Elaphite Islands: Private boat tour (Cap Camarat 7.5wa)

Escape Dubrovnik by sea. This private trip uses a brand-new Cap Camarat 7.5wa speedboat to reach the Elaphite Islands, with cave stops, swimming time, drinks, towels, snorkeling gear, and hotel pickup included. I like the freedom to shape the day around your group, and I like that skipper Simon has shown a clear knack for keeping the outing friendly, timely, and personal.

The main tradeoff is simple: food is not included, and the $530 price is fixed for the group rather than charged per person. That makes it good value for six or seven people, but a costly choice for just two. The 4-hour option is also a quick taste, while the 8-hour version gives the islands room to breathe.

You visit Grebeni first, then Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. You can stop at caves, swim from the boat, visit a sandy beach, walk through a settled island village, or spend more time in quiet swimming spots. The route is flexible, and only your group rides on the boat.

Key details worth knowing

• A private boat for up to seven: Your group gets the entire Cap Camarat 7.5wa, with no unrelated passengers sharing the ride.
• Three cave stops on Koločep: The planned route includes Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves.
• Šunj gives you sand: Lopud’s Šunj Beach is the main beach stop, a useful change from rocky Croatian shorelines.
• Simon is the skipper to know: He is also the guide, and the available 5.0 score from three verified bookings repeatedly praises his friendly, flexible service.
• The price covers more than the boat: Fuel, drinks, towels, snorkeling equipment, a GoPro, pickup, and drop-off are included.
• You choose the pace: The outing can last 4 or 8 hours, and you decide how long to stay at the stops.

Leaving Dubrovnik on the Cap Camarat 7.5wa

Your day begins with pickup in Dubrovnik. A car or van arrives at the address you provide about 20 minutes before the boat tour starts, so you do not need to arrange your own way to the departure point.

The boat is a brand-new Cap Camarat 7.5wa speedboat. The supplied details do not give a passenger capacity beyond the booking limit of seven people, so the important point is the group format: this is a private outing, not a large shared cruise with a fixed crowd.

The speedboat matters because the Elaphite Islands are spread across a broad area west of Dubrovnik. A faster boat lets you cover more ground than a slow sightseeing vessel, while the private setup means you can stop without waiting for a boatload of strangers.

Before reaching the main islands, you see Grebeni. This small island group makes a natural opening scene for a sea day, but the available description does not promise a specific landing or swimming stop there. Think of it as part of the coastal cruise rather than a full visit.

Koločep and its three cave stops

Koločep is the first major island on the route. The boat makes three cave stops: Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves. These names give you a good idea of the outing’s character, but the exact time spent at each one depends on your group and the skipper’s judgment that day.

Cave visits are best treated as short, memorable stops rather than formal sightseeing visits. You may be able to look into the formations from the boat or enter the water, depending on conditions and the skipper’s plan. Snorkeling equipment is supplied, along with towels, so you can get into the sea without bringing much beyond swimwear.

The clear water is one of the strongest reasons to choose this trip instead of a standard island cruise. The supplied GoPro is another useful touch. You can use it to record your time in the water, though you should confirm the handover and return details with Simon at the start.

Koločep is also where the private format begins to earn its keep. If your group wants more time near a cave, more swimming, or a quicker change of scene, you can ask. The tour is not locked into a minute-by-minute schedule.

Still, flexibility does not mean every request will be possible. Sea conditions, timing, and safe boating rules remain important. The description confirms that the schedule can change, but it does not guarantee access inside every cave in all conditions.

Lopud, Šunj Beach, and time on land

After Koločep, the boat heads to Lopud. The first stop is Šunj, a sandy beach that offers a welcome break from the harder, rockier shorelines common around the Adriatic.

For a beach stop, bring swimwear and use the supplied towels. The clear sea is a major part of the appeal, while the sand makes Šunj a better place for a simple shore break than a stop focused only on swimming from the boat.

You then go to the populated part of Lopud for a walk. This is useful because the tour is not only about looking at the islands from the water. You get a chance to step ashore, stretch your legs, and see a more settled side of island life.

Lunch is available at restaurants on Lopud, but food is not included in the tour price. That gives you control over spending, though you should plan for the meal separately if you choose the 8-hour outing or expect to be hungry after swimming.

The description does not name a specific restaurant or promise a set lunch stop. You can ask the skipper where to eat, but the meal remains your responsibility. Drinks are included, including water, cola, white wine, and beer, which helps with refreshments but does not replace lunch.

Šipan, the quieter final island

Šipan is the third island on the route. The boat cruise continues here after Lopud, and you may choose to stop for more swimming, see another part of the island, or eat at a restaurant.

The key advantage of reaching Šipan is choice. You have already seen Koločep’s caves and Lopud’s sandy beach, so Šipan can fill whatever gap remains in your day. If you want less sightseeing and more time on the water, you can ask to keep the stop simple. If you want another island visit, you can stay longer.

The tour description does not list a particular village, landmark, or beach on Šipan. That is worth noting before booking. You are choosing a flexible island day, not a guided historical tour with a long list of named monuments.

