Review · PRIVATE

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat

★ 5.0 · 47 reviews 8 hours (approx.) From $360 Operated by Boat hire Dubrovnik - private speedboat tours to Elafiti islands · Bookable on Viator
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Blue Cave swimming makes this day memorable fast. I love the private speedboat setup, it keeps the pacing flexible and gives you more real time in the water, and I also love that the itinerary mixes big sights with easy beach time on Lopud and Lopud’s long, shallow Sunj Beach. The main drawback is simple: you should be comfortable with getting into the water for the Blue Cave entry, because you cannot stand in the cave.

This 8-hour tour is built for a small group, up to 12, with an English-speaking team and a skipper who handles the boat. It also helps that so many stops are admission ticket free, so your day stays more predictable.

One more thing to keep in mind, this experience needs good weather. If the sea is rough, your plan may shift or the tour may be rescheduled.

Key Highlights at a Glance

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - Key Highlights at a Glance

  • Mercan Excursion 34 private speedboat for a small group up to 12
  • Blue Cave entry is a swim-in moment, no diving needed, but you cannot stand
  • Kolocep’s Three Green Caves include two green caves plus a canyon cave
  • Sunj Beach on Lopud is sandy, long, and very shallow for an easy swim
  • Pasjača Beach is a strong nature stop if you want something different than Elaphiti island hopping

A Private Speedboat Day From Dubrovnik That Feels Like Your Own Schedule

If you’re choosing a boat day from Dubrovnik, you’re really choosing how much time you want to spend traveling and how much time you want to spend actually enjoying the coast. This private speedboat tour is set up to do both.

You’ll start with a panoramic cruise around the Dubrovnik coast. Then the day moves from views to water, with cave swims and beach time. Because it’s private, your group stays together, and the skipper can guide the pace to suit your comfort level.

What makes this tour feel good value is the mix of included items and free admissions. You get snorkeling equipment, bottled water, soda, and alcoholic beverages, plus the skipper. So you’re not scrambling to buy snacks or gear halfway through. With up to 12 people sharing the group price, it can work out surprisingly reasonable compared to paying for separate activities.

A few more Dubrovnik trips to weigh up

From Dubrovnik Coast Views to the Blue Cave Transfer

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - From Dubrovnik Coast Views to the Blue Cave Transfer
The first stop connects the city to the sea in a way that’s more fun than just staring at the coastline from land. You’ll begin at the Dubrovnik City Walls area and then go into a private panoramic cruise along the coast.

After the coast cruising, you’ll head toward the Blue Cave. The timing is tight but realistic for a full day, you’re looking at roughly a 20-minute drive/transfer segment before you reach the cave area.

One practical note: because you’re doing caves and swims, this is a day where you’ll want your essentials ready at hand. If you arrive wearing the right swim-ready clothes under your outfit, you’ll lose less time later. It also helps for people in your group who might need an extra minute to get comfortable.

Blue Cave Swimming: What You Need to Know Before You Jump In

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - Blue Cave Swimming: What You Need to Know Before You Jump In
The Blue Cave is the headline, and it’s also the moment that decides whether the day feels effortless or stressful. Here’s the key detail: the only way to visit is to enter from the sea. The cave entrance is small, and while you can swim inside, you should not expect to stand up.

The cave is about 4 meters deep, so you’ll be in the water the whole time. The good news is you don’t need to dive. Think swim-in, hold your position, and enjoy the brief, surreal feeling of being inside a sea cave.

What I like about this setup is that it keeps the experience active. You’re not just getting a quick look from the edge. You’re really inside the experience, and the water time is built into the tour.

A possible consideration is confidence. If you or someone in your group is not comfortable with a small entrance and being in water at depth, you might want to plan alternatives or talk with the skipper early so expectations are clear.

Also, wear practical water footwear if you have it. The itinerary does not mention shoes, so bring what you normally use for rocky entries and cave-water conditions. If you only pack a towel and hope for the best, you might end up wishing you had more grip.

Three Green Caves on Koločep: A Longer Water Moment

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - Three Green Caves on Koločep: A Longer Water Moment
After the Blue Cave, the next water stop is on Koločep island with the Three Green Caves. This part of the day is longer, about an hour, and that time matters because cave light changes how the water and rock look as you move.

You’ll visit two green caves and one canyon cave. The wording is important: it’s not just one feature. It’s multiple stops within the cave system, so the experience feels like a mini circuit.

This is also a good segment for snorkeling. The tour includes snorkeling equipment, so you can switch from surface swimming to exploring up close. Even if you’re not a hardcore snorkeler, having the gear tends to make you more willing to linger, and lingering is where the magic happens.

The main consideration here is comfort and timing. Since you’re doing caves in sequence, you’ll want to keep water breaks simple and efficient. If your group has people who need rest between swims, plan for it early so it doesn’t disrupt the flow later.

Same coastline, a different sort of day:

Sunj Beach on Lopud: The Best Reward After Cave Time

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - Sunj Beach on Lopud: The Best Reward After Cave Time
Once caves are done, this tour smartly shifts to a beach that helps you reset. Sunj Beach is on Lopud, and it’s specifically described as shallow and sandy.

Here’s the standout detail: the beach is almost a kilometer long, and you have to walk about 100 meters before you can swim. That slow slope is perfect if you want an easy entry for kids, families, or anyone who wants calmer water after cave sections.

You also get that classic island feel, Lopud is known for sandy beaches and coastal restaurants. In other words, it’s not just scenic. It’s also practical for lunch and a relaxed afternoon.

The tour gives about one hour for Sunj Beach time. That’s enough to wade, relax on the sand, and maybe play a casual game. The description even calls out activities like volleyball, tennis, and picigin, so if your group wants to be active on land and not just in the water, this stop supports that.

