A speedboat day around Kotor feels like a shortcut to wow.

This private tour is built around three highlights you can reach fast by sea, with hassle-free pickup and an onboard experience that keeps things easy, including WiFi. You also get time to actually enjoy the stops, not just pose near them, with a captain who keeps the ride and sightseeing running smoothly.

The main thing to consider is the Blue Cave can be crowded, so your time there is focused, and swimming conditions can vary depending on what the crew finds on site.

Key Things That Make This Boat Tour Worth Your Time

• Private speedboat for up to 10, so the pace and timing are calmer than big group rides
• Hotel or port pickup options, including cruise ship pickup
• Onboard WiFi, plus coffee and tea available before departure in the office
• Blue Cave swim and photo time (about 20 to 30 minutes total inside and outside)
• Kumbor submarine tunnels stop, with a short inside visit
• Our Lady of the Rocks island visit, including entrance and about 20 minutes to explore

A Modern Speedboat Start in Kotor, With Pickup That Actually Helps

I like tours that respect your time, and this one is designed to remove the biggest hassle first: getting to the boats. You can meet at Sea Stars Boat Tours in Kotor, or you can arrange pickup depending on where you’re staying. If you’re on a cruise, the pickup is set for the Port of Kotor. If you’re based around Dobrota, Muo, Stoliv, Perast, and nearby areas, the operator mentions pickup on the way using their speedboat.

Why that matters: in the Bay of Kotor area, you can waste half a day just moving around. A private boat day is most fun when your energy goes into views and water time, not logistics.

Another practical plus is the modern speedboat setup and how the crew runs the ride. You’ll be in the company of an experienced captain, and that translates to a steadier experience when the sea gets choppy. One review specifically praised excellent wave handling when conditions turned a bit rough, which is exactly what you want to hear for a boat tour.

And yes, the onboard WiFi is real. It won’t replace the experience, but it’s handy for maps, messaging, and staying connected if you’re coordinating with family.

Blue Cave: How the 20 to 30 Minutes Works (and How to Enjoy It)

The Blue Cave stop is the headline, and the timing is pretty clear: you’ll spend between 20 and 30 minutes for pictures and swimming, both inside and outside the cave area. Entrance is included in the price, so you’re not scrambling for tickets once you’re there.

Here’s the best way to think about the cave time: it’s long enough to get the photos you came for and still have a real shot at a swim, but it’s not a long, slow experience. In high season, the cave can be busy, which means the crew may manage your time tightly to keep things safe and flowing.

One useful tip from experience people shared: if the first cave area feels unpleasant due to exhaust, you might be directed to a farther cave to swim instead. That’s not something you can control, but it’s good to know that the captain may adjust the plan based on what the situation allows.

What to bring mindset-wise: treat Blue Cave as a short water moment that’s part sightseeing, not a full day of snorkeling. Even if you’re hoping to gear up for extended underwater time, plan for a focused swim window.

Also, bring the basics for comfort. The cave visit is short, but you’re still on a boat ride before and after. Having a swimsuit ready and towel accessible can make the whole stop feel smoother.

Passing the Bay, Then Kumbor’s Submarine Tunnel Stop

After the Blue Cave, the tour moves to Kumbor for the most unusual stop on the route: Submarine tunnels. This is one of those experiences that feels like a history detour, but it stays tied to the sea route.

The time here is brief, about 5 minutes, and the key detail is that you go inside the submarine tunnel. Admission is listed as free for this stop, so you’re not paying separately to experience the space.

Why I think this stop is a good value add: you’re already on a boat seeing coastline views, and then you get a quick, specific change of pace. It breaks up the “just keep watching scenery” feeling and gives you something memorable you can’t replicate from the shore.

The downside is obvious once you know the schedule: it’s not a long wander. You should expect to see what you came to see, then get back on the water.

Our Lady of the Rocks Island: A Short Explore With Great Perast Views

The last major land-and-water stop is Our Lady of the Rocks, an artificial island with construction history running from 1452 to 1722. Entrance to the island is included, and you’ll have about 20 minutes to explore once you arrive.

That time window is tight but workable if you have a plan. You’ll likely want to focus on the views first. The island is a classic spot for looking toward Perast, a small old town area that’s protected by UNESCO. Even without rushing, 20 minutes goes fast because the main pull is the sightlines.

One more thing you might notice: the tour includes a chance to enjoy views of nearby natural and island scenery both from the boat and from the island. That means you’re not only collecting the historic island, you’re also getting the “where is this place?” context.

Important reality check: church and museum tickets are not included. The island itself is part of the experience, but if you specifically want interior church details or museum access, you should expect additional costs. The tour plan gives you time to explore the island area, but not unlimited paid entry options.

Pace and Captain Skills: What Private Really Changes

Private boat tours can feel like luxury for the sake of luxury. This one feels more practical than that.

You’re traveling in a group capped at up to 10 people, so you’re not fighting for attention at every stop. The itinerary is clearly structured, but private pacing can still help you enjoy the time you have. If your group moves slightly slower at a swim point or wants to linger for photos, it’s easier for the captain to adjust within the overall timeline.

