From Makarska: Full day private speed boat tour 3 islands

Fast water, quiet coves, three islands. This private speedboat day links Hvar, Zečevo, and Brač with several swimming stops, a visit to Jelsa, and time at Zlatni Rat. I especially like the small private group and the chance to stop at quiet bays instead of following a large boat crowd. The lunch stop at a traditional island restaurant, where food is prepared over a natural wood fire, adds a welcome taste of local life.

I also like the flexible shape of the day. You can swim, snorkel, sightsee, stop for ice cream, taste wine, or simply enjoy the ride. The main consideration is cost: the advertised price is $349 for up to eight people, but fuel and the local skipper fee add €200, and lunch is extra. For a full boat, that can be good value. For two people, it becomes a much bigger splurge.

Key details at a glance

• Three islands in one day: Visit Hvar, the small islet of Zečevo, and Brač without arranging separate ferries.
• Mala Stiniva comes first: Start with swimming and snorkeling in a quiet Hvar bay before the day gets too far along.
• Jelsa adds a town stop: Use free time for sightseeing, ice cream, wine tasting, or a chocolate shop.
• Zlatni Rat is seen from the water: You can choose to go ashore or admire Brač’s famous beach from the boat.
• Wood-fire lunch by the bay: Vala Hrvaska offers a traditional restaurant, swimming, and snorkeling in one stop.
• Private boat for up to eight: The format works best for families or friends who want control over the pace.

Setting out from Makarska at 9:00

Your day begins at the Maris Travel point of sale on the promenade, in front of the Hops restaurant bar. The boat returns to the same meeting point around 18:00, giving you roughly nine hours for the outing, including the crossing time between islands.

The first leg heads directly toward Hvar. A fast speedboat makes the route possible in one day, but you should still expect time on open water. The boat is equipped with lifejackets, drinking water, and snorkeling gear. Passenger insurance and public liability insurance are included as well.

Because this is a private tour, you are not simply being moved from one scheduled stop to another. The pace can respond to your group’s interests. If swimming is your priority, you have several chances to get in the water. If one person wants town time while another prefers snorkeling, the schedule offers both.

The boat holds up to eight people. That is a useful limit. A full boat still feels like a small outing compared with a large excursion vessel, while a smaller party gets more room and a more personal ride. Ask about the exact boat and seating before booking if comfort on a fast boat matters to you.

Mala Stiniva, a calm first swim on Hvar

The first stop is Mala Stiniva, a quiet bay on Hvar. The plan is simple: anchor, swim, and snorkel. Starting with a peaceful cove rather than a town helps set the tone for the day.

This is a good place to use the included snorkeling equipment. The tour description does not promise particular marine life or underwater sights, so keep expectations sensible. You are going for clear-water recreation and a break from the boat, not a guided marine biology outing.

The timing is important here. Reaching Mala Stiniva early gives you a better chance to enjoy the stop in a relaxed way before the day moves on. Bring a swimsuit under your clothes and have sun protection ready. You may also want a dry layer for the speedboat ride, since a fast crossing can feel cooler than a still afternoon on shore.

The first swim is also a useful test of the day’s rhythm. If you like frequent water stops, you are in the right place. If you prefer long periods on land, this tour may feel too boat-focused.

Jelsa, with time for ice cream or wine

After Mala Stiniva, the boat continues to Jelsa, one of Hvar’s town stops. Here you get a change of pace: instead of salt water and engine noise, you can walk around, see the town, and choose a small food or drink stop.

The options listed for Jelsa include ice cream, wine tasting, and a chocolate shop. These choices give the stop a pleasant lack of pressure. You do not have to treat it as a formal sightseeing tour. You can simply stretch your legs, look around, and pick something that suits your group.

I like this part because it keeps the day from becoming a string of identical swimming breaks. The exact sightseeing time is not specified, so do not assume you will have hours in town. Treat Jelsa as a compact visit between water stops.

Food and drinks in Jelsa are purchased separately. If you want to control spending, drinking water is already supplied on the boat, while the town stop gives you the chance to buy only what you want. The wine tasting is optional, not part of the included price.

Zečevo, cocktails and another swim

The next stop is Zečevo, a small islet near Hvar. The boat anchors here for another swim and snorkeling session, with a cocktail bar on the islet adding a social touch.

Zečevo is a good middle-of-the-day pause. You can get back into the water, use the snorkeling equipment, or stay aboard and enjoy the setting. The cocktail bar gives the stop a little more character than a bare anchorage, but drinks are not included.

This is another place where the private format helps. Your group can decide how much time it wants in the water and how much time it wants at the bar. The tour promises several stops, but exact stop lengths can depend on the skipper, weather, and your group’s preferences.

The skipper’s role matters here. A local skipper who knows the area is listed as an additional €100 fee. That charge is easy to overlook when comparing the headline price, but local route knowledge is part of what makes a private island day work well. The fee should be confirmed at booking, especially because the tour information separately lists fuel at €100 as well.

Crossing to Zlatni Rat on Brač

After leaving Hvar, the boat crosses toward Brač and Zlatni Rat beach. The famous beach is known for its pointed shape reaching into the sea, and seeing it from the water gives you a useful perspective that you cannot get while standing on shore.

At Zlatni Rat, you can choose to go onto the beach or remain aboard and admire it from the boat. That choice is practical. If your group is already happy with the swimming stops, staying aboard keeps the schedule moving. If you want to feel sand under your feet and take a closer look, you have the option to exit.

Do not assume that a long beach visit is guaranteed. The full route still includes Vala Hrvaska, one more swimming stop, and the return to Makarska. Think of Zlatni Rat as a flexible sightseeing stop rather than a full beach afternoon.

