Our Lady of the Rocks and St. George from straight above, the wakes of boats between them

03Bay & open seaTivat to the Blue Cave, Perast and back

Boka Bay + Blue Cave. The blue, then the bay.

Four private hours with the best of Boka: into an old submarine tunnel, past Mamula to the Blue Cave for a swim, then back into the bay to Our Lady of the Rocks and the palaces of Perast.

4 hours Private, from one guest A swim, an island and Perast Open daily 09:00 – 23:00

At a glance

Two sides of Boka, in one unhurried loop.

The tour for anyone who wants it all. The first half belongs to the open sea: a tunnel once built for submarines, the two fortresses that guard the mouth of the bay and a swim in the Blue Cave. The second takes you deep into the bay, through the Verige Strait to the island church of Our Lady of the Rocks and past the palaces of Perast.

It is private, so the boat, the skipper and the timing are yours alone — whether there are two of you or fourteen. Boris paces the four hours around you: a longer swim when the cave is quiet, a slower pass where the light is good.

You can go any day from nine in the morning. Mornings suit it best: the open sea is usually calmest early, and you are back in Tivat by lunchtime.

hours on the water, at your pace
4h
by sea, to the Blue Cave and Perast and back
≈ 55km
stops along the way
7
sea caves — the Blue Cave and two half-open ones
3

The voyage

Seven stops, from the open sea to Perast.

The stops in the order Boris sails them, with the kilometres from the promenade: first the open sea and the cave, then back into the bay. On the day he fits the route to the weather and the sea — and to you.

  1. Departure0 km

    Tivat

    You board on the Tivat promenade, Šetalište Kapetana Iva Vizina — a few minutes from Tivat Airport. Wear your swimsuit: water, towels and life jackets are already on board.

  2. Inside the old submarine tunnel, looking out across the strait

    Sail inside≈ 9 km

    Submarine tunnel

    First west, across the Bay of Tivat to the Kumbor Strait. In the cliffs of Luštica, behind curtains of old camouflage netting, are the tunnels the Yugoslav Navy cut for its submarines — about a hundred metres into the rock — and the boat glides right in.

  3. Mamula from straight above: the round fortress on its little island

    From the boat≈ 17 km

    Mamula

    Out of the bay past the fishing village of Rose, to the round island fortress at its mouth. Austria built it in 1853; in the Second World War the island held a prison camp. It is private today, so Boris takes you round it from the sea.

    The story of the fortress
  4. Fort Arza on the tip of Luštica at dusk, Mamula beyond

    From the boat≈ 18 km

    Fort Arza

    Across from Mamula, on the tip of Luštica, stands its twin: Fort Arza, raised at the same time to close the entrance to Boka. Round the cape, the coast turns into the pale limestone cliffs of the open sea.

  5. Our boat Negroni in the turquoise water outside the Blue Cave

    Swim inside≈ 22 km

    Blue Cave

    Halfway, the swim: a sea cave where sunlight enters under the water and lights it electric blue. Since 2026 motor boats may not go inside, so Boris waits at the entrance — photos from the boat, then a swim in — and shows you two smaller, half-open caves along the same cliffs.

    Why the cave glows
  6. Sail through≈ 45 km

    Verige Strait

    Back past Mamula and Rose, through the Kumbor Strait and across the Bay of Tivat, then north into the Verige, where the bay narrows to just 340 metres. Beyond it the inner bay opens up, with the two islands off Perast ahead.

  7. Our Lady of the Rocks from the air, visitors on the island and a boat at its pier

    Ashore if you like · about 20 min≈ 47 km

    Our Lady of the Rocks

    The island Perast built stone by stone on the reef where, says the legend, an icon of the Virgin was found in 1452. Boris moors at its quay: about 20 minutes for the church, its 68 paintings by Tripo Kokolja and the little museum — or stay on board. The landing fee is per person; children under 12 go free.

