Reviewed · BLUE CAVE SWIM & SNORKEL STOPS
Blue cave Mamula Tunnels Speed Boat Tour From Herceg Novi
This is a fast, sea-level tour of Montenegro’s dramatic coast, with the Blue Cave and Mamula fortress as the main show. From Herceg Novi, you ride out at speed, get short and sweet stops for photos and swimming, then spend real time cruising the Bay of Kotor.
What I really like is how time-efficient it is for the money. You get a true cave moment, plus a panoramic pass around Mamula Island, so you leave with both a nature stop and a big landmark view.
One consideration: the tour depends on good weather, so plan a little flexibility. If the sea is rough, the operator may change dates or offer a refund.
In This Review
- Key Things To Know Before You Go
- A 90-Minute Speedboat Circuit From Herceg Novi
- Blue Cave Stop: What the Light-Blue Water Is Really Like
- Former Submarine Tunnel: A Quick Hit of Cliffside Naval History
- Mamula Fortress on the Water: Big Views, Fast Perspectives
- Bay of Kotor Speed Ride: Where the Time Goes
- Price and Value: What $39.77 Really Buys
- Timing, Pickup, and Weather: How to Avoid a Bad Day
- Who Should Book This Speedboat Tour (And Who Should Skip It)
- Service Animals and Getting Around: Simple Notes for Planning
- Should You Book Blue Cave, Mamula, and the Submarine Tunnels?
- FAQ
- What is the duration of the Blue Cave Mamula Tunnels speedboat tour?
- What time does the tour start in Herceg Novi?
- How much does the tour cost?
- Are tickets needed for the Blue Cave and the submarine tunnel?
- How long is the Bay of Kotor cruise, and is it included?
- What happens if the weather is poor?
Key Things To Know Before You Go

- Blue Cave swimming time: a scheduled stop with time to get in the water and enjoy the light-filled color.
- Former submarine tunnel stop: a short visit to coastal naval history carved into the cliffs.
- Mamula fortress views: a panoramic cruise around the island and its sea-rising fortress.
- Bay of Kotor ride: most of the time is spent on the boat, with scenery and wave energy.
- Small-group feel: capped at 30 travelers, which helps keep the ride from feeling chaotic.
- Mobile ticket: you’ll use your phone for entry, which is one less thing to worry about.
A 90-Minute Speedboat Circuit From Herceg Novi

This tour is built for people who want maximum coast scenery without committing to a long day. You start at 9:00 am and the whole experience runs about 1 hour 30 minutes, then you head back to where you started.
The boat side of it is the main event. You are not stuck slowly sightseeing, you’re moving, and the speed is part of the fun. Even if you prefer to keep things casual, you’ll still get that feeling of being out on the open water, with fast-changing views along the shore.
Another practical plus: it’s small-group capped at 30 people. That doesn’t mean you’ll have a private boat, but it does tend to make boarding and the stops feel more orderly.
The tour is operated by Hulk Boats Herceg Novi, and they’re using a mobile ticket system. So save your confirmation on your phone and keep it easy to access at the meeting point.
More Boat Trips in Kotor
Blue Cave Stop: What the Light-Blue Water Is Really Like
The Blue Cave stop is short, about 20 minutes, and that brevity is actually smart. It’s enough time to enjoy the cave atmosphere, take a few photos, and get a swim going if conditions allow.
This cave is famous for how a single beam of light changes the look of the water. In practical terms, you can expect the water to look dramatically blue when you’re inside the cave and when the light lines up. If you’re the type who likes scenery that feels like a set piece, this is why that stop exists.
Here’s how to make the most of the cave time:
- Don’t spend the full 20 minutes just watching from the edge. Get positioned early so you can actually enjoy the color effect in the water.
- If you’re not a confident swimmer, treat it as a cautious splash-and-float moment. The schedule is tight, so pick the safest way to enjoy your minutes.
- Bring what you can for comfort. The tour info doesn’t promise rental gear, so plan to handle your own swim basics.
Also, the Blue Cave admission is free as part of the experience, so you’re not stuck paying extra once you arrive.
Former Submarine Tunnel: A Quick Hit of Cliffside Naval History

Next comes a 10-minute stop at the Former Submarine Tunnel, where the big idea is that you’re seeing a piece of naval history carved into the coastline.
Even in only 10 minutes, the tunnel concept lands. You go from open coastal views to a more enclosed, echo-feeling space. The cliffs make it feel like a hidden working space, not a tourist set.
Keep your expectations realistic. A tunnel stop like this is rarely a long guided museum visit. It’s more about a short look that adds variety to the day, especially when you’ve already had a cave swimming stop right before it.
Admission for this tunnel stop is also free, which helps the value. It means you’re paying mainly for the boat, timing, and the overall circuit rather than “nickel-and-dime” entry fees.
Tip for comfort: tunnels and caves can feel cooler and a bit darker than you expect. If you’re sensitive to slippery surfaces, watch your footing and move slowly.
Mamula Fortress on the Water: Big Views, Fast Perspectives

One of the most memorable elements here is the panoramic cruise around Mamula Island and its 19th-century fortress rising from the sea. From the schedule, you don’t get a long stop on the island itself. Instead, you circle it, so your reward is the view, not a long on-foot walk.
Why this works well on a speedboat tour: from sea level, Mamula is instantly “readable.” You see how the fortress sits against the water, you get dramatic angles, and you can watch the coastline shift around you. The boat movement also helps you capture different perspectives without needing to relocate.
If you like photography, this is the moment to be ready:
- Have your camera or phone accessible before the approach.
- Be ready for different angles as the boat turns. The best views often come during the circling motion, not when you’re fully straight-on.
Even if you’re not traveling for history facts, the fortress is still a visual anchor. It gives the tour a “story” feeling, moving you from natural caves to military-era coastal infrastructure.
Bay of Kotor Speed Ride: Where the Time Goes

