Distance advantage
Hvar's northern coast sits close to Makarska, so the first swim does not feel like a transfer.
Palladium Makarska · Journal
Private or small-group Little Blue Cave tour from Makarska
The Little Blue Cave is only the beginning. The real choice is how you want the day to feel.
From Makarska, Hvar's northern coast is close enough for the first swim to feel immediate. Both Palladium routes visit the Little Blue Cave on Hvar and trace the same island triangle — Hvar, Brač and Zečevo. Choose the nine-hour private day if you want the boat, the pace and the lunch stop shaped around your group. Choose the five-hour small-group route if you want the clearest highlights, capped at twelve guests, with fuel included.
Hvar north coast
35 min from Makarska
Swim-in cave
No official ticket queue
Private rhythm
9 hours
Your group only, six stops and lunch in Vrboska.
Small-group highlights
€70–€90
Five hours, max twelve guests, fuel included.
Deposit required · balance paid on the day
Free cancellation 24h+ before departure
Unsafe sea → reschedule or refund
Included in these tours
Little Blue Cave on Hvar
- About 35 minutes by speedboat from Makarska
- No official entrance fee or ticket queue
- Swimming inside is allowed, sea conditions permitting
- Part of both the private and small-group Palladium routes
Different destination
Blue Cave on Biševo
- Requires a dedicated long-range open-sea route from Makarska
- Separate entrance fee and possible peak-season queues
- Swimming inside is not allowed
- Not part of these two routes; available only as a dedicated private tour
i. The harbour
Makarska gets the useful geography.
Split and Dubrovnik get the postcards. From our stand at Marineta 15, the Little Blue Cave on Hvar is about 35 minutes away by speedboat — close enough to make a three-island day feel natural rather than rushed.
Most Dalmatian day tours begin in Split, Trogir or Hvar Town. They are good days, but they start with a longer transit — and the same transit in reverse at the end. The islands of Hvar, Brač and Zečevo sit almost directly opposite Makarska, inside a triangle a speedboat can cross comfortably in a morning.
Both of our routes are built to take advantage of that geography. You trade transit for time in the water. On the private day that means a longer, slower rhythm with a proper restaurant lunch; on the group day it means a tight five-hour route that still fits four swim stops and an hour ashore in Jelsa.
local logic Route intelligence
Why the route works before the boat even leaves.
The best boat days are not built by adding more stops. They are built by choosing the right order, the right distance, and the right pace for the sea that morning.
Cave timing
The morning small-group route aims for the cave early; the private route lets the skipper choose the best window.
Sea-condition logic
The sequence can be adjusted when wind or swell makes a different order more comfortable for the day.
Pace choice
Private stretches the day around lunch and freedom. Small-group edits the strongest highlights into five hours.
ii. Side by side
Two tours. Same islands. Different kinds of day.
Both visit the Little Blue Cave. Beyond that, the decision is about time, group size, pace and whether lunch in Vrboska matters to you.
Palladium Private 3 Island Tour
A full day, private, shaped around your group.
Nine hours. Only your party on board. Six stops plus a relaxed lunch in Vrboska — the Hvar village known as Little Venice for its canals and stone bridges.
Best for couples · families · groups of 5+ · slower pace · a proper lunch
- Format
- Private charterYour party only · with skipper
- Duration
- 9 hours · full day09:00 → 17:30–18:00
- Route
- 6 stops + lunchPokrivenik, Little Blue Cave, Mala Stiniva, Vrboska, Blue Lagoon, Puntica
- Lunch
- Vrboska — "Little Venice"Recommended: Trica Gardelin
- Boat
- Your choiceFrom the Palladium fleet
- Price
- Boat-led private pricingChoose your boat on the tour page
Little Blue Cave Small-Group Tour
A five-hour small-group route, max twelve guests.
A tight, well-sequenced half-day on the Narwhal Orca 1000 with premium shock-absorbing seats and shade for every guest. Morning or afternoon slot.
