Blue Cave Albania by speedboat from Vlorë

From there the speedboat follows the western shore south: 1 hour at Dafina Bay with Dafina Cave, then Brisan Bay, the Skafistave canyon and Inglez Bay for 20 minutes each, and 1 hour at Nezhajve. The longest stop is Grama Bay, 1.5 hours under cliffs carved with inscriptions, followed 5 minutes later by 15 minutes at Shpella Blu, the blue cave, and 30 minutes at Sant Andreas Bay.

Included are all fees and taxes, a snorkeling mask, drinks, snacks and a tour guide; food is not. The guides speak Albanian, Italian, English, Spanish and French, and a private group is available. You can reserve now, pay later and cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before.

The park describes the western coast as cut by caves and deep canyons, with high vertical cliffs and only rare pocket beaches of gravel or sand. That is exactly the coast the speedboat follows, and it explains the shape of the day: a string of short stops in narrow coves rather than one long beach.

The water is the other reason. The park counts Posidonia seagrass meadows covering 1658 ha and lists the monk seal, the common dolphin and the loggerhead turtle among its threatened species. Nothing here is guaranteed to show itself, but the sea you snorkel in is a protected one.

Guests also praise the number of places the day covers and the chance to swim and snorkel at each one. Some mention jumping off the cliffs with the crew; others simply say the views were the highlight of their trip to Albania.

One review is worth reading for a different reason. A traveler whose trip was cancelled was moved to the next day and says everything then went well. That is how a cancelled boat should be handled, and it is a good reason to keep a spare day in Vlorë.

June and September are gentler. June averages highs of 29 °C with 15 hours of daylight; September 27.1 °C with 12.5 hours, though with 4 wet days in the month. On an 8-hour day the long light of early summer is a real advantage.

October and November are quieter and less certain. October brings 6 wet days on average, November 9. If you travel at the edges of the season, check that the boats are running and keep a day free in case the sea says no.

The order of stops can also change during the day. The captain decides where it is safe to anchor and swim, and a cove that is calm in the morning may be rough by afternoon. When a stop is skipped or moved, it is for the safety of everyone on board.

Book with that in mind. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before and reserve now, pay later make it easy to hold a seat without risk. Put the boat early in your stay, so that a cancelled day can move to the next good one.

Its size depends on who you ask. The park administration gives 30 meters long, 18 meters high and 12 meters wide; one tourism agency page says about 60 meters long. Inside, the park describes a dome with fresh water flowing up from the bottom.

The name comes with a story. The park says a warrior and sailor from Ulcinj called Haxhi Ali took refuge here with his son; local tales make him a pirate of the 17th century. You will hear the skipper's version on board.

This tour's blue cave is the stop it lists as Shpella Blu, Albanian for blue cave, 5 minutes past Grama Bay. Two other listings put their Blue Cave, Albania at exactly the same point on their maps, while another pins its blue cave further north at Llovizi bay.

Earlier in the day you also see Dafina Cave, where the park describes water in shifting shades of green. Between the great cave at the tip, the green cave at Dafina and the blue one near Grama, this tour covers the whole range.

The park administration says the bay was a quarry since ancient times, and that many inscriptions honor the Dioscuri, Castor and Pollux, guardians of sailors. The cliffs rise 130 meters, and their stone was shipped away to build the ancient cities of Dyrrah and Apollonia.

Today it is a small bay with a white stone beach, protected as a natural and a cultural monument. Swim, rest in what shade you can find, and look at the inscriptions with your eyes only.

Add a few things of your own. Water shoes help on pebble beaches and rocky entries. A waterproof pouch keeps your phone safe at the cave stops. A light top keeps the wind off on the crossing, and extra water never hurts on a hot day, even with drinks included.

Pregnant women, people with mobility impairments and anyone prone to seasickness should not book this day, the operator says. If you are unsure about a fast boat on open sea, choose a shorter trip first and come back for the long coast.

The agency's walk through the center takes in the Independence Monument, Ismail Qemali Boulevard and the Lungomare promenade. The city's Old Beach and New Beach have calm, shallow water, a gentle place to swim the day before a long boat trip.

North-west of the city the Zvërnec Monastery, dedicated to Saint Mary and dating back to the 13th century, stands on a small island in the Narta Lagoon. It is a fine half day if the sea keeps the boats in port.

It suits less well anyone who prefers one long beach to many stops, travelers with small children who tire of boats, and anyone who gets seasick. For them a shorter run to Haxhi Ali Cave and a single beach, or a half day with Sazan island, may be the better choice.

Whichever you choose, read the itinerary rather than the title, check the minutes at the stops you care about, and keep a spare day. The sea off Karaburun rewards patience.