Private Speed Boat Tour of Hvar South Shore & Pakleni islands

The best part of this Hvar outing is the freedom to trade the town’s busy waterfront for open water, rocky coves and beaches you can reach by boat. With your own captain and a route that includes Red Rocks and the Pakleni islands, you can spend the day swimming, stopping for a drink or simply enjoying the coast from the water.

I like two things in particular: the private format, which gives your group room to shape the day, and the mix of stops, from dramatic cliffs to bays with beach bars and restaurants. Captains Nicolai, also spelled Nicholai, and Johnny (Marino) are named by past participants as friendly and attentive, with Nicolai praised for adapting the trip to the group’s requests.

One consideration: this is a long day on the water, and the tour’s five-to-eight-hour duration is a wide range. Some stops are optional, so ask your captain how the timing and route can work for your group before setting off.

At a glance

• Private boat for up to 10: Your group does not share the activity with other parties.
• Red Rocks is the cliff-and-swim stop: You can take photos, snorkel, swim or jump from the cliffs if you’re adventurous.
• Dubovica gets a full hour: There’s time to enjoy the beach, swim and visit its small bar for coffee or cocktails.
• Mala Milna and Velo Borče are flexible additions: One offers beach and restaurant time; the other is a brief boat-to-water swim stop.
• Palmizana and Mlini bring you to the Pakleni islands: Palmizana has a botanical garden and places to eat, while Mlini is singled out for its afternoon sea color.
• The group price favors a full boat: At $420.08, the per-person cost falls as more people share it.

A private route along Hvar’s south shore

Hvar’s south coast is a good match for a boat day: the stops are spread between bays, beaches and the Pakleni islands, and this tour connects them without requiring you to make each trip on your own. Your captain takes the group by speedboat, with the listed stops allowing time to get in the water, rest on shore or pause for food and drinks.

The experience is private for your party of up to 10. That matters most when your group has different ideas about a perfect day. One person can be keen to swim, another can prefer a beach bar, and the captain can help adjust the route to your requests, as Nicolai did for a group of four.

The tour is listed as lasting about five to eight hours. That leaves room for a proper day out, though the exact schedule is not fixed by the details provided. The stop durations listed add up to three hours and 45 minutes before counting the Mlini visit, so there is also time in the overall outing for travel between places and any changes to the schedule. Confirm the plan with your captain if you have a firm return time.

Red Rocks: Hvar’s dramatic first stop

At Red Rocks, the main draw is the setting. The coast here gives you a striking place to take photos, and the stop is designed for time in and around the water. You can swim or snorkel, or, if you are comfortable with the conditions and the jump, try the cliff jumps mentioned for the stop.

The planned visit is 30 minutes, so think of it as a brisk first taste of the coast rather than a long beach session. If you want to snorkel or jump, use your time carefully and follow the captain’s guidance. No equipment details are provided, so ask in advance if you need to know what is included.

Cliff jumping is optional, not a required part of the stop. You can enjoy the rocks and sea from the boat or swim instead. That flexibility is useful for mixed-age groups or anyone who would rather keep both feet at sea level.

Dubovica Beach: an hour to slow down

Dubovica is described as one of Hvar island’s most beautiful bays, and the hour allotted here gives you a chance to enjoy it without rushing straight back to the boat. Swim, sunbathe or take a break at the small beach bar, where you can order coffee or cocktails.

This is one of the more useful stops for balancing an active boat day. Red Rocks is geared toward water and photos; Dubovica gives you time to settle in and enjoy a beach. If you want lunch, however, the details point to restaurant options at Mala Milna and Palmizana rather than Dubovica, so do not count on this beach bar for a full meal.

The stop is free to enter, but food and drinks are separate purchases. Bring what you need for a beach hour, and ask your captain about the timing if you want to make the most of the bar as well as the swim.

Mala Milna and Velo Borče: two different kinds of pause

Mala Milna is an optional stop, with about 30 minutes planned. Its appeal is choice: you can swim and sunbathe, or sit down for lunch at a traditional restaurant or a newer restaurant and bar. The short allotted time makes it worth asking how a meal fits into your day, especially if your group wants to linger over lunch.

Nearby Velo Borče is a much shorter stop, listed at 15 minutes. Here, the emphasis is on the sea and the chance to jump from the boat for a swim. It is a quick reset rather than a long beach visit, and the proximity to Mala Milna makes these stops easy to think of as a pair.

Because Mala Milna is optional, it may be possible to spend more time elsewhere instead. That is one of the practical benefits of booking privately, but the exact flexibility depends on the day’s route and timing. Share your priorities with the captain rather than assuming every stop will receive the same time.