Best for first-time guests · couples · 2–4 travellers · easier pricing · no planning
- Format
- Small group · max 12Narwhal Orca 1000 speedboat
- Duration
- 5 hours · half daySee departure windows below
- Route
- 5 stopsLittle Blue Cave, Mala Stiniva, Jelsa, Blue Lagoon, Žirje Bay
- On-island
- 1 hour in JelsaFree time · your choice for lunch
- Included
- Fuel, seats, shadeSnorkelling gear · bottled water
- Price
- €70–€90 / adultMay/Oct from €70 · Jun/Sep from €80 · Jul/Aug €90
Choose private for time, privacy and a longer lunch. Choose small-group for the clearest highlights in the easiest format. Same water, same cave — a very different day.Palladium concierge desk · Makarska
iii. How to choose
A simple way to decide in under a minute.
Most guests self-select within the first three lines of one of these two cards.
Choose private
You want the day shaped around your group.
Best for: couples, families, groups of 5+, a longer lunch
- You're travelling with family, a partner, or a small group of friends and want the boat to yourselves.
- A proper, unhurried restaurant lunch in Vrboska sounds like the point, not a pause.
- You want to choose the boat — from compact speedboat to the Colnago 38 OPEN yacht.
- You want the freedom to stretch a swim, change the order, or shorten a stop on the day.
Choose group
You want the highlights, cleanly edited.
Best for: first-time guests, couples, 2–4 travellers
- It's your first day on the Dalmatian coast and you want a strong, scenic route without planning it yourself.
- You're two, three or four — and a small-group boat capped at twelve is the right scale.
- A fixed per-person price and a set schedule matter more to you than full flexibility.
- You'd rather arrive at Marineta 15, step aboard, and let the skipper handle the rest.
iv. The two routes
Stop by stop, side by side.
Both itineraries are written out below with the stops as published on the source tour pages. Times are approximate; sequence may be adjusted on the day for comfort and sea conditions.
Private Full day · 9 hours
Palladium Private 3 Island Tour
A full-day rhythm with six stops and a lunch break in Vrboska — the Hvar village called Little Venice for its canals, stone bridges and sheltered harbour.
Duration9 hours
Window09:00 – 18:00
Stops6 + lunch
GuestsYour party only
- 09:00Departure from Makarska HarbourMeet your skipper at the Palladium stand, Marineta 15. A short briefing, then a gentle exit onto open water.
- 09:35Pokrivenik hidden bay HvarA quiet cove on Hvar's calmer coast, dotted with stone houses and surrounded by lush nature. Usually the first swim of the day, and a gentle start before the route opens up.
- 10:30Little Blue Cave HvarThe signature moment of the route. Swim straight in — no need to dive, no entrance fee — while the boat stays anchored outside. Bring a waterproof phone case if you have one.
- 11:30Mala Stiniva · cliff-jumping bay HvarGreen-turquoise water, sheer cliffs, a single stone house, no road access. Cliff jumping for the bold; the photograph for everyone else.
- 13:00Lunch in Vrboska HvarA sheltered harbour village with stone bridges and small canals — often called Little Venice. Recommended: Trica Gardelin, a seafront konoba with fresh seafood and local flavours.
- 15:00Blue Lagoon ZečevoA protected turquoise lagoon off the uninhabited islet of Zečevo — calm in most winds, with a small waterfront bar on shore.
- 16:30Puntica hidden bay BračA secluded bay on Brač facing Makarska, with a sea swing and a last unhurried swim before the crossing home.
- 17:30Return to Makarska HarbourQuick refuel stop, then back to the harbour — arrival 17:30 to 18:00 depending on how the day runs.
