Makarska: 3-island Speedboat Cave & Blue Lagoon Tour

The best part of this Makarska trip is how much coastline you reach in five hours: Hvar’s small Little Blue Cave, a free hour in Jelsa, Zečevo’s Blue Lagoon, and a final swim off Brač. It is a fast, water-focused sampler of three islands, not a day spent sitting in one place.

I like the mix of boat-only coves and independent time in Jelsa, where you can stretch your legs and stop for coffee. I also like the small group limit of 12 and the included snorkel set, which make the day feel more personal and keep the extras simple.

One thing to weigh: you must swim to enter the cave, and the tour is not suitable for non-swimmers, children under three, or pregnant women. The sea can feel cold, so bring a towel and be ready for plenty of time in the water.

What Makes This Speedboat Trip Worth Considering

• Swim into Hvar’s Little Blue Cave: The boat anchors outside, and you enter by swimming. There is no entry fee or queue, but it is not the famous Blue Cave on Biševo.
• Stop at two boat-accessible bays: Pokrivenik on Hvar comes early, with another swim stop at Zirje Beach on Brač near the end.
• Get an hour in Jelsa: The northern Hvar town stop gives you time for a walk and a coffee, a welcome change from the boat.
• Spend time at Zečevo’s Blue Lagoon: The stop includes swimming, snorkeling, and a waterfront bungalow bar.
• Keep the group small: The boat takes up to 12 people. A small party may mean a quieter trip, though departures can run with fewer than 12.
• Budget for your own food and drinks: Fuel, skipper, taxes, snorkeling gear, and a bottle of water are included; meals and other drinks are not.

Three Islands in Five Hours, With Little Time to Waste

This is a compact island-hopping outing, with speedboat rides linking short swims and one town stop. The route covers Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač, departing from the Palladium Rent a Boat stand on Makarska’s main promenade and returning to the same meeting point.

The listed departure times are 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The exact starting times depend on availability, so check your chosen date before planning the rest of your day. The tour lasts about five hours, and the schedule is quite full. Expect a series of distinct stops rather than long, unhurried visits.

That pace is the trade-off for seeing several places in one outing. You get a taste of a bay, cave, town, lagoon, and beach, but each swim stop is brief. If you want to settle in for hours on one island, a ferry and a day of independent exploring may suit you better.

Pokrivenik, Hvar’s First Swim Stop

After about 40 minutes by speedboat, the first stop is Pokrivenik, a bay on Hvar. Plan on roughly 25 to 30 minutes there for swimming and snorkeling. The sheltered setting is a useful first chance to get comfortable with the water and the boat’s rhythm.

Because this stop is early, have your swimwear on under your clothes before boarding. A towel is essential, and the snorkeling set is included. The tour information does not describe specific marine life or facilities at this bay, so think of it as a short swim break rather than a fully equipped beach visit.

The boat-only access is part of the appeal: you reach a cove as part of the boat route, rather than walking down from a road or town. But the short stop means you should not expect a long beach session. The captain needs to keep the day moving toward the cave and Jelsa.

Swimming Into Hvar’s Little Blue Cave

The Little Blue Cave is about five minutes by boat from Pokrivenik. The boat anchors outside, and you swim into the cave. That makes this a memorable stop for confident swimmers, but an important limitation for anyone who is uneasy in open water.

The visit lasts around 20 to 25 minutes, including swimming and snorkeling. There is no queue or entry fee, which keeps the stop straightforward. Still, this is not the famous Blue Cave on Biševo. The name can cause confusion, so set your expectations for a smaller local cave rather than a major excursion to Biševo.

You should also be comfortable getting into and out of the water from the boat. The tour is explicitly not suitable for non-swimmers. If you can swim but dislike confined spaces, you can choose not to enter the cave, though the tour’s main appeal is built around water stops.

Jelsa: An Hour to Walk, Pause, and Get Coffee

After the cave, the boat heads to Jelsa, described as the best-known town on Hvar’s northern side. You have about 60 minutes of free time, enough for a walk and a coffee break before returning to the boat.

This is the trip’s most useful pause from swimming. You can dry off, take in a town setting, and decide how to spend an hour at your own pace. The time is not long enough for an elaborate meal or a broad exploration, so keep your plans simple and watch the time.

Jelsa also adds balance to an itinerary dominated by the sea. Without this stop, the experience would be almost entirely boat rides and swims. If you prefer a guided town tour or a longer cultural visit, this is not that; the hour is free time, and the guide languages listed are English and Croatian.

