If you have your own boat, you may be wondering if you can simply enter independently. Its a quiet haven with a pine tree forest interior and just a few small fishing boats off its rocky shores. Required fields are marked *. On the island are a small cafe and restaurant, but its best to prepare your own snacks. How to Get to Blue Cave? The shade of blue changes from a brilliant pale to a deep glow depending on the time of day. 175 reviews #92 of 293 Boat Tours & Water Sports in Split Speed Boats Tours Open now 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Write a review See all photos About The Blue Cave of Bisevo is a beautiful excursion to visit while you enjoy Croatia. Explore five islands near the Croatian coast during this full-day speedboat sightseeing excursion from Split or Trogir. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. Housed in a 19th-century Austrian fortress, this small museum has the largest collection of Hellenistic artefacts in Croatia, including ancient Greek. The sunlight reflects the color of the water coming from the white floor of the cave to bathe the grotto in that stunning blue hue, while the objects in the water appear to be silver, creating a jaw-dropping fantasy-like scene that you might find hard to believe is real. Before we look at how to get to the Bisevo Blue Cave in detail, there are a few things you should know before you set off. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Zadar to Blue Cave via Ilovik and Martinica in around 4h 42m. Boka Bay Day Cruise 3. Bisevo Island is about 33 miles (70 km) southwest of Split and just a few miles west of Vis Island, the closest inhabited Croatian island. Blue Lagoon Croatia How to visit it in 2023? Just dont be shocked if it seems like a lot of traveling for a really short visit. This blue cavern is a phenomenal sight for nature lovers and photographers, but do bear in mind that its incredibly popular and can get very busy during peak season. If you want a taste of the history, culture, and nature of Croatia all in one go, a tour is the best option. Ill recommend some of the best ones below to get you started, but keep the below factors in mind when booking. With a stop to the Blue Lagoon, youll have access to a small restaurant, run by the only person who lives here on Budikovac Island, featuring dishes made with organic ingredients. Travel Tip: Due to the extremely narrow entrance, it is impossible to visit the Blue Cave during bad weather or on high seas. The Blue Cave is located in a small inlet called Bisun Bay on the tiny island of Bisevo in the Adriatic Sea. Get in touch with your local travel specialist for more information on transfer services. Once you have your ticket, you can wait for your number to be called in the shade with a cool drink. During the busy summer season, there can be a wait of at least an hour to get inside the cave. Its also critical to be aware of false promises while most companies are highly professional, there are a handful that might tell you that youll be able to enjoy swimming or diving in the cave, which, as we mentioned before, is not possible as its dangerous and forbidden by law. Most visitors make the trip via one of the many organized day tours departing from Split, Vis or Hvar, which often include other stops at tourist attractions on the way. There are few places to stand in the shade. Obviously, you dont have to go straight to Komiza if you would rather spend time exploring the island of Vis first. While you may have seen photos of people swimming in the Blue Cave, its no longer possible, having been banned by law in 2014. These will always be cherished memories. Can it be real? The cave is completely water-logged, and only accessible via a small boat through a very narrow entrance. They are very small and low and youll be accompanied by a skipper as well as 10 to 12 other visitors. Privacy Policy New Zealand And, if strong winds have been coming from the south for several days, even though the sun is out now, the Blue Cave may not be open due to long waves that are barely visible, also heading in from the south. The only light that is let into the cave is from the sun bouncing off the sand beneath the water, which is the entire reason behind the blue caves effect. Absolutely top-notch customer service, great communication, beautiful hotels, and excellent restaur", "We had a fantastic 9 day trip to Croatia. There's a small board at the waiting area which places the ticket numbers on a slider. This takes 15 minutes and gives you a chance to check out some of the island. Croatia's geomorphological monument known as the Blue Cave formed due to sea water eroding the limestone rock over thousands of years. The Blue Cave is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Croatia's Dalmatian islands. Thatll largely depend on your ability to tolerate crowds (an ability that I lack). This happens when the sun is uniquely positioned to bounce rays off the white floor of the sea and up into the cave. Manage Settings I have been fortunate enough to visit the Blue Cave before its fame or crowds and I can not begin to explain how incredible it was! Learn more about Sofie and Wonderful Wanderings. Its important to keep an eye on the number thats displayed, because if you miss it, youll have to repeat the entire process. As the cave is small and many boats go in and out, it would be too dangerous anyway. Youll have to have to turn your flash off to capture those postcard-perfect pictures. The best way to make the trip is by private boat transfer since you can set your own schedule. When purchasing your ticket to experience the magic of the cave, youll receive a number that shows your place in line. This runs once a day and twice on Fridays from June to September, and four times a week during the offseason. