PULA BOAT TRIPS & DOLPHIN TOURS | Emilio Excursions™

Emilio Excursions boat trip to Brijuni Islands

GRANDPA EMILIO, 1964

THE FISHING FLEET, 1964

OUR FIRST SEASON WITH GUESTS, 1997

SANDRO AT THE WHEEL, 2003

OUR BOATS "EMILIO" & "LUCIJA" TODAY

Every trip with us starts with a family story. My grandfather Emilio was a fishing boat captain and began building a boat of his own. My father Dencio and I finished it, launched it and named it “Emilio” in his honour. In 1997 we welcomed our first guests on board. Before that we were fishermen, and in winter we still are. Later came a second wooden boat, “Lucija”, named after my daughter. Come aboard and meet us!

We grew up on this coast, between fishing nets, the Pula harbour and the islands of Brijuni, where bottlenose dolphins still swim alongside the fishing boats. That is the Adriatic we want to show you: not from a guidebook, but the way we know it, with the stories our family has collected over the years.

On board you will meet Sandro and Dencio at the wheel, Chef Vedran in the kitchen and Gloria and Nia, who look after you from the moment you step on deck. And little Lucija? Still too young to work, she is the one having the most fun on board. Our guests tell us they come back for three things: the relaxed family atmosphere, the charm of a wooden boat and freshly prepared food.

Wind and sea decide some things for us, so the day’s route can change. What does not change is how we look after our guests.

Questions? We answer every day from 9 am to 9 pm on +385 951 629 222, Email or through our Booking form.

See you on board!

Captain Sandro & The Crew

Dencio

Captain

Sandro

Captain

Lucija

Chief Fun Officer

Vedran

Chef

Gloria

Hostess

Nia

Hostess

WELCOMEABOARD

Our boats “Emilio” and “Lucija” are traditional wooden boats, built for daily tours and relaxing moments at sea. Crafted by skilled masters of traditional wooden boatbuilding, they combine comfort, authenticity, and timeless maritime charm.

Designed for unforgettable journeys around the islands, they welcome couples, families, and friends to enjoy unique experiences on the Adriatic.

We hope to welcome you aboard:)

Email us +385 951 629 222

Email us +385 951 629 222

DISCOVER OURBOAT EXCURSIONS

BRIJUNI SWIM & SNORKEL+

ENJOY BRIJUNI ISLANDS

Five hours, two ways to enjoy the Brijuni National Park. First we cruise along the coastline of the islands and show you the places most visitors only read about. Then we moor at the island of Sv. Jerolim, hand you a mask and snorkel, and give you about two and a half hours to swim, snorkel and explore at your own pace.

DOLPHINS AT SUNSET+

ENJOY DOLPHINS AT SUNSET

Three hours, one unforgettable evening on the sea. First we sail out of Pula harbour towards the Brijuni islands, where our captain searches for the bottlenose dolphins that live in these waters. Then we slow down, pour you a glass of wine and watch the sun set into the sea.

PRIVATE GROUPS+

SCHOOL, YOUTH & CORPORATE EVENTS

Our wooden boats and our family crew, just for your group. You choose where to go and what to do – sightseeing along the coast, swimming at quiet beaches or dolphins at sunset – and for groups of up to 130 people we take both of our boats.

“Absolutely unforgettable experience! The sunset, dolphins and the atmosphere on board were just perfect. Our kids loved every minute of it.”

SophieM

“One of the best boat tours we’ve ever done. Friendly crew, beautiful views around Brijuni and such a relaxing vibe on the boat.”

Emily

“Fresh fish, cold drinks and a beautiful sunset on the Adriatic. Honestly, what more could you ask for? Such a lovely evening.”

Giulia&Marco

“The boat itself is beautiful and full of charm. You can really feel the authentic Adriatic atmosphere from the moment you step aboard.”

Thijs M

“We saw dolphins, enjoyed amazing food and watched the sun go down near Brijuni Islands. Truly an unforgettable evening.”

Femke

“The food on board surprised us in the best way possible. Fresh, simple and delicious, especially with that sea view at sunset.”

Isabelle

“The highlight of our trip to Istria! Everything was organized perfectly and the atmosphere on the boat was warm and friendly.”

DanielP

“Amazing captain, amazing crew and such a memorable tour. Dolphins swimming near the boat made the whole experience even more special.”

Alessia

“We loved everything about this tour, the crew, the boat, the food and especially the peaceful sunset atmosphere.”

Lars J.

“We were looking for a relaxed and authentic boat trip and this exceeded all expectations. Beautiful sea, lovely people and an amazing experience.”

Olivia

“Amazing day at sea! Great music, fun people, delicious food and an incredible sunset. We would do it again tomorrow!”

Kevin

“Our family of four had such a wonderful time. The crew was fantastic with the children and the whole trip felt safe, relaxed and fun.”

Fam Klein

Cancellation Policy

Brijuni Swim & Snorkel & Dolphins at Sunset

Up to 24 hours before departure – change the date or time of your trip as many times as you like, subject to availability, or cancel with a 100% refund.
Less than 24 hours before departure – no refund is available and the date can no longer be changed.
No-show – if you do not show up for your trip, no refund is available.

