Kotor: Private Speed Boat Tour to Blue Cave with Swim Time

The Bay of Kotor opens up fast. This private speedboat trip links Our Lady of the Rocks and the Blue Cave with short sightseeing stops, open-sea views, and time to swim in clear water. I especially like the small private group, which keeps the outing more personal, and the mix of culture, coastal scenery, and water time. The guides, including Peter and Marko, are praised for being friendly and clear.

The main trade-off is pace. Three hours covers a lot, so some stops are brief, and the ride can feel exposed if the sea turns rough. Summer traffic near Kotor can also be slow, so arrive early and do not count on finding an easy parking space.

Key points to know before booking

• A private boat for up to six people gives your group room to enjoy the ride without a large crowd.
• Our Lady of the Rocks adds a short cultural stop before the faster coastal part of the trip.
• The former submarine tunnel is a quick but unusual sight, best treated as a photo stop rather than a full visit.
• Mamula Island offers a look at old fortress walls and its wartime prison past.
• The Blue Cave and Blue Lagoon provide about 25 minutes for swimming and snorkeling in clear, blue-lit water.
• The $335 group price works best for six people, but becomes costly for one or two.

A private speedboat outing from Kotor

This tour starts at the MontenegroGlobe office near Kotor’s Port and the Kamelija shopping center. From there, you board a speedboat with a skipper and head across the Bay of Kotor toward Perast.

The private format is one of the strongest reasons to consider it. The boat is reserved for your group of up to six, so you are not sharing every swim stop with a busload of strangers. That matters on a three-hour trip. You can keep the mood relaxed, take photos without fighting for space, and enjoy the ride as a group.

The tour is conducted in English. Water, juice, and one beer are supplied, along with snorkel masks and life jackets. Food and extra drinks are not included, so eat before you go or plan around the trip.

The first 20-minute boat ride is part of the attraction. You get the wind, open water, and changing views of the bay rather than a long drive between sights. A speedboat also lets the tour reach the open sea and the Blue Cave within a limited time.

That speed has a downside. This is not a slow cruise with long commentary at every bend. The boat moves quickly, and some stops are measured in minutes. If you want a calm, detailed tour of every coastal village, choose a longer sightseeing cruise instead.

Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast

After about 20 minutes, the boat reaches the islet of Our Lady of the Rocks, just offshore from the old town of Perast. The stop lasts around 20 minutes and includes a walk around the islet and a visit to the historic church.

This is the cultural heart of the trip. The small island gives you a break from the boat and a chance to see one of the Bay of Kotor’s best-known landmarks at close range. The setting is especially photogenic, with the church, water, and stone buildings of Perast forming a compact Adriatic scene.

The church entrance costs 2 euros per person and is not included. That is a small extra, but you should carry cash or be prepared to pay separately. If you are more interested in the island setting than church interiors, you can still enjoy the visit from outside.

Twenty minutes is enough for a short look, but not a long, unhurried examination. You will need to watch the time and follow the guide’s instructions about returning to the boat. The visit works best as a strong introduction to the bay’s history, not as a full Perast sightseeing stop.

The former submarine tunnel in 10 minutes

The boat then travels for roughly 20 minutes before reaching a former submarine tunnel. The stop lasts about 10 minutes and is mainly for photographs.

This is one of the more unusual parts of the route. Rather than seeing another pretty waterfront, you get a glimpse of a military installation cut into the coast. The dark entrance and narrow opening make a sharp contrast with the bright water outside.

Keep your expectations in check. The schedule describes this as a photo stop, not an extended walk through a museum or preserved military complex. You may get a quick explanation and time to look, but the value is the setting and the story, not a long visit inside.

The stop also breaks up the ride nicely. You have already seen a church and island, and now the route shifts toward the coast’s more recent military past. That variety keeps the outing from feeling like a simple swim transfer.

Mamula Island and the old fortress

From the submarine tunnel, the boat continues for about 15 minutes to Mamula Island. The stop is only around five minutes, so expect a look from the boat and a few photographs rather than a full island visit.

Mamula is surrounded by the walls of an Austro-Hungarian fortress described on the tour as dating from the 14th century. The site was used as a prison during both the First and Second World Wars. Those details give the island a more serious character than its sunny setting might suggest.

The short stop is enough to appreciate the fortress walls and take pictures. It is not enough to explore the structure on foot. If your main interest is military history, you may wish this part lasted longer. On this tour, Mamula works as a striking visual stop between the tunnel and the Blue Cave.

The boat’s position gives you a useful perspective. You see the island as a fortified outpost surrounded by water, which helps explain its strategic importance. The contrast between old stone defenses and the clear sea is one of the trip’s more memorable views.

Swimming in the Blue Cave and Blue Lagoon

The main activity comes next. After another 10-minute ride, the boat reaches the Blue Cave area, where you have about 25 minutes for swimming and snorkeling.

The cave has two entrances that boats can reach. Sunlight enters at an angle and reflects through the water, creating the blue glow that gives the cave its name. The effect depends on daylight, sea conditions, and your position in the water, so do not expect the same color intensity on every visit.

The surrounding Blue Lagoon is described as a natural area of about 300 square meters. The water is warm and clear, and the tour is designed to let you leave the boat and enjoy it directly rather than simply photograph it from the deck.

