Private tour Perast and Our Lady of the Rocks 1.5h

Start with a church on a man-made island. This private boat trip combines a scenic ride across the Bay of Kotor with Our Lady of the Rocks and the old town of Perast. I like the small-group setup, which gives your party more room to set the pace, and I like that bottled water and snorkeling masks are included. The main drawback is the tight schedule: 20 minutes on the island and 30 minutes in Perast leave little room for a slow visit.

I also like the simple price. At $150.49 for up to 10 people, the cost can be very good when shared by a family or group. You should budget extra for the church, museum, and toilet on Our Lady of the Rocks, since those charges are not covered.

Key Points Before You Book

• A private boat for up to 10 people: Your group travels alone, which is useful for families and friends who want a more relaxed outing.
• Twenty minutes at Our Lady of the Rocks: You can walk around the island for free, with separate fees for the church and museum.
• Thirty minutes in Perast: The stop gives you time to walk through the old town and see its Venetian-style buildings.
• A 20-minute ride each way: The boat trip itself is part of the appeal, offering a broad view of the bay from the water.
• Water and snorkeling masks included: Each passenger receives bottled water, and the skipper can provide masks for swimming.
• Flexible support from the skipper: Feedback highlights a captain who adapted the outing for young children and helped a late-arriving group complete the trip.

Why This Private Kotor Boat Tour Works

Kotor is best understood from the water. From the old town, the Bay of Kotor can seem enclosed and almost lake-like, with steep slopes rising around the shoreline. A boat gives you a different view of the settlements, churches, and mountain walls that frame the bay.

This tour keeps the plan focused. You leave from the Tide and Wave Boat Tours meeting point on E65 in Kotor, ride for about 20 minutes, stop at Our Lady of the Rocks, continue to Perast, and then return to Kotor. The whole experience lasts about 90 minutes.

That short length is both its strength and its limitation. You can fit it into a busy Kotor day without giving up half a day. But you will not have time for a long lunch, a careful museum visit, or an extended swim unless the skipper adjusts the timing.

Since this is a private activity, only your group takes part. That matters if you are traveling with children, older family members, or friends who prefer not to follow a fixed pace. One account describes the skipper adapting the outing for three very young children, which is a useful sign for families who need a little flexibility.

The 20-Minute Ride Across the Bay

The first part of the trip is a panoramic boat ride from Kotor. Twenty minutes passes quickly, but it gives you time to enjoy the bay before reaching the first stop.

I would treat this ride as part of the sightseeing, not just transport. The water puts distance between you and the busy streets of Kotor. You can look back toward the town, watch the shoreline change, and get a sense of how the small settlements fit around the bay.

The boat also makes the route practical. Driving between Kotor, Perast, and the island would not give you the same view, and Our Lady of the Rocks is reached by boat. You avoid arranging separate transportation for each stop.

The exact boat setup is not described in detail, so you should not expect a specific type of vessel or onboard facility beyond the items listed. The meeting point is Tide and Wave Boat Tours in Kotor, and the activity returns there at the end.

Our Lady of the Rocks: A Small Island With Extra Fees

Our Lady of the Rocks is a man-made island in the middle of the Bay of Kotor. Its size makes the stop easy to manage, but also means you should set your expectations correctly. This is a compact visit, not a long island excursion.

You receive about 20 minutes to explore. Walking onto the island is free, so you can see the setting without paying an entry charge. The church and museum require separate fees of 3 euros each, and the toilet costs 1.50 euros.

Those charges are small, but they can surprise you if you arrive without cash or do not know what is included. The information supplied for the tour clearly lists the museum fee as not included, while the church fee and toilet charge are also identified in the stop details. Bring a little extra money if you want to enter both buildings.

The short stop creates a choice. You can spend your time walking around the island and taking in the bay, or pay to enter the church and museum and accept that your visit will be quick. I would ask the skipper at the start what can realistically fit into the 20-minute window.

The island also provides the tour’s most distinctive setting. Perast is a historic town on the shore, but Our Lady of the Rocks sits directly on the water. The contrast makes the two stops work well together.

Snorkeling masks are provided for swimming during the trip. The schedule does not specify a separate swim stop or how long swimming lasts, so ask the skipper if you hope to get in the water. The masks are a useful inclusion, but swimming should not be treated as a guaranteed central part of the itinerary.

Perast and Its Seventeenth-Century Streets

After the island, the boat continues to Perast. You get 30 minutes to explore the old town, which is described as protected by UNESCO as cultural and historical heritage and preserved in the appearance of its 17th-century period.

Perast is a rewarding place to see on foot because the visit is compact. You do not need a long transfer from the boat to begin looking at the streets and buildings. The Venetian architectural character gives the town a different feel from Kotor’s larger old town.

Thirty minutes is enough for a brisk walk and photographs. It is not enough for a leisurely exploration of every corner, a long meal, and a museum visit. I would keep your plan simple: walk, look up at the old façades, enjoy the waterfront setting, and return to the boat on time.

The protected status gives the stop added importance, but do not expect a full guided historical tour from the information provided. The experience is primarily a private boat outing with free time at each stop. If you want detailed commentary about Perast’s churches, families, and buildings, ask in advance what the skipper covers.

Perast also benefits from being paired with the island. The two sites are close enough to visit in one short outing, yet they offer different experiences. One is a tiny man-made island with a church and museum. The other is a historic settlement with streets and Venetian-style architecture.

The 20-Minute Ride Back to Kotor

The return trip takes about 20 minutes. This gives you another chance to see the bay from the water, now with the route and stops fresh in your mind.

