Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat

Dubrovnik’s best views often come from the water, and this private speedboat trip gives you a full day of them. You’ll cruise past the city walls, swim into the small Blue Cave, explore Kolocep’s green caves, and finish with sand and lunch on Lopud. Antonio is the named contact associated with the experience, and the private format means your group controls the pace.

I like the combination of active cave stops and a proper beach break at Sunj Beach. I also like the quiet, personal feel of a private boat, with your own playlist possible and drinks already supplied. The catch is the extra fuel charge, which can add €150 for a full day, and the Blue Cave requires you to jump into water where you cannot stand.

Key points at a glance

• Private boat for up to 12 people: Your group does not share the speedboat with strangers.
• Blue Cave swimming stop: You enter through a small opening by swimming, with no need to go underwater.
• Kolocep’s three cave formations: Expect two green caves and a canyon-like cave during about an hour on the island.
• Sunj Beach’s shallow sand: The water stays shallow for a long way, making this a relaxed stop for families.
• Lopud lunch time: You have about three hours in this part of the day for the beach, a restaurant meal, and the return trip.
• Fuel is extra: Budget €150 in cash for the full-day option, in addition to the $360.44 group price.

A Private Boat Out Past Dubrovnik’s City Walls

This is a coastal day rather than a standard sightseeing tour. You’ll see Dubrovnik from offshore first, with the old city walls rising above the water, then leave the urban view behind for caves, islands, and beaches.

The boat is a Mercan 34, described as brand new, and the experience is private for your group of up to 12. That matters more than it may sound. You are not working around a boatload of strangers, so the skipper can keep the day loose and adjust the balance between swimming, sightseeing, and beach time.

The listed price is $360.44 per group, not per person. For a full group, that can be good value for an eight-hour private outing. Four people would pay roughly $90 each before fuel, while a couple would face a much higher per-person cost.

Plan carefully for the extra fuel payment. The full-day fuel surcharge is €150, paid in cash on the boat. That puts the practical total at the listed group price plus the fuel charge, so ask for the exact final amount when booking. A half-day fuel charge is listed as €80, and a sunset tour costs €30, but this experience is described as an approximately eight-hour full-day trip.

Dubrovnik’s Walls Seen From the Sea

The opening cruise gives you a different angle on Dubrovnik. From the water, the walls read as a long defensive ring around the old city, rather than as a crowded walking route with people and stone underfoot.

The city-wall portion lasts about 25 minutes and does not require an admission ticket. It is a short introduction rather than a full historical tour, so you should not expect an extended explanation of Dubrovnik’s past. The reward is visual: the shoreline, fortifications, and city profile gather into one clean view from the boat.

After this opening look, the ride to the Blue Cave takes about 20 minutes. Keep your camera ready, but also bring protection for it. Salt water, spray, and quick boarding can be hard on phones.

Swimming Into the Blue Cave

The Blue Cave is the most unusual stop. The entrance is small, but you can swim through it without going underwater. You will need to jump into the sea and keep swimming, and the cave is about four meters deep with nowhere to stand.

That detail is important. This is not a gentle shoreline wade. You need to be comfortable in open water and able to remain afloat for the visit. Snorkeling equipment is included, which helps you look beneath the surface, but the equipment does not change the basic requirement: you must enter the water.

You get about 35 minutes here. That is enough time for a swim and a look inside, though it is not a long, leisurely cave session. Wear a bathing suit from the start, keep a towel close, and leave anything that cannot handle water in a secure place.

For people who dislike jumping from a boat or cannot swim confidently, this stop may be the day’s main drawback. The tour is described as suitable for most people, but that does not remove the need for personal judgment. If you are unsure, ask the operator before booking how the Blue Cave stop can be handled.

Kolocep’s Two Green Caves and Canyon Cave

The next major stop is Kolocep, where you spend about an hour around three formations: two green caves and one cave described as a canyon. This is the part of the day that gives the trip its sense of discovery, with short swims and close views of the island’s rocky shoreline.

The caves are not presented as formal, ticketed attractions. Their value comes from reaching them by boat and entering the water rather than walking up to a viewpoint. Snorkeling gear is supplied, and bottled water, soft drinks, and alcoholic drinks are also included.

I would treat this hour as flexible water time, not as a tightly scripted guided visit. The exact amount of swimming and looking around will depend on sea conditions and the skipper’s judgment. Bring sunglasses and sunscreen, as shade may be limited once you are out on the water.

The stop also shows why a private trip can work well for a small group. One group may want more time in the water, while another may prefer a quick look before moving toward the beach. With a private booking, the day is built around your party rather than a large timetable.

Sunj Beach on Lopud

After the caves, the mood changes at Sunj Beach. Located on the south side of Lopud, this is a long sandy beach with very shallow water. You may walk about 100 meters before reaching water deep enough for a proper swim.

That shallow entry makes Sunj a useful rest stop after the more active cave visits. Families with young children may appreciate the gentle water, while adults can simply stretch out, cool off, or play beach games. Volleyball, tennis, and picigin are listed among the possible activities.

The tradeoff is that shallow water is not ideal for everyone. Strong swimmers may find the long walk out a little tiresome, especially if they want to swim rather than wade. Still, the beach gives the day a needed pause. Eight hours of boat travel and repeated swims can become tiring, so this slower hour is well placed.

You should bring your own towel, bathing suit, sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, and a change of clothes. None of those personal beach items is included. The boat supplies drinks and snorkeling equipment, but you remain responsible for the basics that make a beach stop comfortable.

Lunch and Free Time on Lopud

Lopud is more than a quick photo stop. The schedule allows about three hours for the Lopud portion, including time for lunch and the return journey. Restaurants along the coast provide the natural place to eat, but the cost of food is not included in the tour price.

