Pakleni Islands snorkeling by kayak or sailboat
Pakleni Islands snorkeling combines time in the water with a choice of how to reach the island coast from Hvar. A guided kayak outing makes paddling part of the activity, while the sailing option includes snorkeling equipment and brunch aboard. Choose guided kayaking if you want to paddle with a local guide; choose sailing if you want the boat journey and onboard meal to form part of your day.
Beach choice and activity choice are related but different decisions. Vinogradišće on Sveti Klement, Jerolim and the bays of Marinkovac are distinct places, so avoid treating every water activity as a visit to every beach. The Palmižana and beaches guide explains the geography. For a day spent at a single beach rather than on a guided activity, consider the summer taxi boats from Hvar.
Our picks: kayaking and snorkeling
Our take: The guided kayak outings start at different places in Hvar; the Bonj option includes masks. The sailing excursion includes snorkeling equipment and brunch.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sailing excursion from Hvar
- Homemade focaccia brunch
- Snorkeling equipment
- Fuel, refreshments, moorings
A private skipper accompanies this sailing excursion.
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Guided sea kayak outing
- Kayak equipment
- Snorkeling opportunity
- Dry bag
A local guide leads the sea kayak tour.
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Guided kayak outing from Bonj
- Dry bags
- Snorkeling masks
- Kayak with deluxe seats and paddles
A certified local guide accompanies the outing.
Check availability →Guided kayaking and sailing with snorkeling
Choose between a kayak outing from Šetalište put Križa, guided paddling from Bonj with masks included, and a sailing day from the Riva with snorkeling equipment and brunch.
Kayak around the Pakleni Islands with a guide from Hvar
The guided sea-kayak outing meeting at Šetalište put Križa 23 in Hvar includes a local guide, kayak equipment, a dry bag and a snorkeling opportunity. Plan your arrival around that address. Food and drinks are extra, so arrange what you need for the outing separately. If your priority is snorkeling, establish what personal equipment to bring rather than interpreting the snorkeling opportunity as an equipment list.
The other guided outing meets at Bonj beach in Hvar and includes a certified local guide, a kayak with paddles, dry bags and snorkeling masks. Life jackets and accident insurance are also included, along with storage for belongings you leave behind during the activity. These details make it useful for someone wanting paddling and masks in the same package. Bonj is its own meeting location, not another name for Šetalište put Križa 23.
Pakleni kayak routes respond to the group and weather. The local guided route can include Ždrilca and optionally continue towards Palmižana. Choose the activity for guided paddling and possible time in the water, while leaving the day's actual route to the conditions and guide. A named island destination should not become a promise of the same crossing in every booking.
Sailing with snorkeling equipment and brunch
The Pakleni sailing outing starts on Hvar's Riva and includes snorkeling equipment, homemade focaccia brunch, wine, water and seasonal fruit. A skipper, fuel, refreshments and moorings are included, and the boat has a toilet. This is the option to consider when you want time aboard a sailboat alongside swimming and snorkeling rather than reaching the islands under your own paddle power.
The sailing package is a different activity from the two kayak outings. Compare its meal and onboard facilities with the equipment and guiding that matter for paddling. For more boat formats, the tours page covers the wider selection and the separate e-foil activity with an instructor. Keep e-foil as a different water sport when deciding which part of the day you want to spend snorkeling.
Guided crossing or rental kayak?
A guided Pakleni kayak outing includes a guide, while renting a kayak means arranging your own permitted route and return with the rental service. Discuss your experience, the proposed crossing and the equipment before choosing a rental. A guide-led itinerary and a hired boat should be evaluated separately, especially when the island crossing is the reason for the trip.
For the guided outing, follow the guide's route and instructions. For a rental, get the safety briefing and establish the permitted area and return arrangements for that particular boat. Select an activity that fits the people actually travelling, and discuss any individual participation needs with the organiser rather than using a general island description to decide suitability.
Dry bags, equipment, weather and season
Both guided kayak outings include dry bags, while the Bonj outing also lists snorkeling masks explicitly. Decide what to take aboard and what to leave behind before meeting the guide. Bring personal items with the possibility of water exposure in mind, and use the briefing to learn how the supplied bag and kayak equipment should be handled.
Pakleni kayaking depends on weather and sea conditions, with operating dates separate from the decision to paddle on a particular day. One local operator lists possible closure above 15 knots or in rain; this is that operator's condition, not a universal safe wind limit. Arrange your actual date and follow the guide's decision. The season guide helps distinguish seasonal availability from daily weather.
Snorkeling and kayaking questions
Where do the kayak outings meet?
The guided sea-kayak outing meets at Šetalište put Križa 23 in Hvar, while the other guided kayak outing starts at Bonj beach. Match the meeting place to the activity you book. The sailing alternative leaves from the Riva, so use its departure instructions rather than either kayak address.
Which kayak outing includes snorkeling masks?
The guided outing from Bonj beach includes snorkeling masks, kayak and paddles, dry bags and a certified local guide. The outing from Šetalište put Križa includes kayak equipment, a dry bag and a snorkeling opportunity. If you choose that outing, establish what snorkeling equipment to bring for your own use.
Can I choose sailing instead of paddling?
Yes, the sailing outing from Hvar's Riva includes snorkeling equipment and a focaccia brunch, with wine, water and seasonal fruit. A skipper handles the boat, and there is a toilet aboard. Choose this format when a sailing day with time in the water suits you better than guided paddling.