Makarska: 3 Island Speedboat Tour with Little Blue Cave & Lagoon

Blue water, small islands, and one fast boat. This five-hour trip from Makarska packs in three islands, a swim through the Little Blue Cave, a coffee stop in Jelsa, and quiet bays that are hard to reach without a boat. I like the small maximum group of 13 and the way the trip mixes swimming with time on land. I also like that fuel, bottled water, snorkeling gear, and an English-speaking skipper are included.

The main caution is the sea. The Little Blue Cave may be difficult or impossible to enter when waves are strong, and the speedboat ride can feel rough in poor conditions. Jelsa will appeal to you if you enjoy a short town break, but if your ideal day means nonstop swimming, one hour there may feel like time taken from the coast.

Key details that shape the day

• Five hours, five stops: You visit Pokrivenik, the Little Blue Cave, Jelsa, Zečevo, and Žirje Beach.
• A small boat group: The boat carries no more than 13 people, which helps keep the outing personal.
• Three islands in one trip: The route includes Hvar, tiny Zečevo, and Brač.
• Swimming equipment included: Snorkeling gear is available, and bottled water is provided.
• Morning departures may be calmer: One piece of practical advice from the operator is to choose the morning trip for better wind and sea conditions.
• The price is $108.61 per person: That is fair if you value several boat transfers and included gear, but less attractive if you want long stays at each stop.

What the $108.61 price really buys you

At $108.61 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend a morning or afternoon on the Adriatic. You are paying for more than a boat ride, though. The price covers the speedboat, skipper, fuel, taxes, bottled water, and snorkeling equipment. That matters because fuel is a real part of any island-hopping trip, and you are visiting several places in only about five hours.

The value comes from variety. You are not anchored in one bay for half a day. You get a swim at Pokrivenik, the Little Blue Cave, a town visit, a lagoon stop, and a final bay on Brač. If you have only a short stay in Makarska, this gives you a quick look at several pieces of the coast without arranging separate transport.

The trade-off is time at each place. Twenty-five minutes in one bay and 20 minutes in another is enough for a swim, but not enough for a long snorkel or a lazy afternoon on shore. You should book this with the mindset of a moving coastal sampler, not a full beach day.

The group limit of 13 is one of the better features. A smaller boat usually makes boarding, handling snorkeling gear, and moving between stops easier than a large excursion boat. It also gives you a better chance to ask the skipper about the route. Petar, Ante, and Carlo are among the skippers praised for being friendly and attentive, though your actual skipper will depend on the departure.

Leaving Makarska for Pokrivenik Bay

The tour begins at Palladium Rent a Boat, at Marineta ul. 15 in Makarska. It ends back at the same meeting point, which keeps the day simple. The start point is near public transportation, and confirmation is provided at booking.

The first stop is Pokrivenik on Hvar’s northern coast. The bay is reached by boat, so the arrival itself gives you the feeling of getting away from the busy waterfront. Once the boat anchors, you have about 25 minutes to swim and snorkel in clear water.

This is a good opening stop because you can get comfortable with the sea before the more unusual cave visit. The time is short, so I would have your swimwear on under your clothes and keep your towel and mask easy to reach. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, but bringing your own mask can still be useful if you prefer a familiar fit.

Pokrivenik is mainly about the water. You are not stopping for a long walk, meal, or village visit. If you want a quiet swim with views of Hvar’s coast, it fits well. If you need a long stretch of sand or a proper beach setup, this will feel limited.

Swimming into the Little Blue Cave

A few minutes from Pokrivenik is the Little Blue Cave, the most distinctive stop on the route. The boat anchors outside, and you can take snorkeling equipment into the cave and swim inside. There are no entrance fees or queues, which keeps the visit quick.

The appeal is the light inside the cave and the simple thrill of entering a natural space by water. This is not the famous Blue Cave experience on Biševo, and you should not expect a large attraction with formal access arrangements. It is a small, natural stop that depends strongly on sea conditions.

That dependency is important. One booking party found the waves too rough to reach the cave, and the operator explained that safety comes first. If the water is unsettled, the skipper may limit or skip the cave entrance. The tour requires good weather, so poor conditions can also lead to a changed date or a full refund.

You should treat the cave as a possibility, not a guarantee. That makes the trip easier to judge. If the cave is the only reason you are booking, the weather risk may bother you. If you see it as one part of a wider day, the other stops help protect the value.

Jelsa gives the boat day a land break

After the swim stops around Hvar, the boat heads to Jelsa. You have one hour to explore the town, sit for coffee, or stop for ice cream. That hour gives your legs a break from the boat and adds a little local life to an otherwise water-focused outing.

Jelsa attracts more than 5,000 visitors daily, so this is not an isolated fishing settlement. Still, the stop works because you can walk around without needing a guide or a complicated plan. An ice cream break was a particular highlight for one family, and it is easy to see why: after swimming and speedboat travel, a cool treat in town is welcome.

