THE BLUE CAVE TOUR GUIDE – with updated prices for 2023

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BLUE CAVE TOUR FROM HVAR

• All group tours from Hvar depart at 10:30 am
• Standard itinerary includes Stiniva, Blue cave, Blue lagoon, Green cave (optional) and Palmižana
• The price of the Blue cave tour from Hvar is 66 euros in the off-season and 80 euros in the high season (June, July, August, and September)
• The additional fees include the Blue cave entrance, which goes from 12 euros in the off-season to 18 euros in the high season

BLUE CAVE EXCURSION TIMINGS FROM HVAR

All daily Blue cave excursions depart at 10:30 AM from Hvar, and there is a mandatory check-in by 10:00 AM, unless agreed differently. However, there is also a possibility of taking a private speedboat tour, in which case you can depart whenever it suits you. It is advisable to discuss the departure time with your booking agent, as some timings might not be feasible.
A very frequent question by travelers who are on a very tight time schedule is „Can I go just to the Blue cave and back?“ and the answer is simple: yes, but it will be expensive and you will miss many sights along the way. The Blue cave is the most distant point in our tour, and to get we pass by (and normally stop at) numerous amazing locations, like Stiniva, Blue lagoon, Pakleni islands, etc.

IS THE BLUE CAVE TOUR REALLY WORTH IT?

If you have already arrived to Hvar, you have surely seen numerous agencies advertising the Blue cave tour, also known as the 4 islands tour. You will get the impression that the Blue cave is one of those spots you must see when in Hvar – and – you won’t be wrong. This famous grotto is located in the Vis archipelago; more precisely on the tiny Biševo island right below Vis. It has been visited by hundreds of thousands of tourists so far, and it is definitely one of the nicest sights to see during your stay in Croatia. To answer the question from the caption „Is the Blue cave really worth it? “ – Yes, but.

A strong „yes“ given that this truly is a remarkable natural wonder and we haven’t met a single traveler yet who was not amazed by the cave’s stunning interior and intense turquoise color.
A precautious „but“ because there are still some things you should pay attention to when booking the Blue cave tour, if you wish to avoid disappointment. Given that many travelers have recognized the cave’s beauty, its popularity is soaring over the last couple of years.
For that reason, the best time to visit the Blue cave is either:
1) During the months when it is not too busy, which includes any period besides mid-July till late August.
2) During the hours when it is not too busy, which means that, if you wish to take the tour in the busy months of July and August, it is recommended to take a private speedboat tour instead of a group one, as private tours can depart a bit earlier and reach the cave before the crowds.

Another tip to make your tour unforgettable is, should you have a lot of waiting time to get inside the Blue cave, make sure to use that time to explore Bisevo island. This tiny little island hides a beautiful sandy beach that will blow your mind!

WHAT IS THE ITINERARY FOR THE BLUE CAVE TOUR?

The standard itinerary includes the following locations: Blue lagoon, Stiniva, Blue cave, Green cave and Palmizana on Pakleni islands. The exact order of locations is never set in stone, because the important factors are the winds which can influence the order of locations (sometimes even if you can visit the location or not). For example, given that most of the locations are located along the south-eastern side of Vis, jugo wind will complicate things for the skippers, and make some locations that are directly exposed to it impossible to visit. In that case, the tour will take you to locations that are beautiful, yet protected from the wind. One such location is the remarkable fishermen’s village Komiža on Vis. Should the winds be too high, the tour will have to be canceled entirely and rescheduled to another day. If you wish to find out more about the locations you will visit on your tour, you can check out this page.

WHAT IS THE PRICE FOR THE BLUE CAVE TOUR? – UPDATED

The price of the Blue cave tour ranges from 66 euros in the off-season and 80 euros in high season (June, July, August, and September). The price, however, does not include the Blue cave and Green cave entrance fees. The Blue cave entrance fee has been updated for the year 2023 and can be seen below:

Should you wish to visit the Green cave (optional), this will cost you from 7 to 10 euros per person, depending if you arrive in the busier months or not.  The tour can also be done by hiring a private speedboat with a skipper, which can cost you anywhere from 400 euros up, per group. This can even turn out to be more cost-effective, in case you are with a bigger group.

