Dubrovnik: Morning Blue Cave speedboat tour with drinks

The best part of this five-hour trip is the mix of cave swimming and fast coastal travel. You skim past Dubrovnik’s walls, reach Koločep in about 20 minutes, then swim into a blue-lit cave where sunlight slips through a crack in the rock. After that come smaller sea caves, sandy Šunj Beach, and a short stop by Lokrum.

I like the well-packed timing and the easy access to the Blue Cave, since the captain brings the boat close to the entrance. I also like that water, soft drinks, beer, wine, and snorkeling gear are included. The main tradeoff is the speedboat itself: it can be bouncy, and the trip is not suitable for people with back problems or wheelchair users.

Key points at a glance

• Blue Cave first: Reach Koločep after roughly 20 minutes and swim close to the cave entrance.
• Three Green Caves: Spend about an hour swimming, snorkeling, and exploring the smaller caves.
• Šunj Beach break: Enjoy two hours at a broad sandy beach with shallow water and places to eat.
• A view of Dubrovnik from the sea: The ride begins and ends with strong views of the Old Town walls.
• Lokrum cliff jumping: The final island stop offers swimming and, for those who want it, an adrenaline hit from the rocks.
• Drinks included: Bottled water, soft drinks, beer, and wine are part of the outing.

A fast, watery introduction to Dubrovnik

This is not a quiet sightseeing cruise. It is an active half-day built around swimming, snorkeling, speed, and short stops. You get a wide view of Dubrovnik from the water, then spend much of the day in the sea around the Elaphiti Islands.

The boat can reach about 40 miles per hour, according to the tour information. That makes the journey part of the attraction, not simply transport between stops. You will feel the wind, see the city walls from a new angle, and cover the distance to Koločep quickly.

The meeting point is at Ribarnica ul. 1, marked by a yellow Sea Safari, Vagabundo sign. The activity is in English, and an instructor or guide provides snorkeling equipment and directs you through the stops.

The price is $82 per person. For a five-hour outing, that is a fair package if you plan to swim and use the included drinks and equipment. You are paying for the boat, captain, guide, several coastal stops, and a beach break, rather than for a simple ride. Lunch at Šunj Beach is not included, so allow extra money if you want a meal there.

Seeing Dubrovnik’s walls from a speedboat

The trip starts with a panoramic run beside Dubrovnik’s famous walls. From the sea, the fortifications look more solid and dramatic than they do from the land, and the boat gives you a moving view of both the historic core and the newer parts of the city.

This opening section also helps you understand the geography. Dubrovnik sits tightly against the water, with islands scattered just offshore. From the boat, you see how quickly the built-up city gives way to open sea and pine-covered islands.

The ride is short, but it is not especially gentle. Hold on when the boat picks up speed, and protect your phone from spray. A dry bag is a useful extra, especially if you plan to bring a camera or action camera. One person specifically wished they had brought a GoPro, which tells you something about the amount of time you spend in and around the water.

Koločep’s Blue Cave and the first swim

The Blue Cave is the first major stop, reached in about 20 minutes from the Old Town harbour. It sits on the southern side of Koločep, and its blue color comes from sunlight entering through an opening in the rock and reflecting through the seawater.

The effect depends on the light and the sea conditions, so do not expect a staged attraction with a fixed display. The cave is a natural space, and its color can look stronger at some times than others. Still, the combination of dark rock, clear water, and reflected blue light gives this stop a special mood.

The captain brings the boat close to the entrance, which is helpful for children and anyone who is not a strong swimmer. You do not have to make a long swim from the boat. The guide provides snorkeling equipment, then helps you explore the cave from the water.

You will have about 30 minutes here. That is enough for a swim, some snorkeling, and photographs, but not enough for a slow, unhurried session. Keep your belongings secure on the boat, and remember that wet swimmers and cameras are an awkward combination.

