Full- Day Private Speedboat Tour in Dubrovnik on Elaphiti Islands

The best part of this private speedboat tour is its wide sweep through the Elaphiti Islands. In one day, you visit caves, beaches, fishing villages, and quiet swimming spots instead of stopping at one island and turning back. Captain Maro knows the area well, so the day can feel personal rather than locked into a large-group schedule.

I like the mix of snorkeling and island time, especially the Blue Cave, Kolocep’s three Green Caves, and Sikirica Cove. I also like that drinks, snacks, fuel, taxes, and snorkeling equipment are covered. The main thing to consider is the long 8-hour-30-minute day, with lunch at your own expense and several stops built around swimming and walking.

Key points at a glance

• Three Elaphiti islands in one day: See Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan, with extra stops near Brsečine.
• Two cave visits: Snorkel inside Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave, then explore three Green Caves near Kolocep.
• Šunj Beach has real sand: Spend two hours swimming, walking through shallow water, having coffee, or buying lunch.
• Lopud gets the most time: Three hours allow for the Franciscan Monastery, botanical garden, swimming, dining, or a relaxed walk.
• A private group of up to eight: The $611.46 group price works out to about $76 per person if eight people share it.
• Captain Maro is named in the feedback: His local familiarity and ability to choose good places are central strengths of the experience.

A private route through Dubrovnik’s island chain

This is not simply a boat ride with a quick photo stop. It is a full day built around the water, with time divided between caves, beaches, villages, and snorkeling bays.

You leave Dubrovnik’s main port and see the city’s western coast from the water before heading toward Kolocep. That opening ride takes about 15 minutes. It gives you a different angle on Dubrovnik without spending the day confined to the city’s old streets.

The private format matters here. Only your group participates, and the boat carries up to eight people. That makes the price easier to judge. At the full capacity of eight, the cost comes to about $76 per person for roughly eight and a half hours, including fuel, drinks, snacks, taxes, and snorkeling equipment. For a smaller group, the per-person price rises quickly, so this is best value when shared with family or friends.

The tour is recommended by 100 percent of the available feedback, with a five-star rating from 21 reviews. That is a small sample, but the praise points to a clear strength: a relaxed, personalized day with a captain who knows where to go.

Blue Cave and Kolocep’s three Green Caves

The first major stop is Dubrovnik’s Blue Cave, where you spend about 30 minutes snorkeling inside the cave. This is a short stop, but it gives the day an immediate sense of discovery. You are not only looking at the coast from the boat. You are getting into the water and exploring from inside the rock.

Next comes Kolocep Island, where the plan includes about 30 minutes of snorkeling in three Green Caves. The appeal is variety. Instead of one cave visit followed by a long ride, you have several small spaces to explore near the island.

The cave stops depend heavily on how much you enjoy swimming and snorkeling. If you prefer staying on deck, these 30-minute visits may feel brief or less rewarding. If you like getting into the water, they are among the most distinctive parts of the day. Snorkeling equipment is provided, which removes one item from your packing list.

You should also keep the schedule in mind. The two cave stops together take about an hour, but they are only one part of a day that includes several more swimming opportunities. This is a water-focused tour, not a sightseeing cruise where most of the day is spent listening to historical explanations from the boat.

Two hours at sandy Šunj Beach

Šunj Beach is one of the strongest stops for anyone who wants a traditional beach break. It is described as the most famous sandy beach in the Dubrovnik region, which gives it a different feel from rocky shorelines often found along the Adriatic.

You have about two hours here. That is enough time to walk along the shallow sandy beach, swim, snorkel, or stop at the restaurant for lunch or a snack. Coffee is also an option. Since lunch is not included, Šunj is a practical place to buy your meal, though the cost is separate from the tour.

I like the balance of this stop. The cave visits are active and water-based, while Šunj gives you room to slow down. You do not have to spend every minute snorkeling. A walk in shallow water or a simple swim can be just as satisfying after the speedboat ride.

The trade-off is that a popular beach may not feel secluded. The tour description presents Šunj as the region’s best-known sandy beach, so you should choose it for sand and easy beach time, not for complete solitude. The private boat gives your group privacy, but it cannot turn a well-known beach into a private one.

Three hours on Lopud Island

Lopud receives the longest stop, about three hours, and that tells you something about its role in the day. This is the place for a longer walk, a meal, a visit to a historic site, or more swimming.

Lopud is described as the most popular tourist place in the Elaphiti Islands. You can visit the 15th-century Franciscan Monastery, walk in the deep shade of its botanical garden, dine at a fish restaurant, or simply spend time by the water.

The monastery and garden add a cultural break to an otherwise outdoorsy schedule. You are not racing from one swimming spot to the next. You can use part of the three hours for history and shade, then return to the waterfront.

This is also where your group has the most freedom. The options are broad enough that different people can do different things. One person might prefer a walk and monastery visit, while another chooses lunch or swimming.

There is a practical point here: three hours is generous, but it may feel long if you are not interested in walking, eating, or swimming. The tour does not list a guided historical presentation at the monastery, so you should see the visit as independent exploration rather than a formal museum tour.

Šipan and the fishing village of Suđurađ

After Lopud, the route continues to Šipan Island and the village of Suđurađ. The stop lasts about 30 minutes and includes sightseeing along Šipan’s south coast.

Suđurađ is described as the oldest fishing village in the area. That makes this stop valuable for a reason beyond its length. It gives you a look at a settled island community, not only caves and beaches.

Thirty minutes is enough for a brief visit and sightseeing, but not a deep exploration of the island. Think of Suđurađ as a compact cultural pause. You will not have the same free time here as on Lopud, so avoid expecting a long village walk or a full meal.

