Tivat: Blue Cave and Old Submarine Tunnel Speedboat Tour

This speedboat trip in Montenegro turns the Bay of Kotor into a moving viewpoint, with the Blue Cave as the main event. You cruise past coastal villages and then step into a cave where the water turns unreal shades of blue from the light.

I love the fast, on-the-water perspective, especially the panoramic ride along Boka Bay and the views toward Mamula Island and Kotor Old Town. I also love that you actually get time to swim and snorkel in the cave, not just a quick look from the boat.

One thing to consider: it runs at a fairly quick pace, so if you want long, slow exploring at each stop, you may feel a bit rushed.

Key highlights you should know

• Blue Cave swim time about 20 minutes, with snorkeling gear provided
• Boka Bay views that explain why this bay is often described as one of the most beautiful in the world
• Mamula Island and Kotor Old Town seen from the water on the coastal cruise
• Luštica Bay Old Submarine Tunnel a short photo stop with very specific tunnel details
• Practical comfort bottled water, rain coats, and on-board snorkeling equipment

Why the Bay of Kotor by Speedboat Feels Like a Different Trip

Boka Kotorska is a huge, deep bay on the Adriatic, often called the southernmost fjord of Europe. From shore, you get great views, but on a speedboat you also get motion, changing angles, and that sense of scale as the coast bends around you.

This tour is built for seeing the bay as a system, coast plus islands plus mountains. You start in Donja Lastva, then you work your way along the shoreline, with scenic passes that help you connect what you see on land with what it looks like from the water.

The energy here matters. A speedboat is not for slow sightseeing, but it is ideal for packing in distance and views in about 100 minutes.

Meeting in Donja Lastva: The Simple Start That Saves Time

Your meeting point is the dock in front of St. Roko church in Donja Lastva, a suburb of Tivat. The boat pickup is scheduled for the expected time, so plan to arrive a few minutes early and be ready to board.

You should also know there is no hotel pickup or drop-off included. If you are based in Tivat or Kotor Municipality, you will likely find the dock location straightforward to reach, but you will need your own transport to get there.

A helpful detail from recent riders: organization is usually smooth, and you may get a WhatsApp message to confirm details. If you rely on mobile updates, keep your phone handy the morning of the trip.

The Coast Ride: Mamula Island, Kotor Views, and Villages That Tell a Story

After boarding, you get a ride that focuses on scenery first. Expect around 35 minutes of cruising along the coast, passing small villages where you can spot palaces, houses, churches, and the contrast between sea and mountains.

This is the part that makes the rest of the trip click. Once you have those shoreline views, the later landmarks make more sense. Mamula Island appears as a distinct marker in the bay, and you may also catch sight of the Kotor Old Town area from the water.

Time on a speedboat is short, but the route is designed to keep the views moving. If you like photography, this segment is where you will want to grab your best shots, because the light and angles keep shifting as you travel.

Blue Cave Swim: Turquoise Light, Real Measurements, and Practical Expectations

The Blue Cave is what most people come for, and it earns the hype with a very specific kind of beauty. The cave is large, about 300 square meters, and the arches rise roughly 25 meters. The cave depth is described as about 3 to 4 meters, so it is more about swimming and floating than anything intense.

There are two entrances, which helps the light reach the water. The name comes from the blue coloring created by refraction: light bounces into the cave and reflects off the walls, so the water seems like it is glowing from below.

Your time here is about 20 minutes for swimming and snorkeling. Snorkeling equipment is included, which makes this stop much easier than trying to pack your own gear.

How to make the most of the swim time

Bring what you can actually use. In warm season, pack a swimsuit, sunglasses, a towel, and sun cream. In colder periods, bring warmer clothes and a cap, because you will be on open water before and after the cave stop.

Also think about entry comfort. The water is shallow relative to ocean swimming standards, but you still want decent grip and a steady approach. If you are not a confident swimmer, snorkel gear still helps you stay oriented and calm, just keep your comfort level in mind.

The Old Submarine Tunnel Stop on Luštica Bay: A Short Photo Pause with Big Context

On the way back, you get a brief stop to see an old submarine tunnel on Luštica Bay. This is cut into the steep banks, and the site consists of three tunnels built during Yugoslavia. They were used to hide and repair submarines and ships.

You will not spend long here, and that is exactly what to expect. It is a photo stop, about 5 minutes, so focus on getting photos and reading the scene from a distance rather than expecting a full explanation on-site.

