Kotor Blue Cave & Our Lady of the Rocks Speedboat Tour — Mamula, Submarine Base and Swimming in the Blue Grotto
Difficulty
easy
Duration
3 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for people in average physical condition—requires basic mobility for boarding and short dock landings.
Overview
Escape Kotor’s old town for a three-hour speedboat tour that visits Perast, the man-made island Our Lady of the Rocks, a hidden submarine base, Mamula Island and the glowing Blue Cave. Expect swimming, short island visits, and a compact lesson in Adriatic history.
Kotor Blue Cave & Our Lady of the Rocks Speedboat Tour — Mamula, Submarine Base and Swimming in the Blue Grotto
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The engine's low thrum fades to a softer rhythm as the speedboat slips out of Kotor's narrow inlet and into the wide sweep of Boka Bay. On a clear day the limestone cliffs print sharp relief against the Adriatic; gulls wheel low, testing the breeze, and the old stone houses of Perast slide past like a film of maritime history. The boat nudges close to two tiny islands—one a fortified rock and the other a hand-built shrine—then turns toward a slit of cobalt that swallows the sun and returns it as impossible blue.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Arrive early at Park Slobode
Plan to be at the meeting point 30 minutes before departure—summer traffic and narrow streets can add delays.
Bring swim shoes
Rocky landings and pebbled cave bottoms are slippery—water shoes protect your feet and your camera gear.
Carry a small amount of cash
There’s a small €1.50 church admission on Our Lady of the Rocks and vendors may accept only cash.
Use reef-safe sunscreen
The bay’s seagrass meadows are sensitive—choose sunscreens labeled reef-safe to reduce environmental impact.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Common dolphins
- Mediterranean gulls and cormorants
History
Boka Bay bears Venetian, Austro-Hungarian and Yugoslav layers—Perast’s maritime republic past and Mamula’s 19th-century fort reflect shifting empires and wartime stories.
Conservation
The bay hosts valuable Posidonia seagrass meadows; operators emphasize not anchoring on meadows, minimizing plastic, and using reef-safe sunscreen to protect marine life.
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Adventure Hotspots in Kotor
Recommended Gear
Swimwear and quick-dry towel
Necessary for the Blue Cave swim stop and sun exposure on deck.
summer specific
Water shoes
Protects feet during boarding and on rocky island landings.
summer specific
Light windproof layer
Late-afternoon wind on the bay can be cool—pack a thin jacket for comfort.
spring specific
Waterproof phone case or small dry bag
Keeps electronics safe during swims and on jump-offs into the cave.
summer specific