Dubrovnik: Blue & Green Cave Boat Tour with Elaphiti Islands

Four Caves, One Sandy Beach & a Boat That Fits Through Tight Spaces

You board a small boat in Dubrovnik and visit four sea caves (including the Green Cave, which only narrow boats can enter), then anchor at Šunj Beach, Lopud Island's rare sandy shore. Snorkeling gear, drinks, and a local skipper's knowledge of the coast are included. The tour holds a maximum of eleven people, which is what keeps the experience from feeling like a floating bus.

Step-by-step itinerary

Boat tour to caves and beach

• Join private boat tour from Dubrovnik
• Enjoy panoramic view of Gruz Port bridge
• Cruise past lighthouse towards Elaphiti Islands
• Visit the Blue Cave with captain's help
• Enter the Green Cave by boat
• Explore the Dark Cave by walking and swimming
• Discover the adventurous Canyon Cave
• Anchor at Šunj Beach on Lopud Island
• Swim and relax on sandy beach

The experience

The Green Cave is the problem. Not because it's dangerous. It's because most tour boats are too wide to slip inside it. You'll watch the bigger groups anchor outside and peer in from the water while your skipper threads the boat through the entrance and you're suddenly floating in an emerald-lit chamber with the rock ceiling inches above your head. That's the moment you realize why this tour caps out at eleven people. The Blue Cave comes first, where you'll jump in with snorkeling gear and float past the limestone walls, but the Green Cave is the one that stays with you: the one that feels like you found it yourself.

Your day starts at Gruz Port in Dubrovnik, where you board one of the sleek black boats and head out past the modern bridge toward the Elaphiti Islands. The skipper is local, which means he knows the rhythm of the coast, where the light hits the water at certain hours, which caves are calmest in the morning, what the old names mean. He'll take you to the Dark Cave next, where you can wade in and touch the walls, and then the Canyon Cave, a narrow slot where the boat barely fits and the water turns a shade of blue that doesn't look real. Between stops, there's wine, beer, local rakia, and unlimited water: the kind of casual hospitality that makes the hours dissolve.

The tour ends at Šunj Beach on Lopud Island, and this is where the geography works in your favor. Rocky coastline dominates the Dalmatian islands, so a proper sandy beach is rare enough that locals call it Dubrovnik's only one. You'll have time to swim in the shallow turquoise water or just lie on the sand and let the morning blur into afternoon. The snorkeling gear stays with you the whole day, so if you spot something interesting on the way back, you can ask the skipper to stop. Small groups mean that kind of flexibility: no schedule locked in stone, no rushing through because the next group is waiting.

Bring a light layer if you're sensitive to sun reflection off the water, and wear shoes you don't mind getting wet. The caves have slippery rocks and the beach entry is gradual but uneven. Infants and toddlers are fine. They can sit on a lap or in a stroller until you board. The whole day is about four to five hours on the water, which sounds longer than it feels when you're moving between four different caves and a beach that actually has sand.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup at Gruz Port in Dubrovnik, a modern boat with a local skipper, entry to four sea caves (Blue, Green, Dark, and Canyon), snorkeling equipment, unlimited water and soft drinks, wine and beer, local rakia, and several hours at Šunj Beach on Lopuf Island. The tour accommodates a maximum of eleven passengers.

Options for this experience

3 options

Private boat tour for a small groupGuide in English · 6 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 14:30

Blue Cave tour with a private guideUp to 10 people · Guide in English · 5 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:30

Sunset cruise with a stop at the Blue CaveUp to 11 people · Guide in English · 18:30Sunset cruise including a visit to the Blue Cave, with drinks. Duration: 2 hours. Unlimited drinks

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:30

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (6 to 90 years) · Child (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dubrovnik Caves

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to explore the Adriatic caves without fighting crowds: the small group size and narrow boat are what let you enter the Green Cave, which larger tours cannot access. Expect a full morning or early afternoon on the water. The pace is relaxed, with time to swim and linger at the beach.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 5 years).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Can you snorkel in all four caves?

You can snorkel in the Blue Cave. The Green Cave is explored by boat from inside. The Dark Cave and Canyon Cave are shallow enough to wade into, but snorkeling there depends on depth and your comfort level. The skipper will advise on entry.

What's the difference between the Blue Cave and the Green Cave?

The Blue Cave is open-water entry where you jump in and swim around the exterior. The Green Cave is narrow enough that the boat itself goes inside, so you stay seated and float through an enclosed chamber lit by reflected green light from the water.

How long is the boat ride from Dubrovnik to the caves?

The journey to the first cave takes roughly 30–40 minutes depending on sea conditions. The full tour, including all four caves and beach time, is about four to five hours.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling gear is provided and included in the tour price.

What drinks are included?

Water, wine, beer, Coca-Cola, and local rakia (brandy) are unlimited and included throughout the day.

Can I bring a baby or toddler?

Yes. Infants can sit on an adult's lap, and small children can travel in a pram or stroller until boarding the boat.

Is this tour suitable if I'm not a strong swimmer?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. You'll have snorkeling gear and the skipper's guidance. Šunj Beach has shallow, calm water for swimming or wading.