Blue Cave And Perast, 4 Hours

Best from Kotor: Blue Cave, Swimming & Old Town Perast 4H. Rated 4.9 across 343 reviews. Runs 4 hours. From $51.

Overview

This four-hour speedboat trip from Kotor packs most of the Bay of Kotor's headline sights into a single loop: the old town of Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, a WWII-era submarine tunnel, Mamula island fortress and the Blue Cave, with a swim stop built in near the end. The boat ride itself is part of the appeal, with long stretches of coastal scenery between each stop and a skipper who, according to many reviewers, tells stories about the bay along the way.

The pace mixes short visits with longer stretches on the water. Perast gets about half an hour of free time to walk and look around, while the Blue Cave stop runs around forty minutes and includes swimming and snorkelling in front of the cave if the sea allows. Entering the cave itself depends on conditions on the day. One reviewer felt the four-hour format left enough time to really enjoy the bay, including an hour to swim and relax at the end.

It suits travellers who want a survey of the bay rather than deep time in any one place, and who are comfortable spending much of the day on a speedboat. Drinks on board are provided, including water, cola and cold beer. Hotel pickup is not part of the package; everyone checks in at Park Slobode in Kotor about twenty minutes before departure.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Check-in at KotorMeet at Park Slobode in Kotor, arriving about 20 minutes before departure for check-in. The exact starting arrangement depends on the option selected.
2. Bay of Kotor sightseeingScenic cruising through the bay, about 25 minutes of views along the way.
3. Perast old townAround 30 minutes for a guided tour, free time, photos and a walk through the old town.
4. Our Lady of the RocksThe boat passes by the famous islet for about 5 minutes of sightseeing and photos from the water.
5. Submarine tunnel and MamulaAbout 10 minutes at the former submarine tunnel, then 5 minutes at Mamula island fortress, both with commentary and photo stops.
6. Blue CaveAround 40 minutes for swimming and snorkelling in front of the cave, with entry inside if the sea is calm.
7. Return to KotorThe speedboat ride back takes about 80 minutes, with the tour ending at the original departure arrangement.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will make the day run more smoothly, based on the listing and on what past travellers have said.

• What to bring. The listing recommends sunglasses, a sun hat, towel, camera, snacks, sunscreen, beachwear and cash. You are out on open water for much of the day, so sun protection matters more than most people expect.
• Use the toilet first. There are no toilet facilities on the speedboat, and the listing warns that restroom lines at certain stops can be long. Go before departure.
• Drinks on board. A half-litre bottle of water, Coca Cola and cold beer are included, along with snorkelling masks without breathing tubes for hygiene reasons. Other snacks and drinks are not included, so bring your own if you want them.
• Weather decides the cave. Entering the Blue Cave only happens if the sea is calm. Treat the inside of the cave as a bonus rather than a guarantee, since the sea state on the day decides.
• Guide quality varies. Many reviewers praised the captains as funny and informative, saying the stories about each stop added a lot. A few said clearer and more frequent commentary would help, so expectations should be moderate on that front.
• A day on the water. Most of the tour is spent on the speedboat, with the return leg alone taking about 80 minutes. Several reviewers said the four hours passed quickly.

Common issues. The main risk is the sea itself: cave entry depends on calm conditions, and one reviewer said rough water reduced their enjoyment. That same reviewer reported a guide smoking during the trip, which made the boat uncomfortable, although the listing lists smoking as not allowed. Maritime police checks can delay departure by up to 10 minutes. There are no toilets on board and no hotel pickup, and the return leg alone is a long stretch, about 80 minutes on the water. Cancellation is possible up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

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