Route at a glance · 9 hours · 6 stops + lunch
Makarska→
Pokrivenik→
Little Blue Cave→
Mala Stiniva→
Vrboska→
Blue Lagoon→
Puntica→
Makarska
Group Half day · 5 hours
Little Blue Cave Group Tour
A five-stop half day aboard the Narwhal Orca 1000, with premium shock-absorbing seats and sun shade for every guest. Four of the five stops are only accessible by boat.
Duration5 hours
SlotsSee below
Stops5
GuestsMax 12 · €70–€90 pp
- DepartDeparture from Makarska Marineta 15Morning slot is 08:00–13:00; afternoon slot is 13:30–18:30 (main season). In May and October, a single 10:00–15:00 slot.
- ~35 minLittle Blue Cave Hvar 25 min stayUsually the first stop of the route, reached while the sea is calmer and the cave is quieter. Boat anchors in front of the cave; you swim in. Snorkelling equipment is on board, sea conditions permitting.
- ThenMala Stiniva Hvar 30 min stayA rocky amphitheatre on Hvar's north coast, famous for its green-turquoise water and stone cliffs. Cliff jumping at your own responsibility.
- ThenJelsa · free time Hvar 1 hourA full hour ashore in the largest town on Hvar's northern coast — coffee, waterfront promenade, the small church above town for a viewpoint. Lunch is your choice here.
- ThenBlue Lagoon Zečevo 30 min stayAn uninhabited islet densely covered in Mediterranean vegetation, with sheltered coves full of fish. A stop designed for snorkelling and floating.
- ThenŽirje hidden bay Brač 20 min stayA quiet natural bay on Brač for a final swim on the way home — clear water, a calmer feel, and one last pause before returning to Makarska.
- ReturnReturn to Makarska HarbourMorning slot returns at 13:00; afternoon at 18:30. Back in time for lunch or a late aperitif on the promenade.
on the chart Interactive route map
See the day on the water, before you set the date.
Both routes drawn on the same chart — from the harbour at Marineta 15, across the Hvar–Brač–Zečevo triangle and back. Tap any pin to read the stop; toggle layers to see private and small-group routes side by side.
Private route
9 hours · 6 stops + lunchPokrivenik → Little Blue Cave → Mala Stiniva → Vrboska → Blue Lagoon → Puntica
Small-group route
5 hours · 5 stopsLittle Blue Cave → Mala Stiniva → Jelsa → Blue Lagoon → Žirje Bay
Little Blue Cave
North coast of HvarAbout 35 minutes from Makarska · signature stop on both routes
Map · Google My Maps · Palladium Makarska
v. The Little Blue Cave
Why this cave — and why timing helps.
The Little Blue Cave is the stop guests usually ask about first. On calm mornings, light enters through the narrow opening, reflects off the sand below, and turns the water inside a clear, electric blue.
Access is simple. The boat anchors in front of the cave; you swim straight in from the bow. Snorkelling equipment is on board, and a waterproof phone case is a kindness to your photos.
Both tours include it. The morning small-group tour is built to reach it early, about 35 minutes from Makarska, while the cave is usually quieter. On afternoon departures, the skipper adjusts the rhythm to the day's sea and light. On the private tour, your skipper picks the best window — usually mid-morning, after a warm-up swim at Pokrivenik.
vi. Included & pricing
What is included — and what the group tour actually costs.
Transparent pricing for the group tour below. Private-tour pricing depends on the boat you choose.
Included in the group tour
- Narwhal Orca 1000 speedboat
- English-speaking skipper
- Fuel
- Premium shock-absorbing seats with backrest
- Sun shade for every seat
- Use of snorkelling equipment
- Bottled water
Not included
- Lunch (free time in Jelsa — your choice)
- Towels
- Hotel pick-up — paid option at select Makarska Riviera hotels, shown in the booking widget when available
Group tour · seasonal pricing Per adult · €
- May & Octoberfrom €70
- June & Septemberfrom €80
- July & August€90
Peak-summer prices reflect higher demand and fully booked departures. The booking calendar always shows the exact price for your selected date. Children's pricing is shown in the booking calendar when available.
