Boat Rental Tivat — 2027 Guide: Perast, the Blue Cave, Mamula and Prices

Tivat lies in the central, widest part of the Bay of Kotor (Boka Kotorska), which makes it the most practical starting point for a day on the water in the bay. To the north, the Verige strait leads to Perast and Kotor; to the south, the Kumbor strait leads to Mamula, the Blue Cave and the open sea along Luštica; and right in front of the town lie the small islands of Tivat Bay. Tivat Airport is only a few kilometres from the waterfront, so many guests are on a boat on their first day. This guide explains where the boats depart from, where to sail, what it costs and when the sea in the Bay of Kotor is at its best.

Marinas in Tivat

• Porto Montenegro: a superyacht marina built on the site of a former naval arsenal, with a promenade, restaurants and a maritime museum. Most private trips depart from here, including the Bali 4.0 catamaran from our listings.
• Kalimanj Marina: the town harbour next to the centre of Tivat, with local boats and smaller vessels. It suits shorter trips and hourly departures.
• Luštica Bay: a newer marina on the Luštica peninsula, on the southern shore of Tivat Bay, across from the town.

See all boats on the Tivat location page.

Where to sail from Tivat

• Perast, Our Lady of the Rocks and St George (about 6 nautical miles, an hour by sailboat): the route goes through Verige, a strait about 340 metres wide at its narrowest point, which is also crossed by the Kamenari–Lepetane ferry. Two islets lie off Perast. Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Škrpjela) is an artificial island with a 17th-century church where boats can land; the museum ticket is paid on site. On St George (Sveti Đorđe), a natural island with an old abbey and cypresses, visits are generally not organised, so enjoy it from the water. Every 22 July the fašinada, a procession of decorated boats, takes place there.
• Kotor (about 10 nautical miles, an hour and a half by sailboat or catamaran, much less by motorboat): a walled town at the end of the bay, protected by UNESCO. When large cruise ships are in port, the town is busiest at midday, so it is better to arrive in the morning or late afternoon.
• The islands of Tivat Bay (2–4 nautical miles): the Island of Flowers (Otok cvijeća), joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus and home to the Monastery of St Michael the Archangel, and the islands of Sveti Marko and Our Lady of Mercy (Gospa od Milosti). The calm water around them is good for swimming and for a short trip of two to three hours.
• Mamula and the Blue Cave (about 12 nautical miles, through the Kumbor strait): Mamula is a round 19th-century fortress at the entrance to the bay, today restored as a hotel. The Blue Cave (Plava špilja) is on the outer coast of Luštica, and around midday the water inside glows blue. Smaller boats enter the cave, while larger ones anchor outside and you swim in; the skipper decides based on sea conditions. The beaches of Žanjic and Mirište are on the way.
• The Luštica peninsula: on the inner side, calm coves and the fishing village of Rose across from Herceg Novi; on the outer side, a steeper coast facing the open sea.

If you are more interested in the open sea, Sveti Stefan and the beaches of the Riviera, see our guide to boat rental in Budva.

Prices in our listings

All boats in Tivat on Crystalium Booker are rented with a skipper or crew, and the prices are for the whole boat:

• Barqa (7 m, up to 8 guests): €120 an hour, minimum 3 hours, with captain and fuel. A good choice for Perast or the islands off Tivat. View the listing.
• Leopard 40 catamaran (12 m, up to 12 guests): a four-hour morning trip €540, an evening trip €640, a full eight-hour day €990, with captain, fuel and a barbecue on deck. View the listing.
• Dufour 46 Grand Large sailboat (14 m, up to 12 guests): €580 for four hours or €740 for eight hours, with captain and fuel. View the listing.
• Marquis 500 motor yacht (15 m, up to 13 guests): €1,990 for a full day of eight hours or more, with a three-person crew; fuel is charged separately, roughly €300–400 a day. For a day to the Blue Cave and Kotor. View the listing.

The Tivat page also lists the Bali 4.0 catamaran, the Fairline 42 motor yacht and the Azimut 98.

Rules and tips

• Licence. A licence is required to drive a boat in Montenegro, but in our listings a skipper handles the boat, so you do not need one.
• Crowds. The Blue Cave and Perast are busiest between 11:00 and 15:00, so skippers often visit them in the morning or later in the afternoon.

Season and winds in the Bay of Kotor

• May and October: calm sea and empty coves, better for sightseeing than for long swims.
• June and September: the most pleasant months, with a warm sea and fewer crowds.
• July and August: the warmest sea and the most boats; book ahead, especially for weekends.
• Maestral: in summer it enters the bay from the open sea in the afternoon and is pleasant for sailing, while the sea is calmest in the morning.
• Jugo and bura: the jugo raises waves at the entrance to the bay, so a trip to the Blue Cave may then be swapped for a cruise towards Perast, where the sea is sheltered. The bura blows mostly outside the season and can be strong and gusty in the Bay of Kotor.

Boat rental in Tivat with Crystalium Booker

See all boats on the boats in Tivat page. Booking works like this: you send an enquiry with your date and number of guests, we check availability with the owner, you pay us the booking fee, and you pay the rest to the owner on the day of the rental. Need a route or boat suggestion? Contact us through the contact page. Do you rent out a boat in Tivat or elsewhere in the Bay of Kotor? List it with us.