The Blue Cave is the prettiest stop for many people, but the appeal depends on your comfort in the water. If you dislike swimming in dark spaces, you can still enjoy the view from the entrance and stay near the boat. If you love being in the sea, this is where the trip gets properly exciting.

The Green Caves on Koločep

A 10-minute boat ride brings you to three smaller colored caves. The sea has worn the rock over time, creating different shapes and surfaces. They are less polished than a single famous cave, and that is part of the fun. Each one feels a little different as you swim past the stone and look for changing colors and openings.

The scheduled stop lasts about an hour, giving you more time than at the Blue Cave. This is the best part of the day for snorkeling. You can swim between the caves, look down through the clear water, and watch for fish near the rocks.

The exact pace depends on the guide and the group. On one recent outing, the guide visited two of the three Green Caves rather than all three, so you should treat the three-cave description as the area being explored, not a strict promise that you will spend equal time in every cave.

That hour also gives the crew room to adjust to conditions. If the water is choppy, you may spend more time in the calmer areas. If everyone is confident and eager, the stop can become the most active section of the trip.

Guides named on recent departures include Dorian, Oliver, Zoran, and Mario. Reports of those trips point to attentive crews who checked that people were comfortable and kept drinks coming. The guide matters here because a good one makes the cave stop feel organized rather than like a scramble around a crowded entrance.

Two hours at sandy Šunj Beach

After the caves, the boat heads to Šunj Beach on Lopud Island. This is a useful change of pace. You move from rock and snorkeling to sand, shallow water, pine trees, and a proper block of free time.

The beach is known for its sandy shallows that extend well out from shore. That makes it one of the better stops for families with children, though the tour itself still involves a fast boat and cave swimming. You can play in the shallow water, swim farther out, walk along the beach, or simply sit under the pines.

The stop lasts about two hours, the longest single break on the route. Two restaurants serve food and drinks, so you can buy lunch here. Food is not included in the $82 price, and the beach restaurants are your main chance to eat during the outing.

Some departures have had free chairs and umbrellas available, though this should not be treated as a guaranteed feature. The tour information specifically includes time for cocktails, coffee, wine, lunch, walking, swimming, and snorkeling, so you have several ways to use the stop.

You can also cross to the other side of Lopud by electric vehicle if you want to see more of the inhabited island, but that is an optional extra, not a core part of the tour. With only two hours, most people will probably prefer to stay near the beach, especially if they want lunch and a swim.

Šunj is a strong reason to choose this trip over a cave-only excursion. The beach gives you space to relax after the more active morning. The drawback is that two hours can feel long if you are not interested in beach time, particularly on a busy summer day.

Lokrum and the final burst of adrenaline

The return route includes a 20-minute speedboat ride to Lokrum, followed by a 15-minute stop. This is brief, so think of it as a photo and swim pause rather than an island visit.

The stop is also used for rock jumping. Several recent departures included cliff jumping at Lokrum, and it was a major highlight for people who wanted one last thrill before returning to Dubrovnik. You should only jump if the guide confirms the location and you feel fully comfortable. The activity information lists swimming and a photo stop, while cliff jumping appears in the experience of some departures, so it may depend on conditions and the group.

If you skip the jump, you can swim, take photographs, or enjoy the view of Lokrum from the boat. This is one of the places where the tour’s flexible, social feel works well. It does not force every person into the same activity.

The ride back and a final drink

The final 15-minute return to Ribarnica ul. 1 gives you another sea-level view of Dubrovnik. The walls, towers, and red-roofed city appear from a distance before the boat heads back toward the Old Town harbour.

Wine is served near the end, along with the other included drinks. Some groups have played music on the return ride, giving the finish a cheerful, social tone. This is not a formal guided history tour, so you should choose it for the coast and the water rather than detailed historical commentary.