Some people will find Jelsa pleasant but not essential. One disappointed customer considered the town uninteresting, while another specifically liked its character. That difference comes down to what you want from the excursion. I would value Jelsa as a pause and a chance to see Hvar from a different angle, not as the dramatic centerpiece of the day.

Keep an eye on the time. One hour passes quickly once you walk from the boat, choose a café or shop, and return to the meeting point. You do not need to plan a full sightseeing program here. A short wander, coffee, and ice cream are the right scale.

Zečevo and the Blue Lagoon

The next stop is Zečevo, described as one of the smallest islands you may visit. It measures about 1.5 kilometers long and only 200 meters wide at its narrowest point. Its main draw is the turquoise water in the bay, known locally as the Blue Lagoon.

You have about 25 minutes here. The stop is made for swimming and a quick look at the island, not a long island walk. Zečevo also has a waterfront Bungalow Bar, which gives the bay a place to pause for a drink, although food and drinks are not included in the tour price.

This is where the boat’s route shows its strength. You get a lagoon experience without committing a whole day to one island. The water color and small scale make Zečevo feel different from Jelsa and Pokrivenik, even though the stops are close together in the larger plan.

The drawback is the same as before: 25 minutes is a strict window. If the water is especially inviting, you may wish you had longer. I would bring only what you need for a quick swim and leave valuables secured on the boat according to the skipper’s instructions.

A quiet final stop on Brač

The final island is Brač, where the boat visits Žirje Beach. This hidden bay is known for calm turquoise water and natural surroundings. The stop lasts about 20 minutes, making it the shortest swimming stop of the day.

The setting is meant to feel quiet. Brač is described as peaceful, and you may find only a few other boats in the bay. That offers a pleasant change after moving through the more popular parts of the route. If you enjoy a final swim in a calm setting before returning to Makarska, this is a fitting ending.

Do not expect a full beach afternoon. Twenty minutes is enough to get into the water and enjoy the setting, but it leaves little room for a long snorkel. The stop works best as a final taste of Brač rather than a destination in its own right.

The boat ride is part of the experience

The speedboat is not just transport between attractions. It is the reason the tour can connect Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač in half a day. You spend a fair amount of time moving across open water, with the coast and islands providing the scenery between stops.

That speed also creates a physical cost. Wind, spray, and waves can make the ride tiring, especially later in the day. One recommendation from the operator is worth taking seriously: morning trips often have calmer wind and sea conditions. If you are choosing between morning and afternoon, I would favor the morning when possible.

The trip is best for people who are comfortable with a brisk boat outing. You should be ready to board, swim, dry off, and move on several times. It is less suited to someone who wants a slow cruise with a long lunch or a single beach base.

The skippers are a major part of the experience. Petar is praised for being informative and fun, while Ante is described as friendly and a good guide. Carlo is noted for taking care of the group and checking that people had what they needed. The supplied comments also include praise for the crew’s warmth and effort, which matters on a small boat where the skipper shapes the mood of the whole day.

What to bring and how to prepare

Food and drinks are not included, but you may bring your own. Bottled water is supplied, so you do not need to carry a large supply just for hydration. If you want snacks, bring them from Makarska rather than counting on a meal stop.

Wear swimwear under light clothing. You will have several chances to enter the water, and changing fully between stops would waste precious time. Bring a towel, sun protection, and a waterproof way to protect your phone. These are practical suggestions for any boat day, not promises about what the operator supplies.

The tour is offered in English, and most people can participate. The boat can carry a maximum of 13 people. Since the experience requires good weather, leave some flexibility in your schedule if possible. Cancellations caused by poor weather offer a different date or a full refund.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

Who will enjoy this tour most?

I would recommend this trip to you if you want to see a lot in a short time. It suits couples, families with children who enjoy swimming, and small groups who prefer a personal boat rather than a large cruise. The five-hour length is also useful if you have other plans in Makarska later that day.

It is a strong choice for active sightseers. You will get more from the tour if you enjoy jumping into clear water, wearing snorkeling gear, and moving between different bays. The itinerary offers variety without requiring a full-day commitment.

I would hesitate to recommend it if you dislike fast boats, get uncomfortable in rough seas, or want long, quiet stays at each beach. The stops are short by design. You may also be disappointed if you expect Jelsa to be a major sightseeing destination or if reaching the Little Blue Cave is your main goal.

Should you book the Makarska 3 Island Speedboat Tour?

Book it if you want maximum variety in five hours and like the idea of combining swimming, a cave, a lagoon, a small town, and quiet bays. The small group, included snorkeling gear, and friendly skippers add real value to the $108.61 price.

Choose a morning departure when possible, especially if calmer water matters to you. Keep your expectations flexible about the Little Blue Cave, and remember that each stop is a short introduction rather than a full visit. For a compact taste of Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač from Makarska, this is a well-planned and enjoyable choice.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Palladium Rent a Boat, Marineta ul. 15, 21300 Makarska, Croatia. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The tour lasts approximately five hours.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is 13 people.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with the boat, fuel, an English-speaking skipper, taxes, fees, and bottled water.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, but you may bring your own. Bottled water is provided.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.