Kotor: Blue Cave, Žanjic Beach Speedboat Tour

The best part of this four-hour speedboat trip is the variety. In one morning or afternoon, you move from the church-topped islet of Our Lady of the Rocks to a fortress island, a glowing sea cave, a beach lunch stop, and an old submarine tunnel. It is a fast, salty sampler of the Bay of Kotor and the Adriatic coast.

I like the combination of short sightseeing stops and open-water cruising, and I like that the Blue Cave stop includes time for swimming and snorkeling rather than just a quick photo. The main caution is pace. Some stops are brief, and one recent outing was cut from four hours to three, so this suits you best if you want a lively overview rather than a slow, deeply guided visit.

Key points before you book

• Our Lady of the Rocks: Walk around the small artificial islet and see the church linked to the Madonna and Child icon.
• Blue Cave swimming: The cave’s blue glow comes from sunlight shining up through the water, but time inside may be short.
• Žanjic Beach: You get about an hour for swimming, relaxing, or buying lunch at a restaurant.
• Speedboat ride: Expect wind, spray, and a bouncy ride across open water.
• English-speaking guides: Marko and Andrea have led this experience, with music and practical help along the way.
• Bring your own towel: Water, a snorkel mask, and safety gear are included, but towels and extra drinks are not.

A fast ride out of Kotor

The meeting point is MontenegroGlobe, near the Kamelija shopping center. From Kotor’s old town or the Port of Kotor, it is about a two-minute walk, though the actual boarding point may be farther along the waterfront. Give yourself extra time so you are not rushing around looking for the boat.

The trip begins with about 20 minutes on the speedboat. This is not a quiet sightseeing launch. You will feel the boat bounce over the waves, with wind in your face and spray possible along the way. For many people, that is half the fun. If you prefer a calm ride, sit toward the middle of the boat and hold on when the water gets choppy.

The open boat makes the ride feel immediate. You are not looking through a window at the coast. You are out in the air, moving past beaches, rocky shores, and small bays. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen, and keep loose items secure.

The speedboat is also the reason the tour can cover so much ground in four hours. You see several well-known points around the bay and toward the coast without spending a full day on the water.

Our Lady of the Rocks and the Madonna and Child icon

After the first ride, you stop at Our Lady of the Rocks near Perast for about 20 minutes. The islet is small and artificial, built up over time by local people placing rocks and sinking old boats at the site. Its church is famous for the icon of Madonna and the Child connected with the island’s origin story.

You have time to walk around the islet and look at the church from outside. An entry fee of €2 per person is not included, so bring a little cash if you want to go inside. The short stop works well for a quick look and photographs, but it is not enough for a detailed visit to the church and its collection.

This is one of the more cultural moments of the trip. The rest of the day focuses on water and scenery, so Our Lady of the Rocks gives the outing some local tradition and religious history. Still, keep your expectations in check. You are getting a compact visit, not a guided museum tour.

Mamula Island and its old fortress walls

The boat then spends about 30 minutes reaching Mamula Island. The route itself is part of the experience, with the shore opening out as you leave the tighter parts of the Bay of Kotor.

At Mamula, the boat makes a photo stop and passes the island rather than offering a long shore visit. The main sight is the old Austro-Hungarian fortress, enclosed by thick walls and surrounded by clear water. It is a striking place to photograph from the boat, especially because the military structure contrasts with the bright sea around it.

Do not book this excursion expecting to explore Mamula on foot. The schedule gives you a look from the water, with roughly 10 minutes for the stop. That limitation is not a problem if you mainly want to see the island and take pictures, but it matters if you are interested in architecture or military history.

The Blue Cave’s brief blue glow

From Mamula, the speedboat takes about 10 minutes to reach the Blue Cave. Here, sunlight passes through the water and lights the cave in blue tones. The effect depends on the sun, the water, and the boat’s position, so the color may be stronger at some moments than others.

The planned stop lasts around 25 minutes and includes swimming and snorkeling. A snorkel mask and life-saving gear are included, but you need to bring swimwear and a towel. The water is described as warm and clear, making this the most active part of the outing.

There is an important practical point here. The boat may pass through the cave quickly, then anchor outside for swimming. If your main reason for booking is to spend a long time inside the Blue Cave, you may find the visit too short. This is a photo and swim stop within a larger tour, not an extended cave expedition.

I would treat the cave as a bonus rather than the entire purpose of the day. You get the chance to see the blue water from inside and swim nearby, but the schedule has several other stops to fit in. If you want the best chance of enjoying it, have your mask ready, listen for the guide’s instructions, and be prepared to move quickly.

An hour at Žanjic Beach

After the cave, the boat heads to Žanjic Beach for about an hour. This is the longest stop, giving you time to swim again, sit in the sun, or eat at one of the local restaurants.