The view from the boat is also valuable for anyone who wants photographs without committing to a longer shore stop. Keep your phone secure, though. A speedboat and open water are not ideal places for loose belongings.

Vala Hrvaska, swimming beside a wood-fire restaurant

The tour then continues to Vala Hrvaska, a bay with a beach and a traditional restaurant. This is the main meal stop, and food can be purchased at the restaurant rather than included in the tour price.

The most distinctive detail here is the cooking method. Food is prepared over a natural wood fire in the setting of a quiet island bay. That does not guarantee a particular menu, price, or serving time, so check what is available when you arrive. Still, the setting offers something more memorable than a quick sandwich eaten on the boat.

You can swim and snorkel before or after lunch. That flexibility matters because appetite, sun, and water temperature do not follow a fixed timetable. If you want lunch, plan your budget for it in advance. The tour price covers the boat and equipment, not the restaurant bill.

Vala Hrvaska may be the best stop for people who want a taste of a traditional island meal without giving up time by the sea. It also provides a natural break from the speedboat. After several crossings and swims, sitting down for a cooked meal can make the final part of the day more comfortable.

The final bay and the ride back to Makarska

After lunch, the boat heads to one more pleasant bay for swimming and snorkeling. The exact bay is not named, which means you should see it as a final flexible stop rather than a landmark with a fixed schedule.

This last swim gives you one more chance to use the included equipment. It can also be the point where you decide you have had enough time in the water and simply relax on the boat. By then, the tour has offered a varied mix of cove swimming, town time, a small islet, a famous beach, lunch, and open-water travel.

The return to Makarska is planned for around 18:00. You return to the same promenade meeting point, which makes the end of the day straightforward. Because the boat has covered several islands, the ride back is part of the experience, not just a transfer.

Allow some flexibility around the stated return time. A private boat day includes several stops, and time in the water or at lunch can affect the schedule. Do not book a tight evening reservation immediately afterward.

What the $349 price really covers

The advertised rate is $349 per group of up to eight people. That is not a per-person price, so the value changes sharply with group size.

The listed additional costs are:

• €100 for fuel on this route, paid in cash or by card at the fuel station at the end
• €100 for the local skipper fee
• Food and drinks purchased in Jelsa, at Zečevo, or at the Vala Hrvaska restaurant

At a full group of eight, the base price works out to about $44 per person before the listed euro charges and food. Even after sharing the extra costs, a full boat can offer solid value for a private full-day outing. For four people, the per-person cost is much higher. For two, this becomes a premium private day rather than a budget excursion.

The price also buys privacy and flexibility. You are not paying only for transport to three islands. You are paying for a boat reserved for your group, several water stops, snorkeling gear, water, and the ability to shape the day within the route.

Before booking, ask how the €100 skipper charge is handled and confirm the currency of every extra. The information lists the main price in dollars but the fuel and skipper fees in euros, so clarity beforehand will prevent surprises.

Who will enjoy this private speedboat day

I would recommend this tour most strongly to families with older children, couples traveling with friends, and small groups that enjoy swimming more than formal sightseeing. The private boat makes it easier to keep your own rhythm, and eight people is a manageable maximum.

It also suits people who want several kinds of experiences in one day. You get Hvar’s Mala Stiniva and Jelsa, Zečevo’s swimming and cocktail bar, Brač’s Zlatni Rat, and a traditional restaurant stop at Vala Hrvaska.

It is less suitable if you dislike fast boat rides or want a slow, land-based island tour. Much of the day takes place on or near the water. Pregnant women and babies under one year are specifically not considered suitable for this activity.

The tour is available in English, Croatian, and German. That makes the basic arrangements easier for a mixed-language group, though the exact language of the skipper should be confirmed if that matters to you.

A few practical ways to enjoy it more

Wear swimwear from the start, since the first stop is for swimming. Bring a towel, sun protection, and a secure bag for phones and wallets, even though only drinking water and snorkeling gear are specifically supplied.

Keep lunch money separate from the tour budget. You may also want cash for small purchases, although the fuel payment can be made by cash or card at the fuel station.

Do not plan the day around a single stop. Weather, sea conditions, and your group’s wishes can affect how long you stay in each bay. The appeal is the range of stops, not a guaranteed number of minutes at each one.

One published account specifically praised skipper Christian for adapting the day to the group’s wishes, and that is exactly the quality to value in a private outing. A flexible skipper can help balance swimming, sightseeing, food, and travel time without making the day feel rushed.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you can fill several seats and want a private day that combines swimming, snorkeling, island towns, a famous beach, and a cooked lunch by the water. The strongest reasons are the varied route, the small group size, and the freedom to choose between beach time, town time, and water time.

Think twice if you are traveling as only one or two people and are watching costs closely. Add the €100 fuel charge, €100 skipper fee, and meals before deciding. Also skip it if you need a gentle, land-based day or are pregnant.

For a group of friends or a family ready to share the cost, this is a well-rounded way to see a slice of Dalmatia from Makarska. The day has enough structure to cover three islands, but enough flexibility to keep it personal.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at the Maris Travel point of sale on the promenade, in front of the Hops restaurant bar.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour begins at 09:00.

What time does the tour return to Makarska?

The planned arrival back at the meeting point is around 18:00.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Hvar, the Zečevo islet, and Brač.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, lifejackets, and drinking water are included.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Food can be purchased in the island towns or at the restaurant in Vala Hrvaska.

Are there extra charges beyond the advertised price?

Yes. Fuel for the route is listed at €100, and the local skipper fee is listed at €100. Food and drinks are also extra.