If we cancel a trip because of weather, sea conditions or safety reasons, you can choose another date or a full refund.

For private tours, the cancellation conditions are set out in the written offer. Bookings made through our partners (for example GetYourGuide or Viator) follow the cancellation terms of the partner through which the booking was made.

To change or cancel your booking, send us an email or a WhatsApp message. Full details are in our Terms & Conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.How long do the boat tours take?The Brijuni Swim & Snorkel tour takes about five hours and Dolphins at Sunset about three hours, from check-in until we are back in the harbour. Sea and weather conditions can sometimes change this a little.

2.How many people can you take on a tour?Our wooden boat "Lucija" takes up to 70 guests and "Emilio" up to 40. All tours need a minimum number of passengers to run.

3.What kind of people go out on your tours?Couples, families, groups of friends and everyone who simply loves the sea. What they have in common is a good mood, and our crew takes care of the rest!

4.Is there an age limit?There is no age limit on our excursions. Both of our boats are safe and fun for all ages.

5.Do we need a reservation?Our boat tours sell out quickly and seats are limited, so to be sure of your place we recommend booking in advance.

6.How do we book a tour?Booking is simple! Book online on our website, or send us a request using our booking form or by email and we'll get back to you within 24 hours. For last-minute bookings simply give us a call or send us a WhatsApp message at +385 951 629 222.

7.Can I pay cash or is it all by credit card?When you book online, you pay by card through our secure booking system. Cards are not accepted on the spot – on board we accept cash only.

8.Are private tours available?Yes, we often run private tours for groups who want a boat just for themselves. For larger groups, up to 130 people, we can take both of our boats. To ask about a private tour, please send us an email.

9.What type of boats do you have?Our boat "Lucija" is a traditional wooden boat, 16 meters long and 4 meters wide, completely renovated, with room for up to 70 guests. "Emilio", our first boat, named after the grandfather who started building it, takes up to 40 guests.

10.Do your boats have shade?Yes, both of our boats have a hard top that gives shade.

11.Where does the boats depart from?Both of our boats depart from the Riva, across from Tito's Park, where they are moored side by side. If you have any trouble finding us, our crew will meet you in front of the monument in Tito's Park.

12.Is there parking available?Yes, there is Parking Karolina (between the Arena and the Riva) which is open 24/7 with EV charging station. Hourly parking rate: € 4,00.

13.How early should we arrive before departure?Arriving 30 minutes early gives us plenty of time to check you in and get you on board.

14.What if we arrive late? Can you wait for us?If the other guests are already on board, we have to respect their time and cannot delay the departure by more than 5 minutes. If you're running late, please call the crew at +385 951 629 222. Depending on the circumstances, we may be able to wait for you.

15.What language do you speak on the boat?All tours can be done in English, German and Italian.

16.How fast do you go? We do all our boat tours at relaxing and slow pace.

17.Can we bring our dog(s)?Dogs, cats and other animals are allowed on our tours.

18.How should we prepare and what should we bring?We recommend comfortable clothes depending on the weather and the season — we’ll take care of the rest!

19.Can we stow anything on the boat? Yes, we provide a dry area for your personal belongings, but there is a limited amount of room, so please only bring what you need.

20.Are there food and drinks available on board?Yes! During the cruise we serve ice-cold soft drinks, water and wine, and on "Lucija" a lunch or dinner freshly prepared on board: fish, meat or a veggie meal with salad and bread. On the DRINKS-ONLY option aboard "Emilio", food is not included.

21.Can we bring our own food?You're free to bring anything you would like to eat or drink as long as the amount is small and personal.

22.Is there a toilet on board? Yes, both of our boats have clean toilet facilities on board.

23.Is smoking permitted on the boat?Yes, smoking on the boat is permitted.

24.Are life jackets provided?Life jackets are part of our safety equipment and are for emergency use only.

25.Will we get seasick?Not likely. We stay close to the coast and in the summer months the sea is usually very calm. Our boats are in motion most of the time, though, and the last thing we want is for anyone to feel sick, so if the weather is too rough we will move the trip to another day.

26.What is your season, when do you run your tours?Dolphins at Sunset runs from April and the Swim & Snorkel Brijuni Tour from the beginning of June, both until the end of September. Outside the peak months, tours depend on demand and sea conditions. During the peak (July & August) we run up to 3 tours a day.

27.Do you have a weather cancellation policy?A trip may be cancelled because of severe weather. Tours usually run in light rain and other moderate conditions. We may cancel up to an hour before departure if the weather is severe or unsafe. If we cancel, you can choose another date (subject to availability) or a full refund.

28.What is your cancellation policy?You can change the date or time of your trip as many times as you like, or cancel with a 100% refund, up to 24 hours before departure – just send us an email or a WhatsApp message. Within 24 hours of departure no refund is available and the date can no longer be changed. If you do not show up for your boat trip, no refund is available. If the minimum number of passengers (5) is not reached, the trip may be cancelled; in that case we'll contact you to choose another date or a full refund. Please check our Terms & Conditions for more details.

If you have any questions that are not answered here, please contact us.

30 YEARS OF BOAT TRIPS IN PULA

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