The Island Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Rock) & Bay of Kotor Cruise

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Right after we descended from Kotor Fortress (San Giovanni Fort), we went back to our hostel to have a short break before continue without our next activity which is the Bay of Kotor cruise. We booked this  tour from our hostel and it costs €30 for 3 hours cruise. It wasn't in my plan at the first place but because my newly met acquaintance was interested to join this cruise and I have too many extra time to kill, then why not go for it right? 

#1: Bay of Kotor cruise which we booked from Pupa Hostel

There are two different tours in case you are interested to join;

1. Blue Cave Tour which takes about 3 hours - €30 (this is the one I joined). Three departures time only (9am, 12pm and 3pm)
2. Perast Tour which takes about 1.5 hours - €15. Departs every 2 hour.

At the beginning of our cruise, the weather was pretty nice and the sun was shining bright. The tour began from Port of Kotor, and the boat operator picked us up right in front of our hostel. Remember in one of my previous post, my hostel in Kotor is exactly facing the seafront of Kotor and we didn't have to walk so far away to get into the speaed boat. 

Our first pit stop is the The Island Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks). This is an artificial island which built by the seaman from both Kotor and Perast town over 500 years ago. According to a legend, the local seamen spotted an image of the Virgin Mary on the rock in the sea. Upon returning from each successful voyage, they laid a rock in the Bay. Over time, the man-made island gradually emerged from the sea and soon, they built a tiny Orthodox chapel on the site.

#2: Our first pit stop - The Island Gospa od Skrpjela (Our Lady of the Rocks)


#3: A Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rocks was built on the man-made island 

#4: We're given 20 minutes to get off from the speed boat for venturing around the island


#5: There is another island behind me, the Island Sveti Djordje (Island of The Dead Captains) but we didn't have the chance to visit the island. 

#6: A panoramic view of Perast Town 

Perast Town is an old town located few kilometres northwest of Kotor. It takes almost half an hour from Kotor via the local public bus. Actually Perast is more nearer to get to the islands, rather than from Kotor. In case you have additional day and time, you can dropby at Perast town and then, taxi boats to get to the islands. 


#7: Later on, we were brought to one of the submarine tunnel which built during the World War 2 

Right after our visit to the submarine tunnel, the boat operator did ask whether do we want to proceed or not for the next destination because the sea was getting rough and the waves were indeed huge. Being us who don't have these two words of "afraid" and "scare" in our dictionary, all of us agreed to continue with our final stop despite the rough conditions. The cruise was absolutely bumpy and there were few times where our butt skipped off from the seat, but still we insist to stay strong by holding the handrail until the end. 


#8: Blue cave - this is where we insisted to continue our trip despite the rough conditions 

The blue cave, or locally known as Blue Grotto is one of the things you must see when taking the boat trip. Though it's nearly 45 minutes boat ride, we never regret of getting here. Feeling so magical when seeing the cave was shining with neon-blue light which grow from the surface of the water. Eventually we're allowed to swim around but because of the adverse weather, we're not allowed to do so. 

#9: Mamula Fortress from far. Another man-made island built during Austrian-Hungarian period

All of us were really having a good time cruising around Bay of Kotor where we got to see, learn and experience several new things. It's pleasant and wonderful experience afterall, eventhough we encountered a non-stop bumpy ride towards the end of the trip. I would recommend you to go for this Bay of Kotor cruise if you have extra of time in Kotor.  

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