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.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00Last departure this season: 8 Nov

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (10 and older) · Child (4 to 9 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and Croatian

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with 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 languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Croatian.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 9 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

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.

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.