Kotor: Blue Cave Boat Tour, Lady of the Rocks & Submarine Base

Summary

Montenegro’s blue cave swim, island legends & hidden tunnels by boat

You’ll ride a boat from Kotor across glassy water to swim in Montenegro’s Blue Cave, step onto the legendary Lady of the Rocks island church, wander historic Perast’s single street, and slip into old submarine tunnels with stories from your guide—plus time to laugh or pause for coffee along the way.

What’s the experience like?

Someone handed me a raincoat before we even left Kotor’s harbor — “just in case,” our skipper grinned. The Bay of Kotor was quiet that morning, except for gulls and the slap of water against the hull. I kept watching the mountains get taller as we sped toward the Blue Cave. I’d seen photos but didn’t expect the color to look so unreal in person; when I jumped in (cold shock, then laughter), it felt like swimming inside a sapphire. My friend tried snorkeling but mostly just floated around staring at the light under the surface. There was this salty smell everywhere, mixed with something sweet from someone’s sunscreen.

Our guide switched between English and German for another couple onboard — honestly impressive — and pointed out where dolphins sometimes show up. No luck for us, but he did tell a story about smugglers hiding here ages ago. We stopped at Our Lady of the Rocks next, which is this tiny man-made island with a church full of silver votives and faded blue paint. An old woman was lighting candles inside; she nodded at us but didn’t say anything. It was quieter than I expected, almost like everyone was holding their breath.

I liked Perast too — just one street really, but every building looked older than my country. We wandered for maybe twenty minutes while our skipper grabbed coffee (he waved us over to try some local pastry but I forgot what it’s called). The submarine base came last: dark tunnels echoing with our voices and water dripping somewhere deeper inside. The walls were cold if you touched them. Kind of spooky, actually — I kept thinking about all those secret things that must’ve happened there. On the way back to Kotor, sun finally broke through and dried my shirt quick. Still think about that swim sometimes when I’m stuck in traffic back home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Boat tour to Blue Cave and landmarks

• Depart from Kotor by yacht
• Visit and swim in Blue Cave
• Stop at Our Lady of the Rocks island
• Cruise past historic town of Perast
• Explore submarine tunnels by speedboat
• Stop at Mamula Fortress island
• Return to Kotor

Top questions

How long does the Kotor Blue Cave boat tour last?

The full tour takes about 3 hours including travel time between stops.

Is swimming allowed in the Blue Cave?

Yes, you can swim and snorkel in the Blue Cave during your stop there.

Are guides available in multiple languages?

Yes, guides speak English plus other languages via audio guide or directly.

Does this tour include visiting Our Lady of the Rocks?

Yes, there is a stop at Our Lady of the Rocks island and church near Perast.

What is included in this Kotor boat tour?

Your fare covers raincoats if needed, snorkeling masks, fuel, Wi-Fi access onboard, life jackets, music during cruising, and a licensed English-speaking skipper-guide.

Can infants join this boat trip?

Infants are allowed but must sit on an adult’s lap during travel.

Is hotel pickup included?

No hotel pickup is mentioned; you meet at the departure point in Kotor.

Are there stops for food or drinks during the tour?

No meal is included but there is time to grab coffee or snacks during free time in Perast.

What’s included

Your day includes raincoats if weather turns wet, snorkeling masks for swimming at Blue Cave, Wi-Fi onboard so you can share photos right away, music while cruising between stops, plus all fuel costs covered and a licensed English-speaking skipper guiding you through every story-filled stop before returning to Kotor harbor.