Makarska speedboat tour: 3 islands, Blue Cave & swimming

Swim inside the Little Blue Cave, then cliff jump in a hidden bay

A speedboat tour from Makarska visits three islands in five hours, with four swimming stops in bays and caves accessible only by boat, snorkeling equipment and sun shade included, and an English-speaking guide steering a shock-absorbing speedboat. The tour reaches the Little Blue Cave on Hvar where you swim inside, Mala Stiniva for cliff jumping, free time in Jelsa town, the Blue Lagoon at Zečevo, and a final bay on Brač — each stop chosen to feel quieter and more exclusive than the usual crowded routes.

Step-by-step itinerary

Makarska 3-Island Speedboat Tour

• Swim inside Little Blue Cave
• Swim and cliff jump at Mala Stiniva
• Free time in Jelsa town
• Swim and relax in Blue Lagoon on Zečevo
• Final swim in hidden bay on Brač

The Experience

You board the Narwhal Orca 1000 speedboat at Makarska and head out to Hvar, where the first stop is the Little Blue Cave. This isn't a ticketed attraction with queues; it's a natural cave where you slip into the water with snorkeling gear and watch the light turn the sea electric blue inside the rock. The cave usually stays quiet because most boats skip it, so the whole thing feels personal instead of staged.

From there the boat cuts to Mala Stiniva, a hidden bay with turquoise water and a ruined stone house sitting on the cliffs. You swim here, and if you want to, you can cliff jump — the skipper knows the safe spots. Then you get free time in Jelsa, the main town on Hvar's north coast, where the waterfront is arranged like a film set and the stone streets are narrow enough to feel like somewhere real. A coffee or a walk, and you're back on the boat.

The second island is Zečevo, uninhabited and small, built around the Blue Lagoon. The water here stays calm because the island shields it from wind, and because Zečevo has no roads and no permanent residents, reaching it by speedboat is the only way. You swim in turquoise water that barely moves. The final stop is Žirje, a bay on Brač that stays so quiet you'll often see very few other boats — the kind of place that feels like you found it yourself.

Every seat has a sun shade and a backrest, and the shock-absorbing suspension means the ride doesn't jar your spine. Snorkeling gear, bottled water, and fuel are all included. The skipper speaks English and knows which stops will have the fewest crowds on the day you go.

What’s included

• Use of snorkeling equipment at each swimming stop.
• sun shade over every seat.
• premium shock-absorbing seats with backrest.
• bottled water.
• fuel.
• the Narwhal Orca 1000 speedboat.
• and an English-speaking skipper who knows the quietest stops.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Palladium Rent a Boat

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you have a free afternoon in Makarska and want to reach swimming spots and caves that only speedboats can access — the four stops are chosen to stay quieter and more exclusive than the usual crowded routes, and the shock-absorbing seats mean the ride itself won't leave you sore.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

133 verified traveler reviews

5 ★128

4 ★4

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can I swim and snorkel at every stop on the Makarska speedboat tour?

You swim at four stops: inside the Little Blue Cave on Hvar with snorkeling equipment provided, in Mala Stiniva bay where cliff jumping is also an option, in the Blue Lagoon at Zečevo, and in the final bay on Brač. Jelsa town is a free-time stop where you walk and explore instead.

What's the Little Blue Cave on Hvar actually like when you get there?

The Little Blue Cave is a natural cave where you enter the water with snorkeling gear and swim inside. The light reflects off the rock and turns the sea bright blue. It has no entrance fee and usually no crowds, so it stays quiet and feels more authentic than larger cave attractions.

Is the speedboat ride rough, and what's included to make it comfortable?

The Narwhal Orca 1000 has premium shock-absorbing seats with backrests and sun shade over every seat, so the ride is smoother than a standard speedboat and you stay protected from sun. Bottled water is included, and snorkeling equipment is provided at each stop.

How much free time do you get in Jelsa town?

The tour includes free time in Jelsa, the largest town on Hvar's north coast, where you can walk the waterfront, explore the stone streets, or sit for a coffee. The exact duration depends on the day's schedule and other stops, but it's enough for a short walk and a drink.

What makes Zečevo and the Blue Lagoon feel different from other island stops?

Zečevo is a small uninhabited island with no permanent residents and no road access — you can only reach it by boat. The Blue Lagoon sits in calm, protected water because the island shields it from wind. The only structure is a seasonal waterfront bar, so the whole place feels untouched and peaceful.

Is this tour suitable for children, and what's the age requirement?

Children are welcome from age 4 and up. The tour is not recommended for children under 4 for safety reasons, and it's also not suitable for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, poor cardiovascular health, or limited mobility, since getting in and out of a speedboat requires physical ability.