What makes this tunnel interesting is the scale. The tunnel length can be up to 50 meters, with a width around 7 meters. The average depth is about 8 meters, and the depth near the exit increases to around 30 meters, which gives you a sense of how ships could be concealed by the terrain.

What to photograph

If you want useful photos, shoot for:

• The tunnel entrance framing against the rocks
• Water and depth cues near the exit area
• Wide shots that show the steep bank setting, not just the tunnel mouth

The Pace and Timing: When It Feels Just Right, When It Feels Rushed

This tour is designed to be active and scenic, not slow and lingering. Around the cave stop you get real water time, which helps offset the quick transitions between viewpoints.

Still, the pace is real. On one side, you get a lot of highlights in about 100 minutes. On the other, there is not much chance to wander around at each place, especially for those who want more time to explore beyond the immediate viewpoints.

If you are the kind of traveler who likes a checklist of big sights with maximum scenery per hour, you will probably feel satisfied. If you prefer extended stops for photos, coffee, and slow walking, you might wish there was more breathing room at the cave or tunnel.

A clever way to handle this is to decide what matters most before you board. Pick your top two priorities, usually Blue Cave swimming plus the best coastal photo angles. Then let the other parts be supporting acts.

What You Get for $41: Value Breakdown That Actually Makes Sense

At about $41 per person for 100 minutes, the value is not just about the sightseeing. It is about the format: fuel-powered speedboat time, bottled water, snorkeling equipment, and rain coats.

That included gear matters. Snorkeling equipment removes the hassle of packing, and rain coats are a comfort bonus in shoulder seasons when weather can shift fast. Bottled water is a small thing, but it helps you avoid the empty-vs-full stress that can happen on water tours.

You also get the “no hotel pickup” tradeoff. You are paying for the experience itself, not for a long door-to-door route.

If you want a practical test for whether this price fits you, consider how much it would cost to do:

• A boat outing in the bay
• Cave swimming with provided snorkeling gear
• A second highlight stop on Luštica Bay

Even without doing the math exactly, the included equipment and transportation time make the price feel more reasonable than many basic sightseeing tours.

Who This Trip Fits Best (And Who Might Skip It)

This tour is a strong match if you:

• Want high-impact scenery in a short time
• Like swimming or at least a quick snorkel in a natural cave setting
• Prefer being on the water rather than stuck on foot in the heat
• Want views toward Mamula Island and the Kotor Old Town area without spending hours driving

It may be a less perfect match if you:

• Hate feeling time-boxed
• Want long exploration on foot at each stop
• Are sensitive to open-water motion, since you will be on a speedboat for much of the ride

Also, check your comfort with water temperatures and gear. The tour provides essentials like snorkeling gear and rain coats, but clothing and towel habits depend on the season.

Should You Book the Tivat Blue Cave and Old Submarine Tunnel Speedboat Tour?

Book it if your ideal day includes water time, cave swimming, and coastal scenery with minimal friction. The Blue Cave portion is the main reason to go, and with snorkeling equipment included you can use the time well. Add the Luštica Bay tunnel photo stop and the Mamula Island views, and you get a mix of nature and human engineering in a compact schedule.

Skip it or choose a slower alternative if you need unhurried sightseeing. This tour is efficient, and efficiency is not everyone’s favorite pace.

If you do book, pack for the season, arrive at Donja Lastva on time, and decide in advance that your main win will be the cave swim and the best coastal photo angles. Do that, and you will get a day that feels full without feeling complicated.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the tour?

You meet at the dock in front of St. Roko church in Donja Lastva, a suburb of Tivat.

How long is the speedboat tour?

The duration is about 100 minutes.

What does the price include?

It includes fuel, bottled water, snorkeling equipment, and rain coats.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you will need to get to the dock in Donja Lastva on your own.

How much time do I get at the Blue Cave?

You get about 20 minutes for swimming and snorkeling in the Blue Cave.

Is snorkeling gear provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included.

What happens at the old submarine tunnel stop?

You make a photo stop of about 5 minutes to see the former submarine tunnel on Luštica Bay.

What languages are spoken by the driver?

The driver speaks English and Serbo-Croatian.

Are there seasonal clothing tips?

Yes. In summer, bring a swimsuit, sunglasses, a towel, and sun cream. In colder periods, bring warmer clothes and a cap.