YOUR DAILY BLUE CAVE TOUR BRIEFLY DESCRIBED:

Prepare for your trip by packing all the necessary items: your swimsuit, your camera and your wallet. There is a cooler with water on board, but you can bring some extra drinks or snacks if you’d like; otherwise, you can buy them on your trip, as there will be some beach bars and restaurants. Towels are generally not provided, so better bring those too. Windbreakers or any kind of long sleeves are also suggested (except for July and August). A valuable piece of advice is to buy Dramina at the nearby pharmacy, in case you have motion sickness.

At 10:00 AM you should come to the agency to do the check-in. Boarding should start anywhere between 10 and 10:30. The boat rides between stops usually last from 15 to 45 minutes, and almost every stop is also a swimming opportunity, but you can also stay on the boat and relax. Locations like Stiniva and Green cave can best be experienced by swimming in, as the boats are not allowed to enter them. However, in most cases there is a dingy boat available, so you can row your way in. When you reach Bisevo island, where the Blue cave is located, you will have to embark on your boat and proceed to buy your tickets at the ticket point. Blue cave is sometimes visited in the first part of your tour, and sometimes later on; this always depends on the winds and how crowded the Bisevo port is, so your skipper will act according to his best estimate, in order to make your experience as good as possible. It is recommended to buy the tickets as soon as you disembark so that you would not have to wait for long to get inside the cave. In case you do have some waiting time  (you will know how much time you have because there is a digital ticket counter display) by the ticket office, make sure to visit the sandy beach on the other side of the tiny Bisevo island; you will not regret it, it is absolutely stunning!

When it is time to get inside the cave, you will have to board a small boat in the port which will take you to the interior of the Blue cave. Motorboats are not allowed to enter and swimming is strictly prohibited as this is a protected area. The moment of entering the cave might seem somewhat claustrophobic at first because the hole through which you have to pass with the boat to get in is fairly small, you might even have to duck your head. However, as soon as you enter the space opens up drastically, and you will find yourself in a spacious room illuminated with stunning turquoise blue color. The boat guide will take you around the cave and explain the history of the place, during which time you can use your camera and try to capture the moment. The tour of the cave is not very long, 5 to 10 minutes max, which is enough time to experience it fully and take some stunning photos.

When the entire group has visited the cave (this is why, once again, you should buy your tickets as soon as you disembark – so that others would not have to wait for you), you can come back to your tour boat and proceed with the tour. While the order in which the locations are visited is never fixed, it is almost certain that your last location will be Palmižana, a bay on Pakleni islands, which is also your lunch stop. This is the most famous bay of Pakleni, and arguably, the most beautiful one. The last break is the longest one and it will last around 2 hours. You can use this time to go for lunch in one of the restaurants in the bay, to swim by the sandy beach of Palmižana, or you can take a walk and explore the rich nature with many interesting plants growing in the area. After Palmižana the tour is slowly coming to an end, so you should board your boat and enjoy the final (and very scenic) ride of the day, as the boat approaches Hvar port.

THINGS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

In case you have back or mobility problems, if you are pregnant or traveling with small children, we strongly advise checking with your booking agent if it is advisable for you to join the tour. You must be aware that boat rides are not always smooth and that winds can sometimes be unpredictable, so you can talk to your agent about the seriousness of your condition and the severity of weather conditions, to see if a boat ride is something you should do or skip.

As the industry is booming, you will find many different operators offering Blue cave tour on the street. While some competition is always healthy, it should keep you extra alert as not every option might be good for you. It is advisable to check Google or Trip Advisor reviews of the agency you book with, and try to stick with the veterans of the industry, as those might vouch for the best possible experience.

Finally, as the Blue cave tour frequently gets booked out, especially in the peak season (July and August), it is advisable to book your spots in advance. You can do that by sending us a message. If you wish to find out more about the tour and the locations, you can check out Mario’s Blue cave tour page.