REVIEW · KOTOR
Kotor: Bay of Kotor and Blue Cave Speedboat Tour
Book on GetYourGuide →Operated by Sea Horizon - Speed Boat Tours · Bookable on GetYourGuide
Blue Cave and tunnels in just three hours. This Kotor speedboat tour strings together Bay of Kotor panorama cruising, a swim in the Blue Cave, and a church-and-museum visit to Our Lady of the Rocks. The only real trade-off: the cave time and overall smoothness can depend on crowds and sea/weather.
I like that it’s efficient. You cover multiple iconic sights from the water without spending your whole day on buses or waiting around. It’s also guided in plain, practical bites by the skipper/crew, with stops designed for photos and quick swims rather than long museum marathons.
In This Review
- Key Things I’d Plan Around
- Kotor Bay from a Speedboat: What You Actually Gain
- Park Slobode Meeting Point: Easy to Find, Easy to Miss
- Bay of Kotor Cruising: Villages, Palaces, and the Verige Bottleneck
- Blue Cave Swim Stop: Beautiful, But Time-Dependent
- Old Submarine Tunnel Photo Stop: Small Stop, Big Story
- Our Lady of the Rocks Island: Legend, Church, and Museum Time
- Crew, Comfort, and Safety on the Water
- Price Check: Is $53 Good Value?
- Who Should Book (and Who Should Skip It)
- Should You Book This Blue Cave and Lady of the Rocks Speedboat Tour?
- FAQ
- Where do I meet for the tour?
- How long is the tour?
- What’s included in the price?
- Is admission to Our Lady of the Rocks included?
- How much time do we spend at the Blue Cave?
- What should I bring?
- Are there any language options?
- Who is the tour not suitable for?
Key Things I’d Plan Around

- Blue Cave swim first, then Lady of the Rocks last: a route that feels different from the usual ordering.
- Real time on the water: about a 55-minute scenic ride before the main swim stop.
- Snorkeling gear included: you get equipment plus time to actually use it.
- Our Lady of the Rocks admission isn’t included: budget a bit extra for the island.
- Cold wind can hit hard on the boat: bring layers even when it looks warm on shore.
Kotor Bay from a Speedboat: What You Actually Gain

Kotor’s setting is the star: mountains that rise sharply right from the coast, and a long inlet (Boka Kotorska) that locals treat like a natural corridor. From the water, those hills and villages make immediate sense. You see the depth of the bay, the way the shoreline folds, and why UNESCO put this area on its most beautiful-world list.
This tour is built for people who want the coast’s highlights without turning it into a day-long commute. In about three hours, you get panoramic cruising, a famous swimming/cave stop, and two more “look-but-don’t-tire-yourself-out” moments: an old submarine tunnel photo stop and Our Lady of the Rocks on an artificial island.
Park Slobode Meeting Point: Easy to Find, Easy to Miss

You meet at Park Slobode, about a 5-minute walk from Kotor Old Town. The park is just behind the port, and when you enter, look for the company sign in orange and blue near the sea. A skipper meets you there.
Two practical tips from how the tour runs:
First, come light. Luggage or large bags aren’t allowed, so plan on a small day bag that fits your personal space. Second, show up a touch early. Several guides on this kind of tour tend to keep departures tight because they’re coordinating multiple water stops.
The crew/driver speaks English and Serbo-Croatian, so you’re not stuck playing charades with landmarks. One thing I appreciate from the customer notes: guides like Andrea, and crews including Voign and Marco, are described as friendly and talkative, with information shared as you move between viewpoints.
Bay of Kotor Cruising: Villages, Palaces, and the Verige Bottleneck

