifically associated with explaining the places in detail, and one account praised his calm handling when the wind became strong. That matters on a boat trip where the guide is both your storyteller and the person responsible for the ride.

Inside the former submarine tunnels

The former submarine tunnels are one of the more unusual stops. The speedboat takes you into the mountain opening, letting you see the tunnel from inside and examine the structure at close range.

You have roughly 10 minutes here. That is enough to understand the scale and purpose of the tunnel, hear its story, and take a few pictures, but not enough for a long historical presentation.

This stop adds something different from the Blue Cave. The Blue Cave is about natural light and water. The submarine tunnel is about wartime engineering and concealment. Together, they give the trip a useful contrast between natural and built spaces.

You should expect the boat to enter the tunnel rather than a land-based walk through a large complex. The experience is brief and tied to sea conditions and the boat’s movement. If old military structures interest you, this may be one of the most memorable parts of the route.

Life aboard the speedboat

The boat ride itself is a major part of the experience. You move quickly between stops, with the bay, coastline, islands, and open water passing by from a low viewpoint. The boat can make the route feel lively, but the ride may also be windy, cool, or bumpy.

Bobin is associated with music and commentary, while Aki is associated with friendly, detailed explanations. You should not expect a formal lecture. The information comes as you move, with the skipper pointing out places and telling stories along the way.

The boat is described as private for your group, with a maximum of six people. That is a real advantage over a crowded departure, especially if you want to choose who swims, ask questions, or take photographs without negotiating space with strangers.

One practical point deserves attention: confirm the exact boat arrangement at booking. A separate account described a crowded boat with more people aboard than expected, but this private product is advertised for groups of up to six. That mismatch makes it sensible to verify that your reservation is exclusive and that no additional party will be added.

Is $241.87 good value for six people?

The listed price is $241.87 per group, up to six people. At full capacity, that works out to about $40.31 per person. For four people, it is about $60.47 each, and for two people, about $120.94 each.

That pricing favors families and small groups. Six friends sharing a private boat receive a much better deal than a couple booking alone. The value comes from the combination of a private ride, several stops, swimming time, and a skipper who provides commentary.

You are also paying for convenience. The tour starts in central Kotor, returns to the same place, and handles the transport between sites by boat. One account described pickup from Dobrota, although that is not listed as a standard meeting point, so you should confirm any pickup request directly before relying on it.

The price does not appear to include a separate admission charge for the listed stops, which are shown without an admission fee. Still, the details do not promise entry into every church or fortress, so do not assume that the price covers interior visits or extra services.

Weather, timing, and what to bring

Good weather is required for this activity. If poor weather forces cancellation, you are offered another date or a full refund. If you cancel yourself, you need to do so at least 24 hours before the start time to receive a full refund.

For comfort, bring:

• A swimsuit and towel if you want to swim
• A warm layer, even in a mild season
• Sun protection and water
• A phone case or small dry bag for photographs near the water
• Shoes that are easy to manage around a boat and brief island stops

The November warning is worth taking seriously. The ride can feel cold when the boat is moving, and you may spend much of the tour exposed to wind. Summer will usually be more appealing for swimming, but the Blue Cave can still be affected by traffic and water conditions.

The tour is offered in English. Confirmation arrives at booking, mobile tickets are accepted, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would choose this for a group that wants to see several coastal sights without arranging separate transport. Families with older children, couples traveling with friends, and small groups of up to six can make the price work well.

It also suits you if you value local stories as much as photographs. The prison history of Mamula and the submarine tunnel give the trip more substance than a simple swim-and-sightsee ride.

You may want another option if you dislike speedboats, get uncomfortable in wind, or want long visits on land. The schedule is tight, and the boat ride occupies a large share of the three hours. You should also think twice if the Blue Cave is your only reason for booking, since access and swimming can change with conditions.

Should you book the Blue Cave boat trip?

Book it if you want a fast, varied private outing and can accept a flexible plan. The strongest combination is the Blue Cave swim, the unusual submarine tunnel, and the stories around Mamula Fortress, with Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast adding the classic bay scenery.

For a full group of six, the price is appealing. For just one or two people, it becomes less of a bargain, though the private format still offers comfort and control. Ask about boat capacity and any pickup request before you pay, bring warm layers, and treat the Blue Cave as weather-dependent rather than guaranteed.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Hawaii Boat Tours Kotor, at Park Slobode 1 in Kotor, Montenegro.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity returns to the same meeting point in Kotor.

How long is the boat trip?

The tour lasts approximately three hours, including travel time between stops.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private activity is for your group only and can include up to six people.

Is the Blue Cave swim guaranteed?

No. Swimming in the Blue Cave depends on boat traffic and water conditions. Another swimming location may be offered if access is not suitable.

How long do you stop at the Blue Cave?

The planned stop is about 30 minutes.

Which other places does the tour visit?

The route includes Our Lady of the Rocks, Mamula Fortress, and former submarine tunnels. You also get a panoramic view of Perast from the boat.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The activity requires good weather. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.