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The downside to traveling with a tour group is that you do not get to set your own pace. The easier and more viable option (since Im guessing not everyone reading this is a boat captain) is to visit the Blue Cave as a part of a tour. You cannot enter the Blue Cave with a private boat but you can switch over to one of the cave boats once you arrive. The cave was not even known to more than a few fishermen until the late 1800s. This then reflects around the cave causing it to glow blue. If you want to keep this memorable experience as a surprise, I suggest skipping this section and booking a day trip now! To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. IBAN: HR1124070001100551961 It's located on the eastern side of the tiny island of Bievo which is about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Komia, a town on the neighboring island of Vis. Private boat transfers are available from Split to Bievo. In all honesty, I was shocked at how affordable it was to visit the Croatian Blue Cave. There are also several companies offering day tours to the Blue Cave as well as destinations on other islands on the way. We monitor the weather conditions 24/7, however, Mother Nature can be unpredictable at times, occasionally causing unexpected situations that may result in cancellations within 24 hours of the start of the tour. However, it doesn't make much sense to go all the way out here just to see the Blue Cave. If you choose to do the long trip from Dubrovnik to the Blue Cave why not make a day out of it and visit the stunning Elaphiti Islands as well? There is a faster speedboat that will get you there, but it is expensive. As a result, the only light inside the cave comes from the blue reflection on the sandy white bottom, which illuminates the entire cave. There are a few facilities at the port where passengers wait their turn to board, including toilets, a cafe, and a snack bar. The itinerary includes five amazing islands and youll get the opportunity to see the Blue Cave. 2. She planned everythingfrom drivers to schedules. Even if you do your own research, I think youll find that Providenca Charter is the top choice! The", "Nikola was attentive to our traveling needs, when our flight was delayed he worked with the providers to ensure that we were able to reschedule arrival times", "Sarah was really wonderful in her choices of both our activities and hotels. Up to 12 other people fit in this tiny boat, so its also important to be courteous of other peoples space. Includes information on how to get here, what to expect, and some great photos of this magnificent blue light cavern! Travel time: 1hour30min 2h by speedboat one way. Scenic Boat Trip With Church, Blue Cave and Beach Stop The Blue Cave of Bisevo is a beautiful excursion to visit while you enjoy Croatia. If you're claustrophobic, I recommend closing your eyes for this moment! I'm Michela, a travel photographer living in northern Italy with a passion for empowering wanderlusting women like you to travel fearlessly and start living their travel dream. Going on an organized Blue Cave excursion from Split is the most popular way to visit the Blue Cave. 13 euros really isn't much money considering how popular this attraction is!. If you bring a camera that can be set to various modes, youll want to increase the ISO so that it doesnt produce much grain, but will still allow you to snap lots of pictures without the need for a tripod. You will wait quite a long time to visit the Blue Cave, so come prepared with a little something to do or snacks. There are dozens of companies running 5 island day tours from Split. You can combat this by asking around in Split for places to visit before you set off. She did not miss a beat before and during our amazing vacation. Her writing and social media content reaches over 140,000 people every month. Depending on the month youll be visiting, and the weather, temperatures can get a bit chilly, especially during the early morning hours when the tour begins, and in the late afternoon/evening when making the return. Along the way, you'll also pass Sunj Beach on the island Lopud, as well as a swim stop on the beautiful Kolocep Island. There are only 12 inhabitants on this tiny island, and nearly all work in tourism related to the Blue Cave and other natural attractions on their little slice of paradise. From the moment we arrived, Sarah had everything organized and en", "Sarah was BEYOND amazing. Certain tour companies can be pretty shady and just want to milk tourists dry (some dont even offer water on board) and youll definitely want to avoid these. But its actually a very fun journey being on the speedboat and venturing out into such an isolated area of sea. Snacks. Visiting the Blue Cave on a tour The first is to join on to a tour and the second is to do it yourself. The only available entrance was underneath the rock wall, so it was accessible only to divers. Bali / Indo Don't miss y guide to the best things to do in Split, Croatia! Croatia is bountiful with naturally beautiful places to visit. First, you go to the Blue Cave and they make the best of the waiting time by bringing you around Bievo Island to Monk Seal Cave and small beach inlets. The Budget Savvy Travelers contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Associates Affiliate Program. 5 Island Trip from Split - the highest-ranked day tour from Split and includes The island of Hvar, Stiniva Beach, Bievo (Blue Cave Tour), Budikovac Island (Blue Lagoon), Green Cave, and more. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. For more information on boat transfers from here to Bievo, refer to the section above. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "abb6f3101117e3eb40a0899d64948748" );document.getElementById("ha8c16589c").