This is where the tour feels most active. You can use the provided snorkel mask to look beneath the surface, swim near the boat, and spend time in the blue-lit water. Life jackets are available for anyone who is not a confident swimmer. You should still tell the skipper if you feel unsure in the water.

The 25-minute swim period is generous compared with the other stops, but it passes quickly. If you want a long snorkeling session, this may feel brief. If you want a refreshing swim paired with sightseeing, it is a good balance.

Bring your own towel, swimwear, sunglasses, and sun hat. A camera is useful, but protect it carefully around the water. The supplied drinks are a pleasant touch after the swim, though only water, juice, and one beer are included.

The 45-minute ride back to Kotor

The return trip takes about 45 minutes, making it the longest single boat section of the itinerary. By this point, the speedboat ride becomes part of the wind-down. You can sit back, watch the coast pass, and let the day’s stops settle in.

The long return also explains why the tour cannot add extra time at every location. The route covers Kotor, Perast, the open sea, the submarine tunnel, Mamula, and the Blue Cave in only three hours. You get variety, but not much spare time.

Sea conditions matter here. The tour is cancelled in bad weather, and even acceptable conditions can make a fast boat feel bumpy. If you have motion sensitivity, sit where the ride feels most stable and consider eating lightly before departure.

Is the $335 price good value?

The price is $335 for the whole boat, with up to six people. At full capacity, that works out to about $56 per person. For a group of six, the price is strong because it covers transport, a private skipper, insurance, drinks, snorkel equipment, and access to a route that would be difficult to arrange independently in three hours.

For four people, the cost is about $84 per person. For two, it is about $168 each, and for one couple the trip becomes a significant splurge. The private format is the key value. You are paying not only for the sights, but also for a boat reserved for your own group.

The price does not cover food, additional drinks, or the 2-euro church entrance. Those are modest extras, but include them in your budget. You should also bring your own towel and sun protection.

I would consider this good value for a family or group of friends that wants both sightseeing and swimming. It is less compelling for solo visitors or couples who mainly want a long, quiet beach day.

Guides, timing, and practical comfort

The guide can shape the experience, especially during the quick stops. Peter is praised for being friendly and informative, while Marko is described as professional and a strong host. One translated comment spells the name Marco, so you may see both versions associated with the guiding team.

The most useful quality here is not a long lecture. It is clear timing and simple explanations while the boat moves between stops. Several comments praise the mix of sightseeing and action, which is exactly what this route aims to provide.

Plan to reach the MontenegroGlobe office early. The meeting point is near the port and Kamelija shopping center, but summer traffic in Kotor can be heavy and parking can be hard to find. A late arrival could cut into your already limited time at the first stop.

The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users or people over 70. That restriction likely reflects the speedboat boarding, short stops, and swimming activity. Children and adults should be comfortable stepping into a boat and managing a fast ride, though life jackets are available for less secure swimmers.

Alcohol and drugs are not permitted. One beer is included, but the boat is set up for active sightseeing and swimming rather than a party cruise.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend it to people who want a lot from a short outing. You get a historic church, a military tunnel, a fortress island, open-sea scenery, and a swim in the Blue Cave area without committing half a day.

It is especially well suited to:

• Families or friends who can split the group price
• Cruise passengers or short-stay visitors with limited time
• Active couples who prefer swimming to a long museum visit
• Small groups that want privacy on the boat
• Anyone who enjoys a fast ride and a varied route

I would be more cautious if you dislike speedboats, need generous time at each sight, or want a fully guided historical tour. The stops at Mamula and the submarine tunnel are short, and the church visit is brief unless you choose to spend more time there.

The tour also depends on the weather. A calm, sunny day will make the Blue Cave and open-sea ride far more enjoyable than a gray or rough one. Keep your schedule flexible if possible.

Should you book the Kotor Blue Cave speedboat tour?

Book it if you want a private, active half-day with a smart mix of history and swimming. The strongest parts are the small-group format, friendly guiding, clear water, and the chance to see several very different sites in only three hours.

Skip it if your priority is slow sightseeing, a long visit inside the church, or extended time at Mamula. You will spend a fair portion of the outing moving between stops, and the return ride alone takes 45 minutes.

For a group of six, I think the $335 price is reasonable. Arrive early, bring swimwear and a towel, prepare for sun and wind, and treat the Blue Cave swim as the main event. That is where this fast-moving trip earns its place in a Kotor itinerary.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

It starts at the MontenegroGlobe agency near the Port of Kotor and the Kamelija shopping center.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts three hours, including the boat rides and stops.

How many people can join the private group?

The private speedboat can accommodate a group of up to six people.

Is the tour conducted in English?

Yes. The live tour guide language is English.

Is swimming included?

Yes. The tour includes swimming and snorkeling time at the Blue Cave and Blue Lagoon area.

Are snorkel masks and life jackets provided?

Yes. A snorkel mask and life jacket are included.

Is the entrance to the church at Our Lady of the Rocks included?

No. The church entrance costs 2 euros per person.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The tour is cancelled in bad weather. Full refunds are available when cancelling up to 24 hours in advance.