    The story of the island
  8. Our boat Negroni in front of Perast and its bell tower

    From the boat≈ 48 km

    Perast

    On this tour you see Perast from the water — where its baroque front looks best anyway: palaces along the shore, the 55-metre bell tower of St. Nicholas and the island of St. George just across. Boris slows down for the photos.

    Perast, palace by palace
  9. Back in Tivat≈ 55 km

    Tivat

    Back through the Verige and along the shore to the promenade — about four hours after you set off.

Chart of the Boka Bay + Blue Cave tour The tour leaves the Tivat promenade, crosses the Bay of Tivat to the Kumbor Strait and sails into an old submarine tunnel, follows the Luštica shore out of the bay past Mamula and Fort Arza to the Blue Cave, comes back west of Mamula and through the Kumbor Strait, crosses the bay and heads north through the Verige Strait to Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast, and returns to Tivat through the Verige. Bay of TivatAdriatic SeaLušticaVrmacKumbor StraitRose 1Submarine tunnel2Mamula3Fort Arza4Blue Cave5Verige Strait6Our Lady of the Rocks7Perast TivatStart & finish

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

More photos of the bay in the gallery

On board

Travel light — the rest is on board.

Fuel, your skipper, water and towels are part of every tour. Bring a few small things for the swim and for the island church.

Included

  • Fuel for the whole route
  • Your licensed local skipper
  • Drinking water
  • Towels
  • Life jackets on board

Bring

  • Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
  • Your swimsuit — wear it under your clothes
  • A waterproof pouch for your phone
  • A light shirt or scarf — shoulders are covered in the island church
  • A few euros in cash, if you go ashore at the island

One fee, only if you go ashore

  • The landing fee at Our Lady of the Rocks, per person — children under 12 go free
  • Everything else is free: the Blue Cave, the two caves and every sight from the sea
  • Lunch by the sea fits into a Custom Tour of six hours or more

Good to know

Swim first, sightsee after.

Swimming
Under the new rules, motor boats may not enter the cave, so the boat waits outside and you swim the last stretch. Not a confident swimmer? There are life jackets on board — and the view from the deck is lovely too.
Going ashore
At Our Lady of the Rocks going ashore is up to you: about 20 minutes for the church and its little museum, or stay on board. Perast you see from the water — for half an hour in the town, choose the Boka Bay Tour or a Custom Tour.
Best light
Set off in the morning: the open sea is usually calmest early, the cave glows brighter as the sun climbs, and the island is quieter before the big tour boats arrive.
Sea & weather
The first half is out on the open sea, so the waves have the last word. If they are up, Boris will tell you before you set off and suggest another time — or a sheltered route inside the bay.
Children & groups
Children are welcome from the age of two — tell Boris their ages when you book. Up to 8 guests sail on Antonija, up to 14 on Negroni: see our boats.

Reviews

Five stars, every time.

5.0

Average rating on Google

“Best boat tour guide in Tivat. Takes you to all the best places…”

Harry J.Google review

“Best day in Tivat! The boat trip was wonderful, with music and drinks.”

Anastasia R.Google review

More tours

Three more ways to fall for Boka.

Our Lady of the Rocks from the air: the church with its blue dome on the man-made island off Perast 3 hours

The classic

Boka Bay Tour

Past St. Mark’s Island and Our Lady of Mercy and into an old submarine tunnel, then through the Verige Strait to Our Lady of the Rocks and half an hour in baroque Perast.

A guest floating in the glowing turquoise water inside the Blue Cave 3 hours

Open sea & swimming

Blue Cave Tour

Into an old submarine tunnel, past the island fortress of Mamula and out to the Blue Cave, where the water glows electric blue — swim right in — and on to two more sea caves nearby.

Negroni seen from above, drawing a circle of white water on the deep blue bay 5–8 hours

Your route, your rhythm

Custom Tour

Five hours or more, your way. Pick the stops — Kotor’s old town, a hidden beach, an island church, the Blue Cave — and Boris will shape the route around you.

The best of Boka — in one message.

Open daily 09:00 – 23:00