Blue Cave and Pakleni Islands Tour from Hvar (2026): What to Expect

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A Blue Cave and Pakleni Islands tour is a full-day speedboat trip from Hvar Town (or Split) to the Blue Cave on Biševo, usually with stops on Vis, at the Green Cave and in the Pakleni Islands on the way back. Group tours from Hvar start from about $106–132 per person (Oct 2026), the day lasts 8–10 hours, and the cave ticket is normally extra: €24 per adult in high season (20 June–10 September) and €18 in spring and autumn, paid in cash on Biševo.

It’s a long day with a lot of open-sea boating, and the cave itself can close at short notice when there’s swell. Here is what the itinerary looks like, what it really costs, how to pick a tour and when a Pakleni-only day is the smarter choice.

What the tour covers

The Blue Cave (Modra špilja) is a sea cave on the small island of Biševo, off the west coast of Vis. Around midday, sunlight enters through an underwater opening and lights the water inside an electric blue. From Hvar Town it’s roughly 90 minutes each way by speedboat in good conditions, which is why tours bundle it with other stops.

A typical itinerary from Hvar looks like this:

1. Early start from Hvar Town and a fast crossing west towards Vis and Biševo.
2. Blue Cave, Biševo – you queue at the Mezuporat jetty and transfer into a small licensed boat for a 5–10 minute visit inside.
3. Stiniva cove or other Vis bays – swim stops along the dramatic south coast of Vis, depending on the tour.
4. Green Cave on Ravnik – a larger sea cave where, unlike the Blue Cave, swimming is allowed.
5. Lunch on Vis – often in Komiža or Vis town, at your own cost on most tours.
6. Pakleni Islands – a final swim stop, often at Palmižana or another bay, before returning to Hvar Town in the late afternoon.

Exact stops vary by operator, so read the itinerary before booking: some tours spend more time on Vis, some include the Green Cave, and not all of them stop in the Pakleni Islands. Some five-island tours also add a swim stop at a lagoon such as Budikovac, off the east coast of Vis.

Blue Cave tickets and rules for 2026

Ticket	High season (20 June–10 Sept)	Shoulder season (April–19 June, 11 Sept–October)
Adult	€24	€18
Child (6–12)	€12	€9
Under 6	Free	Free

• Cash only, on the day. Tickets are sold at Mezuporat on Biševo; there is no legitimate advance ticket for the cave itself. Tour prices almost always exclude it.
• No swimming inside. You stay seated in the small transfer boat. Private boats cannot enter.
• Short visit. Expect 5–10 minutes inside; in peak season it’s closer to five.
• Queues. Waits of 45–60 minutes are normal in summer and can reach 90 minutes in late August.
• Duck at the entrance. The opening is low and narrow – about 1.5 m high.

When the Blue Cave closes

The cave entrance is low, so it closes whenever swell makes it unsafe – often with a southerly wind, sometimes on a clear, sunny day after a storm. The concession on Biševo makes the decision, not your skipper, and sometimes only on the morning itself. Closures are rare in July and more common in May and October.

Before you book, ask what happens if the cave is shut: a refund, a reschedule or an alternative route (often more time at the Green Cave, Vis and the Pakleni Islands). Booking for early in your stay leaves room to try again.

Blue Cave tours from Hvar compared

Tour	From (Oct 2026)	Rating	Notes
Vis Island and Blue Cave Speedboat Tour	About $132	4.8 (870 reviews)	Hvar departure; Vis, Blue Cave and Pakleni in the listing
Unforgetable Tour to the Island Vis and Blue Cave	About $118	4.6 (164 reviews)	Vis-focused day from Hvar
Blue Cave and 5 Islands Boat Tour	About $114	4.5 (278 reviews)	Classic five-island loop from Hvar
Blue and Green Cave Day Tour	About $106	4.4 (541 reviews)	Cheapest Hvar option; both caves
Blue Cave, Green Cave & 5 Islands Speedboat Tour	About $118	4.8 (1,010 reviews)	Both caves plus island stops; check the departure point

Prices are “from” prices per person and exclude the cave ticket. For a private boat, operators price per boat; for groups of four or more the per-head cost can come close to a shared tour – our private vs group comparison shows the maths. For a broader look at what these tours cost across Hvar, see our Hvar boat tour price study.