After the land-and-water stops, you get the ride that keeps the whole day from feeling rushed: the Bay of Kotor cruise.
You spend about 40 minutes on the water for this part, and it’s listed as included. This is the stretch where you just enjoy the motion, the sun, and the coastal scenes sliding by.
What you should expect here is less about a scheduled activity and more about experience. You’ll pass coastal views, villages, and dramatic cliffs from the boat. The speedboat nature means the waves are part of the ride, and it’s a good option if you want your sightseeing to have energy.
If you get seasick easily, consider this carefully. The tour description emphasizes speed across the bay. That can be thrilling, or it can be a rougher ride depending on wind and sea conditions.
Practical tip: dress for wind and sun. Even in a morning start, you can feel cooler on the water than you expect, especially if the boat is cutting across open space.
Still more Mamula and submarine tunnel trips:
- Kotor: Blue Cave, Submarine Base and Lady of the Rocks Tour★ 4.9 · 2,869 reviews
- Kotor: Blue Cave Swim Stop, Lady of the Rocks & Submarine Base★ 5.0 · 1,914 reviews
- Kotor: Blue Cave & Our Lady of The Rocks & Submarine Base★ 4.9 · 936 reviews
Price and Value: What $39.77 Really Buys

At $39.77 per person, this tour sits in the “short excursion” category. So the question is not only what you pay, it’s what you actually get for that cost.
Here’s the value breakdown based on what you receive:
- You pay for a speedboat circuit from Herceg Novi.
- You get two sightseeing stops with time limits: Blue Cave (about 20 minutes) and the Former Submarine Tunnel (about 10 minutes).
- You get a longer scenic segment for the boat itself: the Bay of Kotor portion is about 40 minutes and is included.
- Admission tickets are free for the cave and the tunnel stops, which removes the most common cost surprise on these kinds of tours.
In other words, you’re not paying extra for entrance fees at each stop. You’re paying for movement, timing, and the access to those specific coastal spots.
Also, the tour runs about 1.5 hours, which makes it easier to fit into a day where you might want to do other things. If you’ve got limited time in Herceg Novi, this kind of half-window excursion can be a very efficient use of your day.
Timing, Pickup, and Weather: How to Avoid a Bad Day

Start time is 9:00 am, and the tour returns to the meeting point at the end. The route is short, so small delays can feel bigger than you expect.
Here’s my advice based on a serious caution I’ve seen connected to a booking and pickup issue: build in a little buffer on arrival time, and have a plan if communication is slow. If something seems off, don’t wait until the last second. Ask for help early.
Weather matters here. The tour states it requires good weather, and there is an adjustment path if it’s canceled due to poor conditions. That means you should avoid stacking another “can’t miss” plan immediately after this tour, especially if you’re traveling during a shoulder season.
If you drive, remember that people sometimes pay for parking near meeting areas. Even if parking details aren’t spelled out, the practical point is this: the day can get smoother if you give yourself margin to park and walk, then still arrive calm and early.
Who Should Book This Speedboat Tour (And Who Should Skip It)

This is a good match if you want:
- A fast-paced coast experience without spending most of your day traveling.
- A mix of water time (Blue Cave swimming) and scenic cruising (Bay of Kotor).
- Iconic views of Mamula fortress from the sea.
You might skip it if:
- You prefer long guided time at each site rather than short timed stops.
- You’re extremely sensitive to boat movement and rough water, since you do spend most of the experience on the water at speed.
- You need rock-solid timing with zero flexibility. The schedule is short, and weather can change plans.
It’s also capped at 30 travelers, so it’s not a giant bus-style crowd. That helps if you want a little more breathing room during stops.
Service Animals and Getting Around: Simple Notes for Planning
The tour allows service animals, and it’s described as near public transportation. So you should have a straightforward time getting to the meeting area without needing a rental car.
If you plan to walk to the meeting point, double-check the route in advance. The tour ends back at the meeting point, so you’ll want the start and end area to work well with the rest of your day.
Should You Book Blue Cave, Mamula, and the Submarine Tunnels?
If your goal is a short, high-impact Montenegro coast hit, I think it’s easy to justify. You get a real water stop in the Blue Cave, a quick tunnel history moment, and a panoramic Mamula fortress view, plus a substantial Bay of Kotor boat ride.
My main reason to pause is the weather dependency and the reality that pickup timing issues can happen on tight schedules. If you’re flexible and you arrive early, you’ll likely enjoy how compact and scenic the tour feels.
So I’d book it if you:
- Want 90 minutes that feel like more than 90 minutes because of the boat views.
- Like mixing famous sights with a bit of action and movement.
- Can handle short stops and prefer not to spend hours on transport.
FAQ
What is the duration of the Blue Cave Mamula Tunnels speedboat tour?
The tour lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes.
What time does the tour start in Herceg Novi?
The start time is 9:00 am.
How much does the tour cost?
The price is $39.77 per person.
Are tickets needed for the Blue Cave and the submarine tunnel?
The admission tickets for the Blue Cave and the Former Submarine Tunnel stops are listed as free.
How long is the Bay of Kotor cruise, and is it included?
The Bay of Kotor portion is about 40 minutes, and it is included.
What happens if the weather is poor?
The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled due to poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.
Still More Blue Cave Swim & Snorkel Stops
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