Kotor Private Speedboat Tour: Blue Cave & Lady of the Rocks

Swim inside the Blue Cave while sunlight filters through cracks in the stone and reflects off the pale seabed.

A three-hour private speedboat tour of Kotor Bay in Montenegro takes you to two stops: the man-made island church of Our Lady of the Rocks, where you learn how local seafarers built it over generations, and the Blue Cave on the Luštica Peninsula, where you swim in crystal-clear water lit by natural blue light. Your licensed skipper is your guide, and the boat stays 10–20 meters outside the cave while you swim inside. The tour passes Perast's baroque architecture, Mamula Island's 19th-century fortress, and the narrow Verige Strait before entering Tivat Bay. Weather can force itinerary changes or cancellation, with a full refund or rescheduled date offered in that case.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bay of Kotor20m
2. Our Lady of the Rocks20m
3. Blue Cave20m

Bay of Kotor boat tour and visits

• Start private cruise in Bay of Kotor
• Pass by historic fishing villages and landmarks
• Pass by Mamula Island fortress
• Pass by Perast town
• Stop at Our Lady of the Rocks island
• Explore church and local maritime heritage
• Swim stop at Blue Cave
• Sail through Verige passage
• Approach former submarine tunnels in Bay of Tivat

The experience

The boat leaves from the pontoons near Hyatt Regency Kotor or Heritage Hotel Perast, and you'll want to arrive 30 minutes early. Your licensed skipper handles the navigation and serves as your guide in English, sharing stories as you cruise through Boka Kotorska Bay past fishing villages and Mediterranean coastline. The three-hour tour is built for up to 14 people, so the boat stays intimate even when full.

Our Lady of the Rocks is your first real stop. The island itself is man-made (generations of local seafarers built it up over centuries), and the church inside holds paintings, votive offerings, and handcrafted treasures that tell that maritime story. You'll need at least a T-shirt to enter (swimwear alone won't do), and the museum admission is optional and paid in cash on the day. Perast, a Venetian-era town with baroque palaces and stone streets, passes by as you head toward the cave. Mamula Island appears next, its 19th-century fortress walls rising from the water with Cold War history layered underneath.

The Blue Cave is where you actually get in the water. The boat anchors 10–20 meters outside the cave entrance, and you swim in with a snorkel mask (several types are onboard). The water inside glows blue as sunlight enters through cracks in the stone and bounces off the pale seabed. The effect is strongest during daylight hours, so timing matters. After the swim, you pass through Verige, the narrowest strait in the bay, and sail past the former submarine tunnels from Montenegro's Cold War era before heading back. Snorkeling gear, life jackets (child-size on request), drinking water, Wi-Fi, and a first aid kit are all included. If weather turns rough or waves run high, the Blue Cave stop may be skipped for safety. If conditions are too poor, the whole tour gets rescheduled or refunded.

What’s included

• Licensed skipper as your English-speaking guide.
• snorkeling masks and snorkels in several types.
• life jackets and child-size life jackets on request.
• drinking water.
• Wi-Fi onboard.
• audio guide and written local insights in multiple languages via QR code.
• first aid kit and safety equipment.
• skip-the-line access where available.

Before you book

Days and timesThursday and FridayDepartures at 09:00, 11:00 and 12:00

Book up to1h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideSpanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, Hebrew, Polish, Russian, Swedish and Turkish

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.

Paid on site€ 3

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Montenegro Submarine and Speedboat Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to swim inside the Blue Cave while your skipper waits outside. Choose morning or early afternoon departure to catch the strongest blue light in the cave.

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Top questions

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 I swim at Our Lady of the Rocks during this tour?

No, swimming is forbidden at Our Lady of the Rocks. You visit the church and explore the island, but the only swimming stop is at the Blue Cave, where you enter the water with snorkeling gear while the boat waits outside.

What's included in the three-hour tour?

The tour includes your licensed skipper as guide, snorkeling masks and snorkels, life jackets (child-size available), drinking water, Wi-Fi onboard, audio guide and written local insights in multiple languages (via QR code), and skip-the-line access where available. Museum admission at Our Lady of the Rocks is optional and paid separately in cash.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day of my tour?

The tour only runs in good weather conditions. If it's canceled due to poor weather, you'll be offered a different date or a full refund. Even on days the tour runs, rough seas or high waves may force the Blue Cave stop to be skipped for safety.

How does the Blue Cave swim work? Do we go inside the cave?

Yes, you swim inside the Blue Cave. The boat stays anchored 10–20 meters outside the entrance, and you swim in with snorkeling gear. The water glows blue as sunlight filters through cracks in the stone and reflects off the pale seabed. The effect is strongest during daylight hours.

Where does the tour pick up, and can my hotel arrange it?

Pickup is at the pontoons in front of Hyatt Regency Kotor or Heritage Hotel Perast. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you'll need to arrange your own transport to the meeting point. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.

Is this tour suitable for children and infants?

Yes. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants must sit on an adult's lap during the boat ride. Child-size life jackets are available on request. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, and service animals are allowed.