Water taxi Hvar

Private transfers are priced per boat, not per person, which is the number that decides whether a water taxi is an extravagance or the cheapest way to move a group. Our speedboats carry up to 12 passengers between them, so five people and twelve people pay the same for the same crossing.

The figures below are one way, in normal sea conditions, from the Hvar town riva. The same price applies in the opposite direction. Luggage travels free, night and early morning departures are available on request, and if the weather turns we move the transfer or refund it in full.

The Pakleni islands sit fifteen minutes in front of Hvar town and have no road to them, which is exactly why the taxi boat exists. In season, shared boats leave the Hvar riva roughly every 30 minutes from 9 am to 6 pm for Palmizana, Zdrilca, Mlini and Jerolim. You pay on board and agree the return time with your skipper before you step off.

Shared boats are the cheapest way across and perfect if you are two or three people heading to a beach for the day. A private hop starts at €120 per boat and buys you the cove of your choice, your own departure time and no waiting for the boat to fill. For a group of six or more it usually costs less per head than shared tickets.

July and August afternoons are the busiest hours of the year: the last shared boats back fill up fast, so agree your return in advance and save your skipper’s number on WhatsApp. Sunset returns from Palmizana and a swim stop at the Red Rocks can be added to any private booking. More on where to actually swim: 38 beaches on Hvar.

For one or two people travelling light, the scheduled catamaran is cheaper, and there is no argument to be had about it. The catch is that it runs to a timetable, sells out in summer, and drops you at a port rather than at your door.

A private boat is priced per boat, so the arithmetic flips as the group grows. Six or more people crossing to Split, and the price per head lands close to catamaran tickets, with your own departure time, your luggage on board and no queue at either end. Twelve people and it is usually the cheaper option outright.

The other difference is what happens when a plan changes. A missed catamaran means waiting for the next one; a private transfer moves with a message. If the sea is genuinely too rough, we move the transfer earlier, later or to the next day, and if nothing works any prepayment comes back in full.

July and August afternoons are the busiest hours on the water. The last shared boats back from the beaches fill up first, so agree your return before you step off and save the skipper’s number on WhatsApp. Private boats keep running late into the night in season for dinners and parties.

Normal holiday luggage travels free, including suitcases, strollers and dive bags; tell us roughly how much you bring so we send the right boat. Children of any age are welcome and there are life jackets in kids sizes on board. Small pets can come along, just mention them when booking.

Stops can be built into any route: a swim at the Red Rocks, a photo stop at Zlatni Rat on the way to Bol, or a konoba lunch on the way home. And if the sea is too rough to run safely, we move your transfer earlier, later or to the next day, and refund in full if nothing works.

The Blue Cave is not a taxi run, though: it is eight to ten hours on open water. Our Blue Cave from Hvar guide says plainly whether it fits your week.