Private tour · pricing logic Boat-led
Because private tours are shaped around your choice of boat — from a compact speedboat up to the Colnago 38 OPEN yacht — there is no single per-person price. The best way to see current pricing is on the tour page or by telling us your party size and dates; we will come back with the clearest option.
vii. Essentials
The practical details, quietly handled.
Departure windows, sea conditions and what to bring — the details that make the day feel effortless.
i.
Departure windows
Group tour, main season (1 June – 15 September): morning 08:00–13:00 or afternoon 13:30–18:30. Pre- and post-season (May and 16 September – 1 November): single slot 10:00–15:00. Private tours typically run 09:00 to around 18:00.
ii.
Weather & sea
Routes adapt to wind and swell. On private tours we flex freely; on group tours the sequence may be adjusted to keep the day comfortable. If conditions prevent a safe departure we reschedule at no cost or refund in full.
iii.
What to bring
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, a light layer for the breeze on the water. Snorkelling gear is on board; a waterproof phone case is a kindness to your photos. For comfort and safety, the group tour is not recommended for children under 4. For younger children, ask us about private-tour options.
viii. Frequently asked
Honest answers, in one place.
Is this the Blue Cave on Biševo near Vis?
No — this is the Little Blue Cave on Hvar, a different cave. The Biševo Blue Cave near Vis requires a dedicated long-range open-sea route from Makarska, charges an entrance fee, and does not allow swimming inside. Our Little Blue Cave is about 35 minutes from Makarska, has no official entrance fee or ticket queue, and swimming inside is allowed. If Biševo is specifically what you want, we run that as a dedicated private tour.
What is the real difference between the private and group tour?
The private 3 Island Tour is a full-day boat experience: nine hours, six stops plus lunch in Vrboska, your party only, and a boat chosen from the Palladium fleet. The Little Blue Cave small-group tour is a five-hour route on the Narwhal Orca 1000, capped at twelve guests, with fixed seasonal pricing. Same island triangle; very different shape of day.
How much does the group tour cost?
The group tour is seasonally priced: from €70 per adult in May and October, from €80 in June and September, and a fixed €90 in July and August. The booking calendar always shows the exact price for your selected date. A 30% deposit is taken at booking; the balance is paid on the day.
Does the private tour also visit the Little Blue Cave?
Yes. On the private day it is typically the third stop, around 10:30, after Pokrivenik. Your skipper can advise on timing based on the light and other boats at the cave that morning.
What is included in the group tour price?
The Narwhal Orca 1000 speedboat, an English-speaking skipper, fuel, premium shock-absorbing seats with backrest, sun shade for every seat, snorkelling equipment and bottled water. Lunch and towels are not included; there is free time in Jelsa to eat on your own.
Can we choose the boat on a private tour?
Yes. The private tour runs on any boat from the Palladium fleet, from a compact speedboat up to the Colnago 38 OPEN. We'll match the boat to your party size, pace and the kind of day you want.
Where do the tours depart from, and is pick-up available?
Both tours depart from the Palladium stand at Marineta 15, Makarska. For the group tour, a paid hotel pick-up option is available at select hotels along the Makarska Riviera — current availability is shown in the booking widget on the tour page. Private-tour pick-up is arranged on request where feasible.
Are tours weather-dependent?
Yes. Wind and sea state decide. Private tours are the most flexible — we can re-route on the morning. Group tours may re-order stops to keep the day comfortable. If sea conditions prevent a safe departure, we reschedule at no cost or refund in full. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure.
Before you book
Tell us how you travel. We'll shape the day.
Send us your party size, your dates in Makarska, and whether lunch in Vrboska is the point or a pause. We'll come back with the tour that fits, the right boat if it's private, and the best slot to leave the harbour.
Palladium · Makarska · Adriatic
End of article
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