Five quiet coves we anchor in when July arrives.

In July the town beaches are full by 10:00 and the best-known coves by 11:00, while 20 minutes away much of the coast stays empty. These are five anchorages we use every week, and why.

Pakljena, Šipan

Deep water on Šipan’s south-east side, with an old monastery in the pines and often no other boats. Good in the afternoon maestral; avoid it in a southerly wind.

Donje Čelo, Koločep

The quieter of Koločep’s two villages, with a stone waterfront and a bay that gets deeper gradually, which suits less confident swimmers. Best in the morning, before the breeze picks up.

Šunj’s far corner, Lopud

Šunj is well known, but most beachgoers stay near the restaurants. Anchored off the eastern side of the bay you get the same sandy bottom with far fewer people.

The Jakljan channel

A narrow channel lined with pines between Šipan and the uninhabited island of Jakljan. The water stays flat in almost any summer wind, and no ferries pass through.

Below Cavtat’s pines

Ten minutes from our harbour, the coves south of Cavtat get the morning sun and see few tour boats.

How we choose

The skipper chooses the cove according to the wind. A northerly bura means the sheltered southern coves; the afternoon maestral means the channels. If you ask for a particular cove and the wind is wrong for it, we suggest a better alternative.

Quiet beaches and coves near Dubrovnik by boat: when to go

Finding quiet beaches and coves near Dubrovnik by boat depends as much on timing as on the place. The same cove can be empty at 9:30 and busy by 11:00, when the day-trip boats arrive from town. Two windows work best in high season: the early morning, when the first swim stop is usually yours alone, and the late afternoon, when most tour boats are heading back.

The season matters too. June and September have warm sea, long days and far fewer boats in the coves. July and August are the warmest and busiest months, and that is when the skipper’s choice of cove makes the biggest difference. In May and October the water is cooler, but most anchorages are close to empty all day.

More anchorages around the Elaphiti and Cavtat

Beyond the five above, there are smaller spots worth asking about when the wind and the crowds allow. None of them has a beach bar or sunbeds; you swim off the boat.

• Ruda, a small islet in the channel between Lopud and Šipan.
• Olipa, an uninhabited islet west of Jakljan, at the far end of the Elaphiti. It is a longer run, so it fits a full day.
• Sveti Andrija, the lighthouse islet on the open-sea side of the Elaphiti, with deep water off steep rock. Only on calm days.
• Supetar, Mrkan and Bobara, the three small islets off Cavtat, a short hop from our harbour and a good choice for a half day.
• The coves on the Koločep side near the Blue Cave, where you can combine a swim through the cave with a quieter stop afterwards.

As with the five main coves, the wind decides. An exposed islet that is perfect in a light maestral can be uncomfortable in a southerly swell, so treat this list as options, not a fixed plan.

What a quiet cove means in practice

Quiet usually means no facilities. There are no lifeguards, cafés or toilets ashore, and the shore is mostly rock or pebble. A few practical points:

• Swimming: you get in and out by the swim platform or ladder. The skipper stays on board and keeps an eye on everyone in the water.
• Nervous swimmers and children: lifejackets are on board for every guest. Tell us in advance and we choose coves that get deeper gradually.
• Sea urchins: common on rocks in shallow water. If you want to swim to the shore, bring water shoes.
• Snorkelling and SUP: masks and fins are on most boats, and a paddleboard on most tour boats. Quiet coves are where both are most enjoyable.
• Shade: there is none on a rocky shore. On the speedboats the bimini covers part of the deck; in July and August plan the midday hours for lunch ashore or a stop out of the sun.
• Food: you are welcome to bring your own snacks and fruit. For a proper lunch we stop at a restaurant ashore on one of the islands.

Keeping them quiet

These coves stay pleasant because few people use them, and we would like it to stay that way. Everything that comes aboard goes back to shore with us, and the crew picks up stray plastic when we pass it. If you can, use a reef-safe sunscreen. Sound carries far over still water, so keep the music at a level that stays on the boat.

Which tour fits a day of coves

For two or three swim stops close to Dubrovnik, a half-day private boat tour is enough. For the further coves around Šipan and Jakljan, choose the full-day Elaphiti tour, which leaves time for lunch ashore as well. If coves and swimming are the whole point, build the day in the tailor-made planner and the skipper picks the anchorages on the morning according to the wind.

Prices are on request. We quote per boat, not per person, and send an itemised quote by email or WhatsApp.