Makarska Speedboat: Zlatni Rat, Blue Lagoon & Hidden Bays

Four island stops, one hidden cove, 70 minutes at Croatia's most famous beach

A small-group speedboat tour from Makarska aboard the Narwhal Orca 1000, visiting Zlatni Rat beach, the Blue Lagoon on Zečevo, Vrboska's canal-side town, and a quiet bay on Brač. The boat carries premium shock-absorbing seats with shade for every passenger, snorkeling equipment, and an English-speaking guide for the full five hours. You're dropped directly at Zlatni Rat's dock instead of walking from town, and the itinerary mixes famous stops with quieter island corners that stay less crowded.

Step-by-step itinerary

Makarska 3-Island Speedboat Tour

• Photo stop above Nugal beach
• Swim and relax at Blue Lagoon Zečevo
• Free time in Vrboska “Little Venice”
• Spend time at Zlatni Rat beach
• Swim in Biskup Bay on Brač island

The Experience

The speedboat leaves Makarska and heads first to Nugal, a dramatic hidden beach tucked below cliffs on the Riviera—a photo stop where seasonal waterfalls sometimes appear after rain. From there it's a short run to Zečevo's Blue Lagoon, where the water turns bright turquoise in the shallows and the Bungalow Bar sits right on the waterfront. You'll have time to swim or float in the lagoon before the boat moves on.

Vrboska, on Hvar, is the "Little Venice" of the tour: a narrow canal, tiny stone bridges, and a fortified church perched above the village give it a film-set feel despite its size. It's a working fishing town with its own museum, and the stop is built for a coffee, a walk, and a slower pace than the usual speedboat circuit. Then comes Zlatni Rat—70 minutes on Croatia's most photographed beach, where a long pebbled horn shifts shape with the wind and currents almost daily. The direct dock drop-off means you step straight onto the sand instead of hiking from Bol town; you can swim, walk the beach, or just sit and watch how the light hits the water.

The final stop is Biskup Bay on Brač, a small boat-only cove on the quieter side of the island where you're likely to be almost alone. The water is clear, the cove is sheltered, and it feels like the kind of place most day-trippers never find. The boat carries snorkeling gear for anyone who wants to use it, bottled water throughout the day, and shock-absorbing seats with backrests and sun shade—details that matter when you're on the water for five hours.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• sun shade for every seat.
• premium shock-absorbing seats with backrest.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• English-speaking skipper.
• direct drop-off at Zlatni Rat beach dock.
• fuel and boat operation.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot 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 want the famous stops—Zlatni Rat and the Blue Lagoon—without the size and pace of a full-capacity group boat. The smaller group, reserved seating with shade, and direct beach access at Zlatni Rat make the five hours feel less rushed and more comfortable on the water.

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Top questions

What's the difference between this speedboat and the bigger group boats leaving Makarska?

The Narwhal Orca 1000 is designed for smaller groups with premium shock-absorbing seats, a backrest on every seat, and individual sun shade—it's built for comfort on the water rather than capacity. The direct drop-off at Zlatni Rat's dock also saves the walk from Bol town that larger tours often include.

How much time do you actually spend swimming or snorkeling at each stop?

Zečevo's Blue Lagoon and Biskup Bay are both swimming and snorkeling stops with time to relax in the water. Vrboska is a town stop for walking and a coffee. Zlatni Rat gets 70 minutes, which is enough to swim, walk the beach, or simply sit and take in the view. Nugal is a photo stop only, no swimming.

Is snorkeling gear included, and what if I don't want to snorkel?

Snorkeling equipment is included with the tour, but using it is entirely optional. Many guests swim without it, and the stops work just as well for floating, wading, or staying on the boat to photograph the water and coastline.

What's Biskup Bay like compared to the more famous stops?

Biskup Bay is a small, quiet cove on the less-visited side of Brač, reachable only by boat. Because it stays off the usual tour routes, you're often almost alone in the water—it's the stop for a more private, peaceful swim rather than the social atmosphere of Zlatni Rat or the town energy of Vrboska.

Does the tour work for families with young children?

Children are welcome from age 4 onward. The boat has shade for every seat and snorkeling gear sized for kids, though the tour is not recommended for children under 4 or for anyone with difficulty getting in and out of a speedboat. Parents should also know the boat has shock-absorbing seats designed for comfort on the water.