Right away, you’ll be out on the water with views that feel instantly cinematic: clustered homes, church spires, and the contrast between the sea and the surrounding mountains. As you cruise along the bay’s coastline, the route passes recognizable areas such as Muo, Prčanj, Stoliv, and Dobrota and Perast.
Then comes a key geographic moment: Verige, the narrowest part of the bay, about 300 meters wide. Verige works like a divider between the bay’s interior and outer gulfs, so the scenery tightens and the perspective changes fast. On the left side of Verige is the Church of Our Lady of Angels, a handy landmark when the skipper points out where you are.
If you care about photos, this is the “get your bearings fast” stretch. You’re moving quickly, so you’ll want your phone/camera ready, and you’ll likely take lots of short shots rather than one long panorama. The win here is that you get the whole shape of Kotor Bay early, before you shift into swim-and-visit mode.
Blue Cave Swim Stop: Beautiful, But Time-Dependent
The Blue Cave is the main event, and it’s famous for a reason. It’s a large cave with an area of about 300 square meters, arch height around 25 meters, and a depth reported at roughly 3–4 meters. The cave has two entrances, and the color comes from light refraction—so the water and the cave walls can look like they’re glowing blue from the depths.
You typically get around 20 minutes for swimming (with snorkeling equipment included). That’s enough time to cool off, grab a few surface swims, and do a quick snorkel if conditions are right.
Here’s the reality check I’d plan for: Blue Cave conditions can vary. On busier days, multiple boats can be inside the cave area at once, and that can shorten how long you actually spend near the most photogenic spots. One person noted they didn’t get much time in the cave itself due to crowding, though they still described a good alternative swimming moment.
Also, water trips can get choppy. Even when everything is safe, wind and waves can make it harder to stay comfortable and focused. If you get cold easily, treat this stop as a reason to bring layers. In cooler months, the wind on the boat is a real factor, and I’d rather you show up warm than regret it mid-ride.
Old Submarine Tunnel Photo Stop: Small Stop, Big Story

On the return route, there’s a photo stop at the former submarine tunnel cut into the steep banks near Luštica. This isn’t a “hop out and explore for an hour” moment. It’s more about seeing a surprising piece of coastal history and getting a few pictures from the boat.
The tunnel dates to Yugoslavia, with three tunnels reportedly used to hide and repair submarines and ships. Measurements given for the tunnel are impressive: up to about 50 meters long, around 7 meters wide, and an average depth near 8 meters, with the area around the tunnel exit getting deeper, up to around 30 meters.
Why it matters: seeing the bay from the water already makes you think about geography. Then this stop adds the human angle—why coastal spaces like these were strategic. Even if you’re not into military history, it’s one of those “I didn’t expect that” stops that makes the trip feel more than just scenery.
Our Lady of the Rocks Island: Legend, Church, and Museum Time

Then you reach Our Lady of the Rocks, on an artificial island in the bay near Perast. This stop blends a legend with real sights, and it’s where the tour slows down a bit for sightseeing.
The origin story is a classic coastal miracle tale: in 1452, two Perast fishermen reportedly saw an icon of Our Lady with Christ on the rock. They brought it to Perast and told of the strange event. The community decided to build an island and a chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Rocks.
Here’s the part you can actually connect to what you see: the island’s landform was created over time by widening the plate with stones and by adding wreck material from old ships damaged in battles. Every year since 1452, people have carried stones by traditional boats in what’s known as Fašinada, piling stones around the island.
When you’re there, expect to visit the church and museum. Admission to the island isn’t included in the tour price, so plan on paying for that separately. Time on this stop is usually around 20 minutes, which is enough for a look, a few photos, and a quick scan of the museum displays, but not enough to turn it into a slow, deep-dive museum day.
Weather can also cut into the time. If rain hits, your visit may feel abbreviated. Still, this island stop is one of the best ways to end the tour because it brings you back from “water thrills” into something calmer and more reflective.
Crew, Comfort, and Safety on the Water

The tour’s vibe is practical and lively, not stiff. You’ll often hear music played on board, and the skipper tends to explain key sights as you pass them. One review specifically praised music as part of the ambience, and several notes mention the crew being fun and helpful.
In terms of comfort: rain coats and bottled water are included, and the boat is described as comfortable and safe by people who booked through this operator. Life jackets are mentioned as available when needed, which is reassuring if you’re cautious around open water.
Now the small comfort realities:
- Wind can be cold on the water, even when shore temps feel fine.
- Seats near the back can make it harder to hear explanations, so if you care about the commentary, pick a seat closer to the front.
- Bottled water is included, but on very hot days one person felt the amount wasn’t enough for a full three hours. If you get thirsty fast, you might consider bringing extra water next time you do a tour like this—but only if it’s allowed by the operator’s bag rules.
If you’re sensitive to motion or rough seas, this kind of speedboat ride can feel bumpy. Roughness isn’t described as constant, but several notes mention choppier waves during some seasons and wind hits during cooler months.
Price Check: Is $53 Good Value?

