Blue Cave Swim, War Tunnels

From Kotor: 3h Full Tour to Blue Cave & Swim & War tunnels runs through Hawai Boat Tours Kotor. Rated 4.7 across 2,533 reviews. Runs 3 - 7 hours. From $38.

Overview

This speedboat trip runs from Kotor's Park Slobode 1 out to the Blue Cave on the open sea, with stops and photo pauses along the way at Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks, a former submarine tunnel, and Mamula Island. The skippers, who also act as local guides, cover Montenegrin history as you go, and several travellers singled out their knowledge of the bay and its wartime past. On the version reviewed here, the boat stays out on the water for the whole outing rather than dropping passengers anywhere for a wander on land.

The Blue Cave is the headline swim: the boat reaches a clear turquoise spot near the cave, and there is a swim stop of about 25 minutes with free snorkelling gear. Some reviewers said the swim time was plenty to enjoy the place; others were surprised at how much of the trip is spent sitting on the boat between sights. Snorkel masks, music, fuel and a licensed English-speaking skipper are all in the price, and the captain can take photos on request.

It suits anyone staying in or near Kotor who wants the bay's biggest sights in one loop without organising a private charter. Arrive 30 minutes before departure to check in, since summer traffic in Kotor can be heavy and late arrivals lose the booking. From May 21 onward, boats are no longer permitted to enter the Blue Cave itself, so the stop becomes a swim and photo stop outside it.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet in KotorCheck in at Park Slobode 1 in Kotor, at the Hawaii Boat Tours Kotor sign, 30 minutes before departure.
2. Speedboat to PerastA 20-minute run across the bay toward the UNESCO-listed town.
3. Perast and Our Lady of the RocksA roughly 10-minute photo and sightseeing pass by Perast, then about 5 minutes at Our Lady of the Rocks. Both stops are optional add-ons depending on the option booked.
4. Speedboat to the tunnelsAbout 25 minutes of cruising to reach the former submarine tunnel.
5. Submarine tunnel visitThe boat enters the mountain through the WWII tunnel for a roughly 10-minute visit, with photo stop and guide commentary. Listed as optional.
6. Mamula IslandRoughly 5 minutes for a photo stop and guided pass by the former WWII prison island, then a 10-minute speedboat leg onward.
7. Blue Cave swimAbout 25 minutes for swimming and snorkelling in the clear water near the cave, weather and seasonal entry rules permitting. Listed as optional.
8. Return to KotorAround 1 hour of cruising back, with drop-off among three locations depending on the option booked.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points shape how this trip feels once you are on the water.

• Wear your swimwear. One reviewer warned there is no place and no time to change on board, so arrive wearing swimwear under your clothes. Bring a towel and water too, as the listing advises.
• Facilities are thin. One reviewer reported there was no toilet on board and no stop to use one, and that there was nowhere to change. Plan around this before you board, especially with kids.
• Mostly boat time. Reviewers noted the trip is spent on the boat the whole way, with a single swim stop at the Blue Cave of about 20 minutes in their experience. If you expect to walk around Perast or the islands, this is not that kind of tour.
• Guides carry it. Several travellers praised the skippers' historical knowledge and upbeat manner. The commentary on the submarine tunnels, Mamula and the bay is a big part of the value here.
• Sea conditions rule. The Blue Cave sits on the open sea, and the operator changes the route to stay inside the bay if waves are unsafe. Route changes for safety are not grounds for a refund, so go in knowing the cave stop is weather dependent.
• Arrive early. Check-in closes to late arrivals with no refund or rescheduling, and Kotor traffic in summer is heavy. The listing asks for arrival 30 minutes ahead of departure at Park Slobode 1.

Common issues. The main gripes are practical rather than about the sights. One reviewer found the boat felt overcrowded and would have preferred fewer passengers, and another was caught out by the lack of a toilet and changing space. The swim stop is the only one, so anyone hoping for multiple swims or time ashore will be disappointed. Weather can also change the plan: if the open sea is rough, the boat stays inside the bay and no refund follows. From May 21 onward boats may not enter the Blue Cave at all, and late arrivals lose the booking without refund or rescheduling.

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