Hvar Blue & Green Cave Tour: Stiniva Beach, Palmižana Lunch

Swim in Vis caves, relax at Palmižana, explore Hvar coast

You’ll speed across the Adriatic from Hvar to swim in Vis’s Green Cave, float beneath Stiniva’s cliffs, and watch sunlight turn Biševo’s Blue Cave electric blue—all with a local guide who knows every cove. Lunch at Palmižana Bay lets you unwind before heading back salty-haired and sun-warmed.

What’s included

Your day includes high-speed boat transport from Hvar Port aboard a shaded RIB Flyer with music onboard, travel insurance provided by the operator, bottled water throughout, all necessary life jackets and use of snorkeling equipment—plus plenty of time to relax or grab lunch at Palmižana Bay before returning in the evening.

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Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Blue and Green Cave group tour

• Depart from Port of Hvar at 10:30
• Swim, snorkel, or boat tour in Green Cave
• Visit Stiniva Cove, swim and relax
• Enter Blue Cave with guide
• Lunch and relax at Laganini beach bar
• Return to Port of Hvar by 18:30

The Experience

“You’ll never pronounce Biševo right,” Marko grinned as we zipped out from Hvar’s port. I was still trying to tie my hair back before the wind got wild—didn’t work. The RIB Flyer felt fast but safe, shaded enough so I didn’t fry. There was this salty spray on my lips and that sharp, mineral smell you only get off Croatian islands. We hit the Green Cave first; it’s bigger than photos make it seem, and the water inside is this weird deep emerald. I tried snorkeling for a bit (mask fogged up instantly), then just floated and listened—someone was singing from another boat, echoing off the rock walls.

Stiniva Cove came next. It’s squeezed between cliffs so high you feel like you’re sneaking in somewhere private. Our guide said it won “best beach in Europe” a few years ago—honestly, I get why. The pebbles underfoot are smooth and cold; you can swim out and look back at people sunbathing like tiny lizards on stone ledges. I grabbed a coffee from the little bar tucked behind some rocks—probably too hot for coffee but whatever, it tasted good after saltwater.

The Blue Cave on Biševo is kind of surreal—you wait your turn with these other groups bobbing around outside (felt a bit like queuing for a club), then suddenly you’re inside and everything glows blue from below. Our guide told us about how sunlight hits the sea floor just right; he’d done this tour hundreds of times but still seemed into it. It’s only twenty minutes or so inside but that color sticks with you—I still see it when I close my eyes sometimes.

We ended up at Palmižana Bay on the Pakleni Islands for lunch—Laganini Beach Bar is loud in a good way, music drifting over from somewhere behind the palms. You get almost two hours to eat or just sprawl on the sand; I went for grilled fish and something cold and citrusy (can’t remember what they called it). Sunburned shoulders by then but didn’t care much. The ride back to Hvar felt slower somehow—maybe everyone was just tired or maybe we all wanted to stretch out those last salty minutes.

Top questions

How long does the Blue & Green Cave tour from Hvar last?

The tour starts at 10:30 AM from Hvar Port and returns by 18:30, so about 8 hours total.

Is snorkeling gear included on this day trip?

Yes, snorkeling equipment is included in the price for all guests.

Can you swim inside both caves during the tour?

You can swim and snorkel in the Green Cave; swimming isn’t allowed inside the Blue Cave due to regulations.

Is lunch included or do I pay separately at Palmižana?

Lunch is not included; you have time to buy food or drinks at Laganini Beach Bar or other restaurants in Palmižana Bay.

Are there shaded areas on the boat?

Yes, the RIB Flyer boat has shaded sections to protect guests from direct sun.

Is pickup from hotels in Hvar included?

No hotel pickup; you meet directly at Hvar Port for departure.

Is this group tour suitable for children or infants?

Infants must sit on an adult’s lap; not recommended for pregnant travelers but otherwise suitable for most fitness levels.

How long do we spend at each stop?

Around 1 hour each at Green Cave and Stiniva Cove, about 20 minutes inside Blue Cave, nearly 2 hours at Palmižana Bay.