Blue and Green Cave private speed boat tour

The headline here is a private speedboat ride from Hvar to two famous sea caves, with a swim stop at Stiniva and a long pause among the Pakleni Islands. The skipper can shape the day around your group, so this feels less like a fixed bus tour and more like a day out with your own boat.

I like two things in particular: snorkel gear and soft drinks are included, which saves room in your bag, and you get time to swim at several very different spots rather than just look at the coast from the boat. The long lunch break at Palmižana also gives you room to slow down.

The catch is the crossing to the Blue Cave. It can be a long, bumpy ride in a small speedboat, and cave entry costs extra. If your group is prone to seasickness, or wants a smooth and gentle outing, think carefully before booking.

The details worth knowing before you go

• Private boat for up to 12: Your group has the boat to itself, with a skipper who can adjust the day to your interests and conditions.
• Four distinct stops: Expect a cave swim, a narrow cove, the Blue Cave and a generous stop at Palmižana.
• A long ride is part of the deal: Reaching Biševo takes time, and rough seas can make the crossing uncomfortable.
• Cave admission costs extra: The stated fees are 70 kuna for the Green Cave and 100 kuna for the Blue Cave.
• Lunch is not included: Palmižana has restaurants and Laganini Beach Club, so you can buy a meal or a drink there.
• Good weather matters: If poor weather cancels the trip, you can take another date or receive a full refund.

A private speedboat day from Hvar

This tour covers a wide stretch of coast and islands in about six hours, starting at 9:30 am and returning to the meeting point in Hvar. You meet at CROFFERS Tourist Agency on Jurja Matijevića 17. It is a private activity, so only your group takes part, up to 12 people.

A private boat changes the feel of the day. You are not sharing the ride with strangers, and the skipper can pay attention to what your group wants: more time in the water, a quieter beach, or a lunch stop that suits your pace. The schedule is not a promise that every stop will happen in exactly the same order. Flexibility is part of the point, though weather and sea conditions still have the final say.

Skippers named by people who have taken the trip include Daniel, Antonio and Philip. Their praised strengths are practical ones: timing cave visits, finding small beaches, explaining local culture and helping families feel at ease. One account describes a skipper changing plans when caves were closed by bad weather and arranging a different day, including lunch. Treat that as an example of flexibility, not a guaranteed alternative.

The boat comes with life jackets, snorkeling equipment, soft drinks and music. That is a useful set of basics for a day built around swimming, but it does not mean every expense is covered. You will need to budget separately for cave admission and food.

Green Cave: an hour for a swim and snorkel

The Green Cave is scheduled as the first stop, with about an hour to swim and snorkel. You can explore the water around the cave, or go inside with a guide in a small boat. The cave ticket is not included, so confirm the current fee before departure. The stated price is 70 kuna.

This stop suits people who want more than a quick photo. An hour gives you a chance to get in the water, take a break and enjoy the cave at a less hurried pace. Snorkeling gear is provided, so you do not have to pack your own mask and snorkel unless you prefer your personal fit.

The exact experience depends on conditions and the skipper’s plan for the day. The private format may help the group linger or move on as needed, but the tour’s flexibility does not guarantee a particular length of time inside the cave. If swimming is central to your plans, bring swimwear and a towel. Those items are not listed among the inclusions.

Stiniva Cove: swim time in a celebrated inlet

Stiniva Cove is allotted about an hour. It is known as Europe’s best beach for 2016, and the stop is designed for swimming, snorkeling and a refreshment at the beach bar. The admission is free.

This is a welcome change of scene after the cave. Here, the point is to enjoy the cove and water, not to hurry through a ticketed attraction. The hour gives you time to swim and have a drink, though a beach bar stop means buying refreshments rather than relying only on the soft drinks aboard.

The skipper’s local knowledge can matter most at places like this. The timing of a stop and the way you approach it can shape whether it feels calm or crowded. One family described having a beach almost to themselves for close to an hour, while other accounts praise skippers for finding small places to swim. That sort of quiet moment is possible, but not guaranteed.

Blue Cave on Biševo: the big draw and longest ride

The Blue Cave is the showpiece for many people. Its striking blue light is the reason to make the trip out to Biševo, and the planned stop lasts about 30 minutes. Admission is extra, with the stated fee at 100 kuna.

Do not mistake the short cave visit for a short journey. The ride to the cave can take a substantial part of the day, and one person found the crossing long and rough in a small boat. That is the most important practical caution in this tour. Speedboats can make the route possible in a day, but they are exposed to the sea, and the ride may be bumpy.

