Blue Cave Tour from Kotor — Private Speedboat
A private 3-hour speedboat tour to the Blue Cave (Plava Špilja) on the Montenegrin coast. Best light at 10:30, swim inside the cave, return via Mamula. From €320 per boat.
The Blue Cave near Kotor — what makes it worth the trip
The Blue Cave (locally Plava Špilja) is a natural sea cave on the outer side of the Lustica Peninsula, about 45–60 minutes by speedboat from Kotor old town. From outside it looks unremarkable — a low opening in the limestone cliff. From inside it is one of those rare places where the actual experience exceeds the photos.
The colour comes from physics. Sunlight enters the cave through the opening and through a smaller submarine hole below the waterline. It hits the white limestone floor, reflects upward through the water, and what you see from above is a luminous, electric blue that lights up everything inside — your hands, the boat hull, the cave walls. Between roughly 10:00 and 11:30, when the sun is high enough but still angled, the effect peaks. Earlier and later it's still beautiful, just less intense.
Swimming inside is the highlight. The water is cool but tolerable in summer (22–24°C July/August), and floating in the blue light is the photo most people remember from their whole Montenegro trip. Bring swimwear, a towel, and a waterproof camera or phone case if you have one.
Which Blue Cave tour from Kotor is right for you?
We run three private speedboat tours that include the Blue Cave. All are private — your boat, your group, your pace.
Blue Cave Adventure — 3 hours
Stops
Our Lady of the Rocks · Submarine Tunnel · Mamula · Blue Cave (with swim)
The most-booked Blue Cave route. Direct enough to make the cave the focus of the morning, with three iconic stops along the way. Ideal for couples and small groups who want the cave experience without committing a full day.
Beach & Cave Explorer — 5 hours
Stops
Our Lady of the Rocks · Submarine Tunnel & Mamula · Blue Cave · Žanjic Beach (1h)
Adds a 1-hour stop at Žanjic Beach after the cave — pebble beach, turquoise water, beach bars under pine trees. The combination most families pick.
Full Bay Discovery — 6 hours
Stops
Perast · Our Lady of the Rocks · Submarine Tunnel · Mamula · Blue Cave · Žanjic Beach + lunch
Blue Cave plus everything else in the bay — Perast, Mamula, the Submarine Tunnel, Žanjic Beach, lunch by the water. For travellers who only have one day to see the entire Bay of Kotor by boat.
The Blue Cave route from Kotor in detail
- 1
Departure 09:00–09:30 from your dock
We pick up from Kotor old town, Prčanj, Dobrota, Muo, or Tivat (your choice). The 90-minute earlier the better — the boat is fresh, the bay is quiet, and we arrive at the cave at peak light.
- 2
Our Lady of the Rocks (15–20 min stop)
Short stop at the famous artificial island church. Quick photos and a story from your captain about the 500-year tradition of dropping rocks on every safe return home. Optional church entry (€5 cash).
- 3
Submarine Tunnel (5 min stop)
A Cold War submarine pen carved into the cliff face. The boat enters the tunnel mouth — concrete walls, dripping rock, dramatic acoustics. Short but memorable.
- 4
Mamula Island (photo pass)
19th-century Austro-Hungarian fortress on a small island at the bay's entrance. We slow down for photos and a quick history note. Recently restored as a luxury hotel.
- 5
Blue Cave (20–25 min)
The boat enters the cave, anchors briefly, and you swim. Most guests are in the water within a minute of arriving. Photos work well — the blue light is bright enough that even a phone camera captures it. We stay until you're done.
- 6
Scenic return through the bay
Back through the open water, past Mamula, into the sheltered inner bay, and back to your dock. Total time ~3 hours from pickup. If you want to extend (lunch in Perast, a beach swim, etc), just tell your captain — the route is yours.
Best time of year for the Blue Cave
July–August: Warmest water (24°C+), best for long swimming inside the cave. Busiest period — the cave gets multiple boats at peak times, so we recommend the earliest morning slot.
June and September: The sweet spot. Warm enough for swimming (22–23°C), much fewer boats, easier same-day availability, lower-angle morning light still produces brilliant blue.
May and October: Water is cooler (18–20°C), most guests skip the swim and just enter the cave by boat to see the light. Still spectacular, dramatically fewer crowds.
What to bring on a Blue Cave tour
- Swimwear and a towel — the swim inside the cave is the highlight
- Sunscreen and sunglasses — strong sun on the open-water stretch even on hazy days
- Camera or waterproof phone case — the blue inside the cave is photographable but better with a case
- Light jacket for early morning departures (April, May, October)
- Cash in EUR for the tour payment (paid to captain after) and €5/person for Our Lady of the Rocks church entry if you want to go inside
Last updated: June 3, 2026
Frequently asked questions about the Blue Cave tour
How far is the Blue Cave from Kotor by boat?