Zečevo’s Blue Lagoon and Bungalow Bar

From Jelsa, it is about a 10-minute boat ride to Zečevo and the Blue Lagoon. The stop is around 40 to 45 minutes, with time to swim, snorkel, or relax at the waterfront bungalow bar.

This is a good point in the day to decide whether you want another swim or a break on shore. The bar gives you an option beyond staying in the water, but drinks other than the included bottle of water are at your own expense. Food is not included either, so bring a snack if you know you will need one.

The stop is brief, and the tour does not promise a particular menu or service at the bar. Treat it as a convenient place to pause, not a full lunch stop. If you plan to buy something, carry a payment method, though the accepted payment options are not specified.

Zirje Beach on Brač: One Last Swim

The route continues by speedboat to Zirje Beach on Brač, the final swimming stop. You have about 20 to 30 minutes to swim or snorkel before the roughly 30-minute ride back to Makarska.

Ending with a beach swim gives the day a relaxed finish, but this is another short stop. Keep your towel and any dry clothes easy to reach, especially if you do not want to sit out the return ride in wet swimwear. The tour details do not specify changing facilities, so do not count on having a private place to change.

Taken together, the stops make a varied half-day: a pair of bays, a cave, a town, a lagoon, and a Brač beach. The route is the main value here. You see several places without arranging separate boats or ferry connections, although the time at each is limited.

What the $96 Price Includes

At $96 per person, the price covers the boat, skipper, fuel, snorkeling gear, taxes and fees, plus one bottle of water. That is a useful bundle for a five-hour outing, particularly because fuel and boat transport are built into the price. You are paying for access to a multi-stop route, not just a transfer between islands.

You will still need to bring or buy your own food and any additional drinks. With only an hour in Jelsa and a short stop at the lagoon bar, a packed snack can be more practical than relying on a leisurely meal. The supplied water is a start, but bring extra if you know you drink a lot, since additional drinks are not included.

A small boat with a maximum of 12 people is another part of the value. One person who took the trip with a group of four described the outing as peaceful and noted that it still went ahead with just four participants. That is encouraging if you prefer a smaller group, but it does not guarantee a private boat or a specific group size on your date.

Practical Details Before You Book

Meet at the Palladium Rent a Boat stand on Makarska’s main promenade. The tour ends at the same point. English and Croatian are the listed guide languages, and the tour is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, or non-swimmers.

Bring swimwear and a towel. Smoking is not allowed. Since swimming is central to nearly every stop, wear clothing that is easy to manage on a boat and keep valuables to a minimum. The route includes several boat rides, so if you are sensitive to speedboat travel, consider that before booking; the trip is designed around moving quickly between islands.

Water temperature can be a factor. One outing had cold water, although the children in that group enjoyed jumping in. That is not a promise about conditions on your day, but it is a good reason to pack a warm layer for the ride back and not assume the sea will feel inviting.

Dolphins were spotted on one trip, a lucky bonus rather than a planned part of the experience. Enjoy the possibility, but book for the islands, cave, and swims, not wildlife sightings.

Is This the Right Makarska Boat Tour for You?

I would choose this trip if I wanted to cover several Adriatic stops in half a day and was confident swimming. The Little Blue Cave, open time in Jelsa, and Blue Lagoon create a satisfying mix, and the small-group limit helps keep the boat from feeling like a floating bus.

I would look elsewhere if I wanted a long beach day, a guided town visit, or a cave experience that does not require swimming. The cave is a local stop on Hvar, not the famous Biševo attraction, and most of the schedule revolves around getting in the water.

At $96, the tour offers good practical value if you will use the swim stops and appreciate having transport, fuel, snorkeling gear, and a skipper included. Book it for a brisk, scenic sampler of Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač. Skip it if you need a slower pace or cannot swim comfortably.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about five hours. It departs from Makarska and returns to the same meeting point.

Where is the meeting point?

Meet at the Palladium Rent a Boat stand on Makarska’s main promenade. The tour ends there as well.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač, with stops at Pokrivenik, the Little Blue Cave, Jelsa, the Blue Lagoon, and Zirje Beach.

Is the Little Blue Cave the famous Blue Cave on Biševo?

No. The Little Blue Cave on Hvar is a different cave. There is no entry fee or queue, and you must swim from the boat to enter.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the boat, skipper, fuel, snorkeling set, taxes and fees, and one bottle of water. Food and other drinks are not included.

Who is the tour not suitable for?

The tour is not suitable for children under three, pregnant women, or non-swimmers.