Doing it from Split instead

Split is about 60 km from Biševo, compared with roughly 40 km from Hvar, so tours from Split have a longer day – usually 9 to 11 hours in total – and usually call at Hvar Town and the Pakleni Islands on the way back. Popular options include:

• Blue Cave, Mamma Mia, Vis & Hvar 5-Island Tour – from about $87 (Oct 2026), rated 5.0 from 3,293 reviews.
• Blue Cave, Hvar, Mamma Mia, 5 Islands boat Tour – from about $88 (Oct 2026), rated 4.9 from 1,744 reviews.
• Blue Cave, Mamma Mia, Hvar and 5 Island Small Group Tour – from about $112 (Oct 2026), rated 4.6 from 8,235 reviews; departs Split or Trogir.

“Mamma Mia” refers to filming locations on Vis. More detail on the Split options is in Pakleni Islands from Split.

Is the Blue Cave worth it?

It depends on what you want from the day. The cave visit is short and the queue can be long; what makes the trip memorable is the whole circuit – Vis’s wild coast, the Green Cave swim and an evening stop in the Pakleni Islands.

	Blue Cave + Pakleni day	Pakleni-only day
Time on the boat	Long; several hours of open sea	Short hops between bays
Cost per person	From about $106 plus €18–24 cave ticket	From about $76 on a tour, or €10–15 by taxi boat
Swimming time	Several short stops	Long, relaxed swims
Weather risk	Cave may close in swell	Low; sheltered bays nearby
Best for	Sightseers, first-time visitors to Croatia	Beach lovers, families, those prone to seasickness

If you’re travelling with small children or anyone who gets seasick, a calmer Pakleni day – see the best Pakleni Islands boat tours or our beach guide – is the better call.

How to choose a good Blue Cave tour

Dozens of boats run this route in summer, and the differences matter more than the headline price. Before booking, compare listings on these points:

• Group size and boat type. A smaller speedboat with 10–12 guests feels very different from a large boat; covered seating helps on a long, sunny day.
• Itinerary order. Tours that reach Biševo early beat the worst of the queue. Ask when the boat expects to be at the cave.
• What’s included. Most tours exclude the cave ticket and lunch; some include snorkel gear, water or a guide on board.
• Pakleni stop. If a swim in the Pakleni Islands matters to you, make sure it’s named in the itinerary rather than “if time allows”.
• Cancellation terms. Look for free cancellation up to 24 hours before and a clear policy for cave closures.
• Recent reviews. Read the latest comments about punctuality, skippers and crowding – they tell you more than the overall score.

Tips for the day

• Book early in your stay so you can rebook if the cave closes.
• Bring cash for the cave ticket, the Green Cave fee if charged, and lunch.
• Sit towards the back of a speedboat if you’re sensitive to motion; take seasickness tablets before you leave. The open-sea crossing can be bumpy when the wind picks up.
• Pack light: towel, swimsuit, sun cream, a dry bag for your phone and a light layer for the ride home.
• Pick June or September for the best balance of light, sea temperature and queue length; midday light (roughly 11:00–13:00) gives the strongest blue.

Prefer to keep it simple? Combine a morning on the Pakleni Islands with a sunset in Hvar Town using our one-day plan.

Compare Blue Cave and Pakleni tours

Frequently asked questions

How much is the Blue Cave ticket in 2026?

€24 per adult in high season (20 June to 10 September) and €18 in the shoulder season. Children aged 6–12 pay €12 or €9, and under-6s are free. It’s paid in cash on Biševo and is usually not included in the tour price.

Can you swim in the Blue Cave?

No. Swimming inside the Blue Cave is not allowed; you stay in the small transfer boat. You can usually swim at the nearby Green Cave on Ravnik and at stops on Vis and in the Pakleni Islands.

How long is a Blue Cave tour from Hvar?

Usually 8–10 hours. The crossing to Biševo takes about 90 minutes each way by speedboat, plus the cave queue, swim stops and lunch.

What happens if the Blue Cave is closed?

Operators normally offer a refund, a new date or an alternative route with more time at other stops. Policies differ, so check before you book and plan the trip early in your stay.

Is it better to go from Hvar or Split?

Hvar is closer to Biševo, so the day is shorter and there’s more time at the stops. From Split the tours are often cheaper per person but involve more time at sea.