Still, the short stop helps keep the itinerary varied. You see the coast from the boat, pause at a historic fishing village, and then return to the water for more snorkeling and swimming.

Sikirica Cove and a quieter swim

The route then reaches Sikirica Cove near Brsečine, described as the best snorkeling place in the area. You have about 30 minutes here.

This stop is a good contrast with Šunj Beach. Šunj offers sand, shallow water, coffee, food, and a more established beach setting. Sikirica is included for snorkeling, so the focus shifts back to the water and underwater viewing.

The tour adds another 30-minute stop near Brsečine for swimming at a secluded beach. This is one of the most appealing details for people who want a quieter pause during a busy island route.

The word secluded should be treated as a description of the setting, not a promise that your group will have a private beach. The tour itself is private, but the shoreline may not be exclusively yours. Still, a less developed swim stop can feel like a welcome change after the more popular Šunj Beach and Lopud.

With snorkeling equipment included, you can move between these stops without arranging extra gear. Drinks and snacks are also included, which helps during a day with repeated time in the sun and water.

What is included, and what you still pay for

The $611.46 price covers the group, up to eight people. Included items are:

• Drinks
• Snacks
• Snorkeling equipment
• Fuel
• All fees and taxes

Lunch is not included. That is important because you have a three-hour stop on Lopud and a two-hour stop at Šunj, both of which offer chances to eat. Budget separately for a meal or snacks purchased on the islands.

For eight people, the cost is about $76.43 each. For four people, it is about $152.87 each, so the value depends on your group size. Compared with paying separate fares for several island visits, the private format can make sense for a full group. The added value comes from covering multiple islands and allowing only your party on the activity.

I would not choose this tour mainly for a cheap boat ride. I would choose it if you want a long, active day and can fill the boat with people who enjoy swimming, snorkeling, beaches, and short cultural stops.

Is eight and a half hours too long?

The duration is both the attraction and the main drawback. You have enough time to see three islands and several coastal sites, but you will spend most of the day moving between stops or being outside near the water.

The schedule includes:

• About 15 minutes leaving Dubrovnik
• 30 minutes at the Blue Cave
• 30 minutes at Kolocep’s Green Caves
• Two hours at Šunj Beach
• Three hours on Lopud
• 30 minutes at Šipan and Suđurađ
• 30 minutes at Sikirica Cove
• 30 minutes at a secluded swimming beach
• About 15 minutes returning to Dubrovnik

The stop times add up to a busy but logical day. The longer breaks at Šunj and Lopud give you room to rest, eat, walk, or swim, while the shorter cave and cove visits keep the route moving.

You should book this only if your group is comfortable with a full day outdoors. It is a poor match for someone who wants a short cruise, a quiet morning, or a tour centered mainly on Dubrovnik’s architecture.

Practical details before you book

Confirmation is provided at the time of booking. The activity offers a mobile ticket, and it is near public transportation. Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate.

The tour returns to Dubrovnik’s main port after sightseeing along the western approach to the city. The provided details do not specify hotel pickup, so you should plan around meeting at the main port rather than assuming transport from your accommodation.

The cancellation policy is flexible if you act early. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund.

Because the experience includes caves, snorkeling, swimming, and a speedboat, I would read the day as an active coastal outing. Bring the personal items you need for a full day by the water, while remembering that snorkeling equipment, drinks, and snacks are already supplied.

Who should choose this Elaphiti Islands tour?

I would recommend it most strongly to families or friends who can share the cost and want control over their day. A private boat works particularly well when your group has similar interests, such as swimming, snorkeling, beach time, and casual island sightseeing.

It also suits people who want more than one island. Kolocep brings the Green Caves, Lopud brings the longest walking and cultural stop, and Šipan adds Suđurađ’s fishing-village character. Šunj and Sikirica provide different kinds of beach and snorkeling time.

You may want another option if you dislike boats, dislike swimming, or prefer a tightly guided history tour. The itinerary gives you places to explore, but the strongest experiences come from being in the water and using your free time well.

The feedback specifically praises Captain Maro for knowing the area and choosing good places. That local familiarity matters on a route with several caves and bays. It can help the day feel personalized instead of like a fixed circuit, though the tour still follows a clear schedule.

Should you book it?

Book this private Dubrovnik speedboat tour if you want to cover the Elaphiti Islands in one full day and your group enjoys water activities. The best reasons are the two cave experiences, sandy Šunj Beach, three hours on Lopud, and the chance to finish with snorkeling and a quieter swim.

I would book it with a group of six to eight, when the price is easier to share. I would also set aside money for lunch and accept that the day is active, not leisurely from start to finish.

If that sounds right, Nauticstar Excursions offers a strong combination of island variety, private-group space, and practical inclusions. If you want only a short swim or a purely historic tour, this route asks for more time and energy than you need.

FAQ

How long does the private speedboat tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 8 hours and 30 minutes.

How many people can join the private tour?

The private activity is for your group only, with up to eight people.

Which islands are included?

The route includes Kolocep, Lopud, and Šipan, with additional stops near Brsečine.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is at your own expense, although you can buy food at Šunj Beach or Lopud.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Use of snorkeling equipment is included.

What else is included?

Drinks, snacks, fuel, and all fees and taxes are included.

How long do you spend at Šunj Beach?

The stop at Šunj Beach lasts about two hours.

What can you do on Lopud?

You can walk, swim, visit the 15th-century Franciscan Monastery, walk in the botanical garden, or dine at a fish restaurant. The stop lasts about three hours.

Can you cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.