The human factor is the other half. Multiple experiences highlighted how informative the captain was, and one standout name that came up was a guide referred to as Surgeon. The key is that the explanations are supposed to be helpful, not just a script. You get the sense that the captain is paying attention to the ride quality as well as the sightseeing.

And there’s another subtle benefit of a good captain: timing the stops based on what’s happening at each location. Blue Cave and similar stops can shift with crowds and conditions. A captain who handles that well makes your day feel smoother even if the schedule is set.

One fun bonus that can happen when you’re near the bay and waters: a pod of dolphins. In a recent experience, dolphins appeared around the boat, turning the ride into something special. That’s never guaranteed, but the fact it happened shows you the area can surprise you.

What’s Included, What You Should Budget For, and What to Pack

The tour includes a lot of the “gotchas” that can inflate boat days.

Included:

• Fuel
• Professional captain
• Entrance in the Blue Cave
• Entrance on the island Our Lady of the Rocks
• Bottle of water on the boat
• Coffee and/or tea before the tour in the office
• WiFi in the office before the tour

Not included:

• Tour guide
• Church and museum tickets

Here’s how I’d interpret that for your planning. You should expect a captain-led experience on the water, but not a separate guided specialist standing with you at every stop. That’s common for boat tours, and it also helps keep costs controlled.

Packing is simple, but it matters. Plan to bring swimwear since swimming at Blue Cave is part of the stop. Also assume the “water time” is real but short, so bring what you need and keep it easy to access. If you’re hoping for snorkeling gear, one note said snorkeling gear wasn’t provided, and that was tied to COVID-era limitations. So if snorkeling is a big priority for you, treat this as a swim-and-view cave experience, not a full snorkel program.

Footwear is a personal call. If you’ll step onto the island at Our Lady of the Rocks, wear something stable, since you’ll be moving between boat steps and the island area in a short window.

Weather, Sea Conditions, and Comfort Notes You Should Not Ignore

This is a boat tour, and the tour requires good weather. If the operator cancels due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Even with good weather, the Bay of Kotor can throw waves at you. One recent experience praised the captain for handling waves excellently when conditions got rough. That’s a reassuring signal that the operator takes sea comfort seriously.

There are also comfort and safety notes in the tour details:

• Not recommended for travelers heavier than 105 kg (220 lb)
• Not recommended for travelers older than 65 years old

Those restrictions aren’t meant to scare you off. They’re there because speedboats and boarding steps have physical realities. If you’re near either limit, you’ll want to think about mobility and the boat steps before booking.

Price and Value: When $480.55 for Up to 10 Makes Sense

The price is $480.55 per group, private, for up to 10 people, for about 3 hours.

Value is easiest to judge when you do one quick calculation. If you fill the group with 10 people, that’s roughly $48 per person. Even if you’re not at 10, it’s still a private format, with included entrances at Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks, plus fuel, water, and coffee or tea beforehand.

What makes the price feel more reasonable is the combination of:

• included entrance fees for the two biggest stops
• pickup options that save time and hassle
• a private speedboat format
• an experienced captain (and the ability to get help quickly if conditions change)

The main tradeoff is that you’re paying for privacy and speed, not for a long, meandering day. If you want hours of wandering, museums, and slow pacing, a faster private boat itinerary might feel short. But if your goal is to hit the highlights efficiently, this price structure can feel like a strong deal.

Should You Book This Blue Cave Private Boat Tour?

I’d book this if you want a short, structured boat day that hits the Bay of Kotor highlights with minimal fuss. It’s a particularly good fit for groups who care about comfort, hate waiting around for connections, or want pickup that reduces transportation stress. The included entrances at Blue Cave and Our Lady of the Rocks help, and the onboard WiFi plus the pre-tour coffee or tea makes the start feel easy.

I’d think twice if you’re very sensitive to waves, have mobility concerns around boat boarding, or you’re planning a long, gear-heavy snorkeling day. Also, go in knowing that Blue Cave can be crowded, and your time inside is planned tightly so you can still enjoy a swim and photos.

If you like your tours active, scenic, and efficient, this is the kind of private ride that turns a half day into a real memory.

FAQ

How long is the private Blue Cave boat tour?

It runs for about 3 hours.

How many people are in this private tour?

It is private for your group, up to 10 people.

What is the price for the tour?

The price is $480.55 per group.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Sea Stars Boat Tours Kotor on Njegoševa in Kotor and ends back at the same meeting point.

Is pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is possible by the operator’s speedboat at specific locations, including the Port of Kotor for cruise ship guests and areas like Dobrota, Muo, Stoliv, and Perast for accommodation guests.

What are the main stops during the tour?

The tour includes Blue Cave, Kumbor (submarine tunnels), and Our Lady of the Rocks.

How much time do we spend at Blue Cave?

You spend between 20 and 30 minutes for pictures and swimming inside and outside the Blue Cave.

What happens at Kumbor?

You visit the submarine tunnels there and go inside for about 5 minutes.

How much time is there on Our Lady of the Rocks?

You get about 20 minutes to explore the island.

Is WiFi included?

WiFi is offered in the office before the tour, and WiFi is also available onboard during the tour.

Can I cancel if weather is bad?

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the experience starts, and the experience requires good weather. If canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.