Maura Retro Boat Rental in Dubrovnik: Self-Drive Pasara, Fuel and Snorkel Gear Included

Maura

Retro Boat Rental with Snorkeling Gear

★ 4.6 (20) · from $180

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Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. Booking links are affiliate links; see the note in the booking section.

The Maura retro boat rental is a bareboat hire of one old-style boat, Pasara, which you drive yourself around the Elaphiti Islands from Dubrovnik. GetYourGuide lists it from $180 per group of up to 4, with a 5 horsepower engine, a cooler, snorkelling gear and an island map.

What changes the decision is that fuel is listed as included here, while two similar Dubrovnik rentals charge €20 cash on top. The listing also says no licence or experience is needed; I show that as the operator's claim, because I could not confirm a current Croatian rule from an official source.

If you want a driver, the Dubrovnik boat tours hub has skippered options, and other cities are on the harbouradvisor.com homepage.

What is the Maura retro boat rental and what comes with Pasara?

You get a small traditional-style boat with a modest engine, a briefing, a cooler, snorkelling gear and a dry place for your bags, and you steer.

• Boat: Pasara, a retro boat with a 5 horsepower engine and a fixed canopy over the deck.
• Briefing: a safety talk on the boat, engine and sea rules before you leave.
• Cooler: a cool box with ice for drinks and food that you bring.
• Gear: life jackets, snorkelling equipment, anchor and a boarding ladder.
• Map: a printed map of the Dubrovnik islands.

The operator frames Pasara as a throwback to the wooden working boats of earlier generations, now with a motor. It rents the boat without a skipper and at your own risk.

Do you need a licence for the Maura retro boat rental?

The listing says no boating licence or experience is required, and I could not confirm a current official Croatian threshold, so this is the operator's claim and you should ask for it in writing.

Croatia's small-boat rules come from the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure; the Ministry's website publishes the current texts. The listing gives the engine power, 5 horsepower, which is the number I would ask the operator to tie to the claim.

1. Ask Maura which rule the "no licence" statement relies on.
2. Ask whether your nationality or age changes the answer.
3. Bring the passport or ID card the listing asks for.
4. Save the written reply on your phone.

Where does the Maura retro boat rental start?

You meet beside Štikovica beach, at a red desk under a white parasol with photos of the boats, the same description used by the Adriatic Boat Tours listing.

The listing's coordinates sit about 7 km in a straight line north-west of the Old Town (my calculation), so plan a taxi or the optional car pickup. The itinerary shows a 20-minute car ride at the start and another at the end when you choose pickup. Open the meeting point on Google Maps to share the pin.

The Adriatic Boat Tours rental uses the same desk description. Because the two listings name different operators, ask Maura who owns the boat you will drive.

What does it cost in total?

The boat is $180 per group with fuel included, so one boat costs about $180 for the day, which works out at $45 each for four.

The listing shows one from-price for 4 to 8 hours, so choose your length on the booking page to confirm whether a longer slot costs more.

What is the route and how long does each stop take?

The reference itinerary has four swim stops of 30 minutes each and two 20-minute car rides, all marked optional, which fits a 4-hour slot with little spare.

The stops add up to 2 hours in the listing; the other 2 to 6 hours of the booking are crossing time and extra swimming of your own. A 5 hp engine is slow, so I would not plan on reaching all four stops in a 4-hour slot.

How does the Maura retro boat rental compare with other self-drive rentals?

It is the most expensive of the three base prices, but the only one that lists fuel as included.

Once fuel is counted, Maura and Adriatic Boat Tours cost the same. The retro boat is the pick if you like the look and want no cash fuss. See all options on the Dubrovnik boat rental page, or the snorkelling tours if you want a guide in the water.

Is the Maura retro boat rental worth it versus a modern rental or a skippered trip?

At about $45 each for four, it is worth it if you want a slow, private day and are comfortable swimming; otherwise a skippered boat is easier.

• Worth it: small groups happy with a leisurely pace; a 5 hp engine suits calm coves, not distance.
• Worth it: people who value the retro boat's look and a canopy that does not fold away.
• Not worth it: anyone short of upper-body strength; one reviewer found the ladder hard to climb after swimming.
• Not worth it: travellers who want the Blue Cave guaranteed; a skipper such as the Fantasea private tour decides the swell for you.

My pick for a first self-drive day is a 6-hour slot with two swim stops and a picnic on board.

When is the best time for the Maura retro boat rental?

June to September gives sea of 23°C to 26°C and the calmest average winds; October is possible but the sun sets at 18:07, so plan to be back by about 17:00.

The listing gives no operating months. Its newest review is dated 12 August 2026, so I cannot show the boat running in autumn; ask Maura about September to November.

A 5 hp boat feels wind and chop. The 2025 archive shows an average daily maximum of 12.5 to 14.6 km/h from June to August and 20 km/h in March, with five days over 30 km/h. These are model values, so check a marine forecast the evening before.

0.2% more tourist nights were recorded in Dubrovnik in October 2025 than a year earlier, with arrivals 1.5% lower.

Nights held steady in autumn, so book the boat a few days ahead.

What do renters say about Maura?

The reviews praise the clean boat, the clear instructions and the sunshade, with one comment about the ladder; the sample is five-star.

• An August 2026 reviewer described a friendly welcome at the beach, a clean, well-kept boat and a good canopy.
• Another said the controls and routes were explained clearly.
• One full-day renter picnicked on board and swam, and found the ladder hard to use.
• With 20 reviews only, the score can move quickly.

I'd read the newest reviews on GetYourGuide for any changes to the boat or to pickup arrangements.

Who should skip the Maura retro boat rental?

Skip it if anyone in your group cannot swim, has limited mobility, is prone to seasickness or is over 80, because the listing marks those four groups as not suitable.

• Rules on board: no smoking, no glass, no making fire, no oversize luggage.
• Parties of five or more: the limit is 4.
• Anyone wanting commentary or lunch: use a shared island cruise from $17.
• Anyone unsure about licensing: choose a skippered boat on the hub.

How do you book the Maura retro boat rental?

1. Choose the date, slot length and whether you want pickup.
2. Ask Maura about the licence basis and the start time.
3. Bring ID, water, food, a towel and sunscreen.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing, Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure, Croatian Bureau of Statistics, Open-Meteo, sunrise-sunset.org, Frankfurter.