The ride back also provides a natural pause after the quick walks. If you have been keeping an eye on the clock in Perast, you can settle into the boat and enjoy the final stretch without another scheduled stop.

Because the tour ends at the original meeting point, it is easy to continue exploring Kotor afterward. The return arrangement is straightforward, though the supplied details do not promise hotel drop-off. Pickup is offered, but confirm the exact pickup plan when you book.

Price and Value for Families and Groups

The total price is $150.49 per group of up to 10 people. That price is not per passenger, so the value changes sharply with group size.

For a full group of 10, the cost works out to about $15 per person. For five people, it is about $30 each. For two people, it is about $75 each before any optional entrance fees. The tour makes the most financial sense for families or friends sharing the boat.

You are paying for privacy, a direct route, and the convenience of visiting two important bay sights in 90 minutes. You are not paying for a long guided program with extensive time at each location. If you want a quick outing between other plans, the price is easier to justify.

The included bottled water is a small but practical touch. Each passenger receives a bottle, and snorkeling equipment is available for swimming. Entrance fees are limited but worth planning for: 3 euros for the church, 3 euros for the museum, and 1.50 euros for the toilet on the island.

The tour has also been booked around delays. One account describes a late arrival that still allowed the group to complete the full outing, while another describes the company arranging a boat when it appeared that no tour was available at that hour. You should not assume every delay can be handled, but the operator appears willing to help when possible.

What the Skipper Adds

The skipper is central to this experience. There is no indication that you receive a formal, long-form guide lecture, so the quality of your outing will depend partly on the captain’s communication and flexibility.

The strongest feedback points to an adaptable skipper. A family with three very young children received a trip adjusted to suit them. Another account praises the captain’s skill, and a separate outing is described as having good music and strong views.

Those details suggest a friendly, informal boat atmosphere rather than a formal sightseeing cruise. That can be a plus if you want a personal outing. It can also be a limitation if you want detailed historical interpretation at every stop.

The booking process has also been described as easy through WhatsApp. Since the meeting point, pickup details, swimming plans, and timing matter here, direct communication can help clear up questions before you arrive.

Timing, Weather, and Comfort

The tour requires good weather. If conditions are poor, the operator offers another date or a full refund. That policy is reassuring for a boat trip, since wind and rain can change the experience quickly.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded or accepted, so watch the local cut-off time.

The schedule is compact enough for most people to manage, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation. Those details make the outing fairly accessible from Kotor, though the exact boat access and island boarding conditions are not described.

Families should consider the pace. The private format helps, and the skipper may be able to adapt, but the stops remain short. If you have a child who needs frequent breaks or a passenger who walks slowly, say so before departure.

Who Will Enjoy This 90-Minute Outing

I would recommend this trip most strongly to:

• Families who want a private boat and a short schedule
• Friends sharing the $150.49 group price
• First-time visitors who want to see two major bay sights quickly
• Couples who prefer a private outing to a larger boat group
• People who want a boat ride with the option of swimming
• Anyone with a busy day in Kotor

You may want a longer experience if your main goal is a slow visit to Perast, a detailed church and museum tour, or an extended swim. The tour gives you a taste of both locations, not hours at either one.

It is also less suitable if you want every historical detail explained by a dedicated guide. The supplied information focuses on the skipper, the boat, and free time at the stops.

Practical Tips for a Better Trip

Arrive ready for a quick pace. With only 20 minutes at the island and 30 minutes in Perast, decide before you leave whether you want to enter the church and museum or spend the time outside.

Bring extra euros for the optional charges. The island visit itself is free, but the church costs 3 euros, the museum costs 3 euros, and the toilet costs 1.50 euros.

Ask about swimming before the boat departs. Masks are provided, but the schedule does not state a fixed swim stop. If swimming matters to you, confirm how much time can be set aside without shortening either shore visit.

If you are traveling with young children, tell the operator ahead of time. The private format allows more room for adjustment, and the skipper has adapted a trip for a family with three small children.

Check the weather forecast and keep your booking deadline in mind. You can cancel without penalty until 24 hours before departure, but poor weather is handled by a new date or a full refund.

Should You Book It?

Book this private Kotor boat tour if you want a quick, flexible way to see Our Lady of the Rocks and Perast without joining a large group. It offers strong value for a group of five to 10 people, and the private setup is especially helpful for families.

Skip it if you want a slow, detailed visit or a long swim. The 90-minute schedule is efficient but tight. For the right group, the boat ride, the unusual island setting, and Perast’s old streets make this a practical and pleasant addition to a Kotor visit.

FAQ

How long is the private tour?

The tour lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Tide and Wave Boat Tours, located at CQG9+J47, E65, Kotor, Montenegro.

Where does the tour end?

The activity ends back at the original meeting point in Kotor.

How many people can join the private tour?

The price covers one private group of up to 10 people.

Is pickup offered?

Yes, pickup is offered. Confirm the exact pickup arrangement when booking.

Is entry to Our Lady of the Rocks free?

Access to the island is free. The church costs 3 euros, the museum costs 3 euros, and using the toilet costs 1.50 euros.

How much time is provided at Our Lady of the Rocks?

You receive approximately 20 minutes to explore the island.

How much time is provided in Perast?

You receive approximately 30 minutes to explore the old town.

Are drinks included?

Yes. One bottle of water is provided for each passenger.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. The skipper provides snorkeling masks for swimming. The schedule does not specify a fixed swimming stop.