The full schedule is about five hours, with the main blocks divided as follows:

• About 25 minutes to the Blue Cave area
• About 30 minutes at the Blue Cave
• About 10 minutes to the Green Caves
• About one hour at the Green Caves
• About 10 minutes to Šunj Beach
• About two hours at Šunj Beach
• About 20 minutes to Lokrum
• About 15 minutes at Lokrum
• About 15 minutes back to the meeting point

The times are a useful guide, not a promise that every minute will run exactly as printed. Sea conditions, loading, and group pace can affect the day.

What to bring for a wet half-day

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunglasses, and a sun hat. You should also pack sunscreen, although sunscreen is not listed among the required items, because much of the trip takes place in direct sun.

A dry bag is especially practical. You will move between boat rides, swimming, caves, and the beach, and wet hands make phones easy to drop. If you own a waterproof camera or GoPro, this is the sort of trip where you will use it.

Wear something that can handle wind and spray. Keep loose items secured, and do not bring anything you would be upset to get wet. Bottled water, soft drinks, beer, and wine are included, so you do not need to load your bag with drinks.

This is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with back problems. The speedboat ride, boarding, swimming, and uneven cave access require a reasonable level of mobility. The activity also suits people who are comfortable in open water, even though the captain gets close to the Blue Cave entrance.

Who will enjoy this trip most

I would choose this tour if you want to pack several coastal experiences into one morning or afternoon. It works particularly well for couples, friends, families with confident older children, and solo visitors who like an active group outing.

You will get the most from it if you enjoy:

• Fast boat rides and open-water views
• Swimming and snorkeling
• Natural caves rather than formal attractions
• A sandy beach with time to relax
• Optional cliff jumping
• A friendly, social boat atmosphere

I would look elsewhere if you want a quiet cruise, a serious history lesson, or a full island tour. You do not get long walks through Koločep, Lopud, or Lokrum. You see the islands from the water and spend your time at selected swimming and beach locations.

The five-hour format is a real strength. You can fit it around other Dubrovnik plans without giving up a full day. It also avoids the common problem of a boat excursion that spends most of its schedule simply getting to the first stop.

Is the $82 price good value?

At $82, the tour offers solid value for an active half-day. The boat covers several locations, snorkeling equipment is provided, an instructor and guide are included, and drinks are available throughout the outing. You also get the coastal views that would be difficult to arrange on your own in the same time.

The price does not include lunch at Šunj Beach, and optional transport across Lopud costs extra if you choose to use it. You should also remember that the tour is built around shared timing. You will not have unlimited time at the Blue Cave or a private boat’s freedom to change the route.

For me, the value comes from the range: one trip gives you Dubrovnik walls, Koločep caves, Šunj Beach, Lokrum, snorkeling, and a high-speed ride. If you would use all those parts, the cost is reasonable. If you only want to see the Blue Cave and avoid swimming, a shorter or quieter option may suit you better.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you want an active, social look at Dubrovnik’s nearby islands, with plenty of time in the water and enough beach time to catch your breath. The Blue Cave and Green Caves are the main reasons to go, while Šunj Beach keeps the schedule from becoming nonstop swimming.

I would especially recommend it to someone visiting Dubrovnik for a few days who wants to get beyond the Old Town without committing a full day. Bring a dry bag, expect a bouncy ride, and treat cliff jumping as optional. If those conditions sound good, this is a well-shaped half-day with a lot packed into five hours.

FAQ

How long is the Dubrovnik speedboat tour?

The tour lasts five hours, including the boat rides, cave stops, Šunj Beach, Lokrum, and the return to Dubrovnik.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is at Ribarnica ul. 1, near the yellow Sea Safari, Vagabundo sign.

What language is the tour conducted in?

The live guide and tour information are in English.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and an instructor are included.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Bottled water, soft drinks, beer, and wine are included. The information also lists alcoholic beverages generally.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the tour price. You can buy food at one of the two restaurants at Šunj Beach.

Is the tour suitable for wheelchair users?

No. The activity is not suitable for wheelchair users.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, swimwear, and a towel. A dry bag is also a practical choice for protecting your phone and other belongings from water.