At $53 per person for about 3 hours, this tour can feel like good value because it combines several things most visitors end up paying for separately:
- Fuel and the boat ride
- Bottled water
- Snorkeling equipment
- Rain coats
- Multiple major stops in one tight schedule
The main “extra cost” you should expect is admission for Our Lady of the Rocks. Since that’s not included, your final cost depends on how you value that church/museum time. If you’re mainly chasing the Blue Cave swim and the panoramic Bay of Kotor ride, you may still feel it’s worth it. If you care a lot about the island museum portion, budget that add-on and you’ll go in without surprises.
Also, there’s no hotel pickup included, so you’re responsible for getting to Park Slobode yourself. For many independent travelers staying in or near Old Town, that’s a non-issue. For people farther out, it can affect the overall convenience.
One more practical note: some people pointed out there isn’t Wi-Fi onboard, and drinks besides the provided water aren’t mentioned as included. That’s not a dealbreaker for a short coast tour, but it helps to set expectations.
Who Should Book (and Who Should Skip It)
This tour suits you if:
- You want Kotor Bay views with minimal fuss.
- You like a plan that includes a real swim stop, not just photo points.
- You enjoy fast-paced, water-based sightseeing in a small window of time.
It may not suit you if you fall into the operator’s stated constraints: it’s not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, or heart problems. Speedboats and sudden movements can be more than some bodies want.
From the on-water comfort side, bring layers for wind, and plan for salt-air chill. If you’re sensitive to cold, especially in shoulder seasons, pack accordingly. In November and winter months, people noted it can get cold quickly on the water, even when it’s sunny.
If you’re traveling with kids or a multi-generational group, the small-group/private option can help, and one family noted assistance for a father with mobility limits. Still, follow the operator’s suitability guidance for health and comfort.
Should You Book This Blue Cave and Lady of the Rocks Speedboat Tour?
If you’re in Kotor with a short time window and you want the bay’s highlights without spending the day in transit, I think this is an easy yes. The reason is simple: you get a smart mix of views + swim time + two standout stops (a famous cave and an island church/museum) in just three hours.
Book it if:
- You want the Blue Cave experience with included snorkeling gear.
- You’re okay with a timed visit style (swim and sightseeing aren’t long and slow).
- You can handle some wind on the water and bring a jacket/layers.
Consider alternatives or adjust expectations if:
- You’re very picky about long cave time and want zero crowding risk. That can vary.
- You don’t want speedboat rides in choppy conditions.
- You prefer fully included island admissions and dislike surprise add-ons.
If you want one day-trip that feels like you’re seeing Kotor from the angle most people never do, this speedboat route gives you that fast. Just dress for wind, keep your bag small, and plan on a short-but-memorable Blue Cave swim.
FAQ
Where do I meet for the tour?
You meet at Park Slobode, about a 5-minute walk from Kotor Old Town, just behind Kotor Port. The skipper meets you in the park near the sea by the orange and blue company sign.
How long is the tour?
The tour duration is 3 hours.
What’s included in the price?
The price includes fuel, bottled water, snorkeling equipment, and rain coats.
Is admission to Our Lady of the Rocks included?
No. Admission to Our Lady of the Rocks is not included.
How much time do we spend at the Blue Cave?
You have about 20 minutes for swimming (and snorkeling is supported with the equipment provided).
What should I bring?
Bring sun hat, swimwear, and a towel.
Are there any language options?
The driver/skipper provides English and Serbo-Croatian.
Who is the tour not suitable for?
The tour is stated to be not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, and people with heart problems.