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. There are daily foot passenger ferries from Komiza on Vis to Bisevo during peak season and three or four sailings per week the rest of the year. Situated on Bisevo island, this magical grotto glows with the most brilliant hue of blue thanks to the sunlight bouncing off its white limestone floor. September is the best month to visit Croatia since the weather is pleasant, the sea is warm and it is not as busy as during the summer holidays. The speedboat rides can be a lot of fun though, so if you prefer a more high-octane way of reaching the Croatia caves, this is the option for you. Bus operators. Here are some excellent tours from Split to the Bisevo Blue Cave including options that take in some of the other islands like Hvar, a luxury tour if you dont fancy slumming it, and this fantastic Blue Cave tour with a grilled lunch (and ice cream!). Split is one of the most popular coastal cities in Croatia and an ideal place to base yourself if you want to visit the Blue Cave on a day trip. If you have any sort of back problems or tend to get seasick youll definitely want to opt for a larger vessel! During our tour, the Pakeleni Islands were a planned pit stop for lunch and swimming. The Blue Cave, also known as the Blue Grotto, is one of the most renowned natural attractions in Croatia and a sight to behold. You're in luck because there are two main options from this island, including a popular speedboat tour to the cave, Vis, and the Pakleni Islands, or a caving day tour visiting the Blue Cave and the Green Cave. Interested in taking some great vacation photos inside the Blue Cave? The best time to visit Croatias Blue Cave is on a sunny day as the cave only glows when the sun shines through the crack. So, Im going to be honest and give you the latter! Independent Option: Hire Your Own Boat What to Expect at the Croatia Blue Lagoon Arriving at Krknjasi Bay Snorkeling and Swimming at the Lagoon and Beaches This means you can see rocks sitting at the bottom, around 10-12 meters deep! Im curious, for those bringing their own boats to the island, is there a way to purchase advanced tickets or do we purchase them when we arrive to the island? Some of my favorite travel memories include fighting Muay Thai in Thailand, bike-packing in New Zealand and trekking in the Himalayas. It gets its name from the beautiful blue glow of the water, which reflects inside the cave walls, creating a spectacular scene. Its widely considered to be one of the best caves in the entire Adriatic, yet its only been fairly recently that its become such a renowned tourist attraction, alluring both Croatians and visitors from across the globe alike. Jump into the enticing Blue Lagoon with its brilliant turquoise waters and then enjoy relaxing at the beach bar with a cold drink in hand, surrounded by the magnificent Mediterranean scenery, and then explore the Paklinski Islands, with their hidden beaches and deserted lagoons. Put your camera in Aperture priority mode, if possible, and select the lowest aperture your lens will allow. It led many to find out for themselves all that it has to offer, although most have yet to experience this magical natural wonder. Let me try to convince you with this quick summary of my trip! Youre on vacation! Luckily, we didn't have to wait very long for our small boat transfer to the cave but a number of boats arrived shortly after us. The only way to reach this secluded island is by boat. The island draws visitors from all corners of the globe, including plenty of celebrities, home to everything from lively bars and outstanding eateries to impressive medieval landmarks like Europes oldest public theatre, which dates all the way back to 1612. Upon arrival at the island, our local guide ran over to the ticket desk and purchased our tickets. Obviously, during peak season the wait is going to be longer. This island is 5 miles from Komiza and about 111 miles from Split. Want more itinerary ideas? During the busy summer season, the total time spent inside the cave is five minutes. Of course, first youll probably want to know more about what the Blue Cave Croatia is, assuming you dont know already. The blue glow in the cave is due to the sun's rays reflecting off the white sand at the bottom of the cave. We particularly enjoyed Hotel ", "Both a fascinating and exciting journey through four Balkan nations, Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina , Croatia and Montenegro. Another option is to take the car ferry from Split to the island of Vis (2.5 hours) and travel from there to Komia (15 minutes). Use DiscoverCars to compare rates across dealers in Split, Zagreb, Dubrovnik, or Zadar for the best deal. The busier it gets, the shorter the time youll have inside, so do bear that in mind when booking a tour. Here are some ways to get to the Blue Cave from Dubrovnik: 1. Once you arrive in Vis port, you need to hop onto a bus, which will take you to the other side of the island to the port of Komiza. During one long productive day, we visited five of the best destinations that Croatia has to offer. I went on my Blue Cave excursion with Providenca Charter. Although the Blue Cave has become a bit of a tourist trap, its mesmerizing blue beauty remains unparalleled and if you do it wisely, the Blue Cave will be an experience you wont soon forget! It was a super easy and user-friendly platform and way of commu", Traveled to Croatia as a family in June, 2023, "We had a fantastic time filled with extremely positive experiences. Between 11am and 1pm on a sunny calm day, the strongest rays of the sun passing through an underwater opening illuminate the cave with a luminous blue light while objects beneath the surface shimmer in silver and pink. Here are my main tips for photographing the Blue Cave and overcoming those challenges: I could give you a list of random Blue Cave tours or I can just tell you about the one I actually went on that was absolutely amazing. The trip takes less than five minutes and soon we were faced with the tiny hole in the cliff! Acceptable use Policy Grab a tangible map of Croatia (which you can get for free at any tourist info office or most hotel/hostel/private accommodation receptions), or whip out the map on your trusty smartphone and take a good look at Croatia's coast - there are over a thousand islands, and you get to explore one of them.