About 45–60 minutes one-way by speedboat — the cave sits on the open Adriatic side, just past the entrance to the Bay of Kotor near Lustica Peninsula. A direct Blue Cave tour from Kotor is at minimum 3 hours total: 1 hour each way plus time at the cave and a few stops along the route.
What is the best time of day to visit the Blue Cave from Kotor?
Between 10:00 and 11:30 in the morning. The blue glow inside the cave comes from sunlight refracting through the water and reflecting off the white limestone floor — that effect is strongest when the sun is high but still angled, which on the Montenegrin coast means mid-late morning. We depart 09:00–09:30 from Kotor to arrive at peak light.
How much does a Blue Cave tour from Kotor cost?
Our private Blue Cave tour starts at €320 per boat for 3 hours (up to 8 guests), which works out to about €40 per person for a group of 8 or €160 per person for a couple — the price is per boat, not per person. The 5-hour Beach & Cave Explorer tour, which includes the Blue Cave plus a swim stop at Žanjic Beach, is €400 per boat.
Can you swim inside the Blue Cave?
Yes — swimming inside the cave is the main reason most people visit. The boat enters the mouth of the cave, anchors briefly, and guests jump in to swim in the glowing blue water. Bring swimwear and a towel. The water is cool even in summer (around 22–24°C in July/August) and bracing in May/October.
How long do you spend at the Blue Cave?
About 15–25 minutes inside the cave area — long enough to swim, take photos, and let the glow really register. The cave is small and other boats also visit, so we don't linger longer than needed for the experience itself. The 3-hour tour also stops at Our Lady of the Rocks, the Submarine Tunnel, and passes Mamula Island for photos.
Is the Blue Cave tour suitable for children?
Yes — we welcome children from 2 years and up. Child-size life jackets are provided. The route from Kotor stays inside the sheltered bay until just past Mamula, then crosses about 10 minutes of mildly open water to reach the cave. On most days this is fine for kids; if the captain feels the open-water section is rough, we adjust or substitute. Strong sun cover on board.
What if the sea is rough — can the Blue Cave tour still run?
The cave is on the open Adriatic side, so it is more weather-dependent than inner-bay tours. If the bura wind picks up or there is significant swell, the captain may delay the start or switch the route to Mamula + Žanjic Beach + Submarine Tunnel without entering the cave. We never charge for a tour that cannot reach the cave — you pay only if the experience runs as planned.
How do you book a Blue Cave tour from Kotor?
WhatsApp +382 69 202 842 with your preferred date, group size, and pickup location (Kotor, Tivat, Prčanj, etc.). We reply in minutes during operating hours (08:00–20:00, April through October). No deposit, no card details required — pay cash to the captain after the tour.
What is the difference between the Blue Cave near Kotor and the one in Croatia?
The famous Blue Cave on Biševo Island in Croatia is a different cave that requires a multi-hour ferry ride from Split or Hvar. The Blue Cave near Kotor (Plava Špilja, on the Montenegrin coast near Lustica) is a separate, smaller cave that delivers the same glowing-blue effect and is reachable in 45–60 minutes by speedboat from Kotor. If you are based in Kotor, our cave is the one to visit.
Is there a group/shared boat tour to the Blue Cave from Kotor?
Other operators run group tours where you share a 20–30 seat boat with strangers. We only operate private boat tours — your group only, your boat, your pace. For couples and small groups (4–8 people) the total cost is often only slightly higher than buying group seats, and the experience is dramatically different: no queueing inside the cave, no waiting for stragglers, no fixed schedule.
per boat, up to 8 guests, 3h
Book your Blue Cave tour
WhatsApp is fastest. Best slot fills up first — book a day ahead in peak season.
Quick stats
- Cave to Kotor: ~45–60 min by speedboat
- Best light: 10:00–11:30
- Water temp: 22–24°C (Jul/Aug)
- Tour length: 3h direct / 5h with beach
- Booking: WhatsApp, no deposit
Other private boat tours from Kotor
All tours are private — your boat, your group, your captain. Pricing per boat, up to 8 guests.
Perast & Our Lady of the Rocks
The two icons of the inner Bay of Kotor in a single morning or afternoon. Calm water, sheltered route, perfect introduction.
View tour
Blue Cave Adventure
Blue Cave with swim inside, Submarine Tunnel, Mamula photo pass, Our Lady of the Rocks. Best light at 10:30.
View tour
Beach & Cave Explorer
Blue Cave plus a 1-hour stop at Žanjic Beach for swimming and lunch under the pine trees.
View tour