That longer pause lets you set your own rhythm. You can spend more time at Sunj Beach, sit down for a meal, or simply enjoy the island at a slower pace. It also means the boat trip is not an unbroken run from one swimming site to the next.

The timing needs a little explanation. The day is advertised as about eight hours, and the Lopud section is listed as three hours, with roughly one hour needed to return home afterward. The schedule also includes Pasjaca Beach as an alternative, so you should confirm the exact route and timing when you book.

Pasjaca Beach as an Alternative

Pasjaca is offered for people who do not want to visit the Elaphiti Islands or have already seen them. It is described as a striking natural beach, with about two hours allocated to the stop.

This is not an additional sixth stop to squeeze into the same day. It is an alternative to the Elaphiti Islands route, which includes Kolocep, Sunj Beach, and Lopud. Trying to do everything in one eight-hour outing would leave little time at any location.

Pasjaca may make more sense for repeat visitors to the Dubrovnik area or anyone who wants a different coastal setting. If the Elaphiti Islands are new to you, the Kolocep and Lopud route offers more variety, with caves, a sandy beach, and a restaurant stop. Ask the provider which route is planned before you pay the fuel surcharge.

What Is Included, and What You Must Bring

The boat provides a skipper, snorkeling equipment, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic drinks. That is a useful package for a day on the sea, especially when you do not want to organize separate drinks or rent basic water gear.

Lunch is not included, and neither are personal beach supplies. Pack:

• Bathing suit
• Towel
• Sunglasses
• Sunscreen
• Hat
• Change of clothes
• Camera

A waterproof phone pouch would also be sensible, though it is not listed as supplied. Keep your packing light and secure. You will be moving between boat, water, caves, and beach, so loose valuables are more trouble than they are worth.

The trip depends on good weather. If poor conditions cancel the outing, you can take another date or receive a full refund. For your own planning, avoid placing this on the one day when you must catch a flight or make another fixed appointment.

Who Gets the Best Value From This Trip

This tour suits a group that wants a private day on the water rather than a formal city excursion. It is especially appealing for families, couples traveling with friends, and groups of up to 12 who can share the fixed price.

It is also a good fit if you enjoy switching activities. You get coastal views, swimming, caves, snorkeling, a sandy beach, and a restaurant stop. You will not spend the whole day doing just one thing.

I would think twice if you dislike open-water swimming, cannot manage a jump from the boat, or want a detailed historical tour. The city-wall view is brief, and the main character of the day is the sea. People looking for a fully guided cultural tour should choose something built around Dubrovnik’s old city instead.

The timing can work well for an active family, but parents should pay close attention to the Blue Cave requirement. Sunj Beach is family-friendly because of its shallow water, yet the earlier cave stop asks for much stronger swimming comfort.

Is the $360.44 Group Price Worth It?

The price looks strongest when divided among a larger party. For 8 to 12 people, the private boat, skipper, drinks, equipment, and long coastal route can offer solid value. For two people, the same fixed fee is harder to justify, especially after adding the €150 full-day fuel payment.

The boat’s private nature is the key value. You are paying for control, space, and a route designed for your group, not simply for transport between beaches. The quiet ride and the ability to listen to your own playlist add to that personal feel.

Still, calculate the full cost before booking. Add fuel, lunch on Lopud, and any other personal spending. If the group is large, the final amount may compare well with several separate activities. If your party is small, a shared boat may cost less, though it would not offer the same privacy.

The experience currently carries a 5 rating from 47 ratings, with 100 percent recommending it. The strongest practical praise centers on prompt arrival, a helpful approach from Antonio, and a quiet boat that allowed a group to swim, enjoy the sunset, and play its own music. Those details point to a relaxed style rather than a rigid, microphone-led tour.

Should You Book This Dubrovnik Boat Tour?

Book it if you want a private sea day with real swimming stops, enjoy sandy beaches, and can handle the extra fuel cost. The strongest version of the trip is a full group sharing the fixed price, with everyone comfortable entering the water at the Blue Cave.

Choose the Elaphiti Islands route if you have not yet visited Kolocep and Lopud. Choose Pasjaca instead if those islands are already familiar or you want a different beach stop. Confirm the route, fuel payment, meeting details, and Blue Cave swimming requirement before departure.

For a group that values freedom, quiet water time, and a mix of caves and beach, this is a strong Dubrovnik-area choice. Just budget honestly, pack for wet conditions, and do not treat the Blue Cave as a simple sightseeing stop. It is a swim first, view second experience.

FAQ

How long is the private boat tour?

The tour lasts approximately eight hours.

How many people can join the private tour?

Up to 12 people can participate in one private group.

What is the listed price?

The listed price is $360.44 per group of up to 12 people.

Is fuel included in the price?

No. Fuel is paid in cash on the boat. The listed charge is €150 for a full-day tour, €80 for a half-day tour, and €30 for a sunset tour.

What equipment and refreshments are included?

Snorkeling equipment, bottled water, soda, alcoholic drinks, and a skipper are included.

Do I need to swim into the Blue Cave?

Yes. The only way to enter the Blue Cave is to jump into the sea and swim through its small opening. You do not need to go underwater, but you cannot stand inside because the cave is about four meters deep.

How long do you spend at the Blue Cave?

The Blue Cave stop lasts about 35 minutes.

Is lunch included on Lopud?

No. Lopud has restaurants where you can stop for lunch, but the meal is not included in the tour price.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose a different date or receive a full refund if poor weather causes the cancellation. Free cancellation is also available up to 24 hours before the experience begins.