The cave itself is weather-dependent. If conditions are poor, caves may close; the skipper may adapt the route, but you should not book on the assumption that entry is certain. The provider says a weather cancellation can be rescheduled or refunded. If you have a tight schedule or strongly want to see the Blue Cave, leave flexibility in your plans.

For those who do make it in, the cave offers a different kind of beauty from the swimming stops. It is a brief visit to see the natural blue glow, rather than a place to spend an hour snorkeling. Plan for a quick, memorable stop and let the skipper handle the day’s timing.

Palmižana: a proper pause at the end

The final planned stop is Palmižana Botanical Garden, on the Pakleni Islands, with about two hours to swim, snorkel, eat or have a drink. The bay has restaurants and Laganini Beach Club, making it the natural place to relax after a day of boat travel.

This is where the tour’s pace becomes more leisurely. You can stretch out the afternoon with lunch, take another swim or simply sit with a drink. Food is not included, so the cost of lunch depends on what you choose. The tour highlights Laganini, but you are not required to eat there; the stop is described as having restaurants as well.

Several people praised their lunch stop, including one who mentioned fresh fish and another who called the restaurant excellent. That makes Palmižana more than a quick refueling point, though the specific restaurant and menu are not guaranteed. If dining matters to you, ask the skipper what is available on the day.

The two-hour window is also a useful buffer after the faster cave-and-cove stops. You have time to come ashore and enjoy the setting without turning lunch into a race back to the boat. Keep in mind that the tour is about six hours overall, so the skipper may adjust the exact timing to fit sea conditions and the group.

What the private format is worth

The price is $844.78 for the group, with a maximum of 12 people. At full capacity, that works out to about $70.40 per person before cave fees, lunch and drinks bought ashore. For a smaller group, the per-person price rises quickly. This is best judged as a private charter, not as a low-cost shared excursion.

You are paying for the boat to yourselves, a skipper, flexibility and the ability to cover several places in one outing. If your group values privacy and wants to swim together, that can be a strong use of the budget. The included gear, life jackets, soft drinks, music and travel insurance also cover some basic needs.

The extra costs deserve a clear place in your calculations. The stated cave fees total 170 kuna per person if you visit both caves, and lunch is on your own. The supplied figures list kuna, so check the current payment details and prices before you go. Do not assume that the tour price includes your transfer to Hvar, either. The departure point is on Hvar, and reaching the island is a separate part of your trip.

The tour may be less compelling for a couple who mainly wants a short swim and a low-cost boat ride. But for a family or a group of friends splitting the charter, a private boat can make the long day more comfortable and personal. Several families valued the skipper’s attention to children, and one particularly appreciated help after a jellyfish sting. That is reassuring, but it is not a substitute for taking care around sea life and asking the skipper for help if needed.

The ride, the weather and who should book

Most people can participate, but the tour is not recommended for children younger than five. The main question is not just whether you enjoy swimming. It is whether everyone in your group can manage a long speedboat ride, including the possibility of rough seas. If you or a child is sensitive to motion, ask the operator about the boat and current conditions before booking.

Bring what you need for a day on the water, especially swimwear and a towel. The boat provides snorkeling equipment and life jackets, so you can leave those at home. You may also want money for cave fees, lunch and anything you buy at the beach bar or restaurant. The tour supplies soft drinks, but it does not state that meals are included.

The departure is at 9:30 am, and the activity returns to the starting point. It lasts about six hours, though weather and the skipper’s decisions can affect the route. Since the trip is often booked well ahead, with an average booking lead time of 47 days, it is sensible to plan early if you have a particular date in mind. Confirmation is provided at booking.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. A cancellation or change within 24 hours is not accepted for a refund, and poor weather may lead to a different date or a full refund. These terms matter because the caves and open-water crossings depend on conditions.

I would choose this tour if you want a full day on the water, value having a boat to your own group, and are happy to trade a potentially bumpy crossing for the chance to see the Blue Cave. The best fit is a group of friends or a family with older children who enjoy swimming and can share the cost. If you want a short, calm outing, dislike speedboats or need certainty that the caves will be open, choose a simpler plan.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It lasts about six hours.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 9:30 am.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers a group of up to 12 people, and only your group participates.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, life jackets, soft drinks, music and travel insurance are included.

Are the cave entry fees included?

No. The stated fees are 70 kuna for the Green Cave and 100 kuna for the Blue Cave.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You will be offered another date or a full refund if poor weather cancels the activity.