Palmizana: lunch, garden paths and beach time

Palmizana is the longest timed stop, at one hour and 30 minutes. It is described as the most popular beach on the Pakleni islands and gives your group several ways to use the break: lunch, coffee, cocktails or a walk through the botanical garden.

That range makes Palmizana a natural place to pause after the Hvar shore stops. You can make it a meal stop, or keep things simple with a drink and a walk. If your group prefers swimming to a restaurant, the beach offers a chance to enjoy the water, too.

The practical trade-off is time. An hour and a half sounds generous, but a meal and a garden walk can take up much of it. Decide what matters most before arriving, particularly if your group wants both lunch and a swim. Admission to the stop is listed as free, while any food or drinks are an extra cost.

Mlini Beach: make room for the afternoon light

The final named stop is Mlini beach, described as one of the most beautiful beaches in the Pakleni islands. Its particular draw is the sea color in the afternoon, making it a good place to pause and take in the scenery later in the day.

No duration is specified for Mlini, so the time there may depend on how the rest of the day goes. If this stop matters to you, tell the captain early and ask how it fits with Palmizana and the other beaches. The tour’s five-to-eight-hour window leaves room for variation, but it does not promise a set amount of time at each location.

This is a useful reminder that the tour is less like a fixed sightseeing schedule and more like a private day with a route to guide it. You get a varied set of coastal stops, but the exact balance between them is something to discuss with your captain.

What the private price buys you

The listed price is $420.08 per group of up to 10, not a per-person fare. At full capacity, that works out to about $42 per person. For a group of four, it is about $105 per person; smaller parties pay more per person, since the group price stays the same.

The value is not simply the number of stops. You are paying for a private boat outing with a captain, the ability to travel between Hvar’s south shore and the Pakleni islands, and some flexibility to match the day to your group. If you have several people who want a full day on the water, the cost can compare well with separate arrangements. For a couple or a small group, you will want to weigh that privacy against the higher individual cost.

Food and drinks at beach bars and restaurants are not stated as included, so budget separately for those. The listed stops themselves have no admission charge. The tour is offered in English, and pickup is offered, though the stated meeting point is HvarBoats Riva, Šetalište put Križa 3, in Hvar. The activity ends back there.

Captains and the value of a flexible day

A good captain can make a private boat trip feel personal rather than mechanical. Nicolai, also written as Nicholai, is praised for being accommodating and adapting the outing to a group’s requests. Johnny (Marino) is also named as a fun, attentive captain who knows the area well. Those details point to the quality that matters most here: clear communication and a captain who can help your group make choices as the day unfolds.

You still need to speak up about what you want. If cliff jumping is not for you, say so. If lunch at Mala Milna or a longer beach break matters more than a quick swim stop, mention it. The private format creates room for requests, but it does not guarantee that every preferred change will fit the day’s timing.

The experience has a five-star rating from 20 reviews, with all recommending it. That is a strong early signal, but it is a small sample, not a promise that every day or captain will be identical. The most consistent strengths are the boat day itself, the scenic stops and captains who are described as friendly, attentive and willing to accommodate requests.

Who should book this Hvar boat tour?

This trip fits groups of friends, families and couples who want a private day at sea and enjoy a mix of swimming, beaches and food stops. One past group specifically recommended it for a young family or friends, and the private arrangement can make it easier to plan around different interests than a shared group excursion.

It is less suited to someone who wants a tightly timed sightseeing tour with a guaranteed schedule at every beach. The total duration varies from five to eight hours, Mala Milna is optional, and no time is specified for Mlini. If you want every stop and a long lunch, discuss the day’s pace with the captain before departure.

Booking demand is also worth considering: the tour averages about 47 days in advance. Confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start; poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your group wants a full, private day linking Hvar’s south shore with the Pakleni islands, and you value the freedom to swim, relax and choose where to spend your time. The captain’s flexibility and the range of stops are the strongest reasons to choose it.

Think twice if you prefer a low-cost shared outing, have only a short window, or need a precise schedule. Before booking, decide which stops matter most, ask how the route can accommodate them, and compare the group price with your party size. With those expectations clear, this is a practical way to see several of Hvar’s best-known beaches from the water.

FAQ

How much does the private boat tour cost?

The listed price is $420.08 per group, for up to 10 people. The price per person depends on how many people share the group cost.

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts approximately five to eight hours. The length varies, and the time at Mlini is not specified.

Which places are included in the route?

The listed stops are Red Rocks, Dubovica Beach, optional Mala Milna, Velo Borče, Palmizana Botanical Garden and Mlini beach.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at HvarBoats Riva, Šetalište put Križa 3, Hvar, Croatia, and ends back at the meeting point.

Is the tour private?

Yes. Only your group participates, with a maximum group size of 10.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes a cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time.