A small tip: bring your sunscreen and keep it ready. You’ll be in open air at a sandy beach after being in and out of water. If you forget sun protection, you’ll feel it fast.

Lopud Lunch Break and the Cruise Back to Dubrovnik

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - Lopud Lunch Break and the Cruise Back to Dubrovnik
After Sunj Beach, you’ll move to Lopud for food and a bit more strolling along the coast. Lopud is known for restaurants right by the water, so lunch here is not a scavenger hunt. You can focus on the meal and not on logistics.

The timing is around 3 hours for this segment, and it includes the return planning, since you then cruise back to Dubrovnik afterward. You’ll need about an hour to get home, so this portion of the tour has a natural rhythm: eat, relax, then switch gears for the cruise back.

This is a great moment to think about what you want your day to feel like at the end. If your group is most energized during water time, you might want a lighter lunch so you don’t feel weighed down on the return. If you prefer a more leisurely pace, Lopud gives you room to slow down without wasting the day.

Pasjača Beach: Natural, Scenic, and a Good Alternative

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - Pasjača Beach: Natural, Scenic, and a Good Alternative
Not every boat day wants the same island-hopping loop. That’s why Pasjača Beach is here as an alternative plan.

Pasjača is described as an amazing natural beach, and it’s offered if you don’t want to go to the Elaphiti islands or if you’ve already seen them. So the tour has built-in flexibility in the kind of scenery you’ll end with.

You’ll have about 2 hours at Pasjača. Two hours is a sweet spot. It’s long enough to walk around, find a comfortable spot, and enjoy the water without feeling rushed. It’s also short enough that you still feel like you completed a full day rather than turning it into a long beach-only trip.

The practical consideration is that nature beaches can vary in convenience. The itinerary does not spell out amenities. Plan to rely on what you brought, towel and swim gear in particular, and treat the day as a hands-on sea-and-sand outing.

What’s Included, What Costs Extra, and What to Pack

Brand New Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour From Dubrovnik Cavtat - What’s Included, What Costs Extra, and What to Pack
This is where the tour either feels smooth or not, so let’s make it plain.

Included:

  • Snorkeling equipment
  • Bottled water
  • Soda and alcoholic beverages
  • A skipper

These inclusions matter because they cover both comfort and activity. You can actually do the water part of the day without extra purchases, and having drinks onboard makes the cruise feel more like a shared experience than a transport ride.

Not included:

  • Fuel surcharge paid in cash on the boat (the tour lists 30€ for a sunset tour, 80€ for a half day, 150€ for a full day)
  • Bathing suit, towel, sunglasses, suncream, hat, change of clothes, camera

My advice: pack like you’re going to be outside and in and out of the water repeatedly. At minimum, bring a bathing suit you can quickly get into, plus a towel you don’t mind drying off with. Sunscreen and a hat are not optional if you burn easily.

Also, if you care about photos, bring your camera. The tour does not include it, and cave entries and beach resets are the moments people want to capture.

One more detail from a very positive firsthand review: the boat can be very quiet, and that kind of calm makes it easier to enjoy your own music playlist while you’re cruising and swimming. If that’s your style, it’s a fun way to make the ride feel less like a group excursion and more like a private outing.

Who This Tour Really Suits Best

This tour fits best if you want a mix of sea views, cave swimming, and beach time without juggling multiple tickets and transfers.

It’s especially good for:

  • Couples or small groups who want a private speedboat day from Dubrovnik
  • People who enjoy snorkeling and want gear included
  • Families who want a calmer entry beach at Sunj Beach, where the water is shallow for a long approach
  • Anyone who wants a unique day beyond just walking the Old Town streets

It might be less ideal if:

  • Your group is not comfortable with getting into the water for a cave entry where you cannot stand
  • You prefer strictly on-land sightseeing with no swimming components
  • Weather is questionable. The experience requires good weather, so flexibility helps.

The overall length is about 8 hours, so plan this as your main activity day, not a quick add-on.

Should You Book This Mercan Excursion 34 Private Tour?

I’d book it if you want Dubrovnik’s coast to feel hands-on. The tour’s structure is built around moments that are hard to replicate from land: panoramic cruising, Blue Cave swimming, Koločep’s three cave stops, and Lopud’s long shallow beach reset. The value improves when you look at what’s included, snorkeling gear, drinks, and a skipper, plus multiple stops with free admissions.

I would hesitate if water depth and cave entry make you nervous, or if your group wants a fully relaxed day without any swim-in moments. Also, because you need good weather, this works best when your trip schedule has a backup plan day nearby.

If you’re the type who likes your day to have a clear rhythm, first views, then caves, then beach recovery, this is a strong match. And if you enjoy calm boat time, the very quiet experience described by a previous guest is a good sign you’ll spend the cruise in comfort, not chaos.

FAQ

How much does the Mercan Excursion 34 private tour cost?

It’s listed at $360.44 per group, for up to 12 people.

How long is the tour?

The duration is approximately 8 hours.

Is this tour private or shared?

It’s a private tour, so only your group participates.

What language is the tour offered in?

The tour is offered in English.

What are the main stops during the day?

You can expect Dubrovnik City Walls panoramic cruise, the Blue Cave, Three Green Caves on Koločep, Sunj Beach on Lopud, Lopud for lunch, and possibly Pasjača Beach.

Are admission tickets included for the stops?

The itinerary notes admission ticket free for the stops listed.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes snorkeling equipment, bottled water, alcoholic beverages, soda/pop, and a skipper.

What extra costs should I expect?

There is a fuel surcharge paid in cash on the boat: 30€ for a sunset tour, 80€ for a half day, or 150€ for a full day.

What should I bring?

Bring a bathing suit, towel, sunglasses, suncream, hat, change of clothes, and a camera.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

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