The choice makes the stop useful for different kinds of visitors. You can stay active in the water, or you can slow down and have lunch. Restaurant food and additional drinks are not included in the tour price, so budget separately if you plan to eat.

An hour is enough for a proper break, but not for a leisurely beach day. You will want to keep track of time, especially if you order food. A simple swim and a short rest fit comfortably. A full restaurant meal may feel rushed if service is slow.

Žanjic is also where the tour’s pace softens. After the boat rides, photo stops, and cave visit, you have a chance to settle down. I like this balance. Without the beach break, the excursion would feel like one long sequence of getting on and off the boat.

The former submarine tunnel

On the return journey, the boat stops for about five minutes at a former submarine tunnel near Kotor. This is a photo stop rather than a visit inside the tunnel. The opening in the rocky shore is a reminder of the area’s military past and makes an unusual final sight before returning to town.

The stop is short, so keep your camera ready. You will not have time for a long explanation or a detailed walk around. It works best as a final curiosity on the route home.

After another 30-minute speedboat ride, you return to MontenegroGlobe. The full outing is advertised at four hours, although timing can be affected by weather, group size, and the pace of the day.

What the $76 price includes

At $76 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the bay, but it covers a lot of ground in half a day. Your price includes boat transportation, a bottle of water, a snorkel mask, and safety equipment. It does not include the €2 entry fee at Our Lady of the Rocks, restaurant food, extra drinks, or a towel.

The value depends on what you want from Kotor. If you want one boat ride, one beach, and plenty of time to relax, a slower outing may suit you better. If you want several landmarks plus swimming without organizing separate transport, the price is easier to justify.

You are paying for speed as much as for the stops. A regular boat would take longer to reach Mamula and the Blue Cave, while this trip fits both into a four-hour route. The tradeoff is that each place receives limited time.

The included water and snorkel mask are helpful, but bring your own towel and any extra drinks you want. Sunscreen is essential, since much of the day is spent exposed to the sun on or near the water.

The guide and the pace of the day

The tour is conducted in English. Guides named Marko and Andrea have led this route, and the guide may add music during the boat ride. The guiding style appears to be friendly and practical, but you should not expect long talks at every stop.

That matters at Our Lady of the Rocks and Mamula, where a few extra minutes of explanation would help you understand what you are seeing. The experience leans more toward transport, views, swimming, and atmosphere than toward formal cultural interpretation.

The pace is the biggest point to consider. One outing was shortened to three hours because of a later booking, with part of the payment returned. That is not the planned experience, but it shows why you should confirm the departure time and full duration before setting your day around the tour.

Bad weather or heavy rain can also cancel the trip, as can failing to reach the minimum number of participants. The flexible booking terms allow cancellation up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later.

Who will enjoy this speedboat tour?

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a high-energy coastal sampler and do not mind a tight schedule. It suits couples, friends, and active families who want to swim, take photographs, and see several important points in one outing.

It is also a good choice if you have limited time in Kotor. Our Lady of the Rocks, Mamula, the Blue Cave, Žanjic Beach, and the submarine tunnel would be difficult to combine independently in only four hours.

You may want something else if you dislike bouncing boat rides, need long cultural visits, or want a guaranteed extended swim inside the Blue Cave. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people over 95 years old. Smoking, bicycles, and pets are not allowed.

Wear swimwear under your clothes, pack sunglasses and sunscreen, and bring a towel. Keep your belongings in a small secure bag. The boat is the setting for most of the day, so practical preparation matters more than dressing up.

Should you book the Kotor Blue Cave tour?

Book it if you want to cover a lot of coastline quickly, enjoy swimming, and like the excitement of a speedboat. The combination of Our Lady of the Rocks, Mamula, the Blue Cave, and Žanjic Beach gives you a broad taste of the region for $76.

Skip it if the Blue Cave is your one non-negotiable goal and you need plenty of time inside. The cave visit can be brief, and the overall route is busy. For most people, the best way to judge this trip is to see it as a lively four-hour introduction to Kotor’s waters, with the Blue Cave as one memorable stop among several.

FAQ

How long is the Kotor Blue Cave and Žanjic Beach tour?

The tour is scheduled to last four hours, including the speedboat rides and stops.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at MontenegroGlobe near the Kamelija shopping center. It is about a two-minute walk from Kotor’s old town or the Port of Kotor.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guide speaks English.

Is swimming included?

Yes. You can swim at the Blue Cave and at Žanjic Beach. Snorkeling equipment is also provided.

Is a snorkel mask included?

Yes. A snorkel mask and life-saving gear are included, along with a bottle of water.

Do I need to bring a towel?

Yes. Towels are not included, so bring your own.

Is lunch included?

No. At Žanjic Beach, you can choose to eat at a restaurant, but food and additional drinks cost extra.

Can the tour be canceled?

Yes. The activity may be canceled because of bad weather, heavy rain, or an insufficient number of participants. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.