This makes Šipan especially suitable for groups with different ideas about a good day. One person may want a walk, another may want to swim, and someone else may be happy with a cold drink on the boat. A private skipper can adjust the balance more easily than a fixed group excursion.

What the private format is really worth

The price is $530 for a group of up to seven. At the maximum group size, that works out to about $76 per person. For six people, it is about $88 each. For four, it is about $133 each. A couple would pay $265 per person, so the value depends heavily on how many people share the boat.

That price includes fuel, skipper, guide service, pickup, drinks, towels, snorkeling equipment, and a GoPro. Those extras matter because fuel and private boat transport can quickly make a sea outing more expensive than the headline price suggests.

The biggest value is not the drinks or equipment. It is control over the day. You are paying for a boat reserved for your group, the ability to change the schedule, and a skipper who can look for a quieter swimming area when that suits you.

One verified booking specifically praised the way Simon helped the group avoid crowded areas and find more private places to swim. That is a useful detail for anyone who dislikes following a boat convoy from one busy stop to the next.

The 4-hour option can work if you mainly want a fast ride, a few cave stops, and a swim. The 8-hour option is the better choice if you want all three islands, time at Šunj, a walk on Lopud, and a possible restaurant stop on Lopud or Šipan.

Simon’s role and the service level

Simon is both skipper and guide. That matters on a private trip because the quality of the day depends heavily on the person handling the boat and reading your group.

The available feedback gives him unusually strong praise for being friendly, respectful, polite, and accommodating. One group also noted that he arrived early and kept the timing on track, which is especially helpful when you are trying to reach popular stops before they fill up.

You should still tell him what kind of day you want at the beginning. Say if your priority is caves, swimming, beaches, quiet water, island walks, or lunch. The more clearly you explain your preferences, the more useful the private format becomes.

The English-language service is another practical point. The live guide is listed as English-speaking, so you can discuss changes to the route and ask questions during the outing.

Drinks, equipment, and what to bring

The included drinks are water, cola, white wine, and beer. That is generous for a boat trip, but you should not treat the list as a full catering service. Food is excluded, and there is no promise of snacks.

Towels and snorkeling equipment are supplied. You only need to bring swimwear according to the official packing advice, though a small personal bag for essentials may still be sensible. Keep loose items secure on a speedboat.

The GoPro is included, which gives you a chance to capture the caves and clear water without bringing your own camera. Ask Simon how the camera is used before heading into the sea, and remember that any recording depends on conditions and the time available.

The supplied information does not specify shade, a restroom, or a particular boat seating arrangement. If any of those details matter to you, ask before booking. The safest assumption is that you are choosing an active boat day, not a fully serviced yacht charter.

Who should book this outing?

I would recommend it most strongly to families or groups of friends who can share the $530 cost. Seven people sharing the boat get far better value than a couple, and the private format lets different ages and energy levels fit into one plan.

It also suits people who dislike rigid tours. You can spend longer at a swimming area, shorten a stop, or change the balance between caves, beach time, and island walks. That kind of freedom is hard to get on a scheduled group cruise.

This is less suitable if you want a low-cost island transfer, a detailed history tour, or a meal included in the price. It may also be a poor match if you prefer to know every stop in advance, since the day can change around your wishes and sea conditions.

For the best value, book the 8-hour version with a full group and plan one restaurant stop on Lopud or Šipan. For a shorter day, choose four hours and focus on Koločep’s caves plus one swimming stop.

Should you book the Elaphite Islands boat tour?

Book it if you want a private sea day from Dubrovnik and your group values flexibility more than the lowest price. The combination of Koločep’s three caves, Šunj Beach, Lopud, Šipan, included equipment, drinks, and hotel pickup gives you a useful package.

The strongest reason to choose it is Simon’s personal service. He has been praised for being timely, courteous, and willing to adjust the route for quieter swimming spots. That can make the difference between a pleasant private trip and an expensive boat ride with a fixed script.

Skip it if you are traveling as only two people and need to watch costs, or if you want lunch, history, and a guaranteed schedule included. For a group of six or seven, though, this is a strong way to see the islands without surrendering the day to a crowded timetable.

FAQ

Where does the Elaphite Islands boat tour begin?

Pickup is included from an address you specify in Dubrovnik. A car or van is scheduled to collect you about 20 minutes before the boat tour begins.

How long does the tour last?

You can choose a 4-hour or 8-hour tour. Starting times depend on availability.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Koločep, Lopud, and Šipan. It also passes Grebeni at the start of the cruise.

What are the cave stops?

The planned cave stops on Koločep are Green Cave, Blue Cave, and Three Caves.

Is the boat private?

Yes. The tour is for your private group only, with space for a group of up to seven people.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, but restaurants are available on Lopud and Šipan if you want to stop for lunch.

What is included in the price?

The price includes fuel, the skipper and English-speaking guide, water, cola, white wine, beer, towels, snorkeling equipment, a GoPro, and pickup.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear. Towels and snorkeling equipment are provided.