About the Secret Blue Cave
The Secret Blue Cave sits inside Lloviz Bay — also known locally as Nezhaj Bay — on the wild western coastline of the Karaburun Peninsula. The bay itself is accessible only by boat and the cave entrance is tucked between limestone cliffs in a position that is not visible from a distance. From the water, there is nothing obvious to indicate there is a cave there at all — which is largely why it remained unknown for so long and still carries the name it does.
Once inside, the cave opens into a small chamber where the light is extraordinary. Sunlight enters through a narrow opening near the base of the cave and reflects off the crystal-clear water, casting the interior in an intense blue-green glow that shifts as the angle of the sun changes through the day. The effect is most vivid around midday when the light hits the entrance most directly. The surrounding rock walls, the clarity of the water and the enclosed space combine to make the interior look completely unlike anything visible from the sea outside.
How to Enter the Cave
The entrance to the Secret Blue Cave is low and narrow — too small for any boat to pass through. Visitors reach the interior from the water, crouching slightly to pass through the rock opening into the chamber inside. Once through, the space opens up enough to stand and move around comfortably.
This is worth knowing before you visit: the cave experience involves getting in the water and passing through a low rock entrance. It is not a passive boat-through visit like Haxhi Ali Cave. For most people this adds to the experience — it feels like a genuine discovery rather than a sightseeing stop.
Discovery & Name
The cave has no ancient name or historical significance — it was not a documented landmark or a named feature on any traditional chart. It was found relatively recently by divers exploring the underwater formations of the Karaburun-Sazan Marine Park, who noticed the narrow entrance and the light conditions inside. Word spread gradually among local boat operators before it began appearing as a stop on certain tours.
The name "Secret Blue Cave" is descriptive rather than official — it refers to both the unusual blue light inside and the concealed position of the entrance within the cliff face. It is sometimes also called the Hidden Blue Cave or simply the Blue Cave of Lloviz Bay. The coordinates on our map reflect the exact verified position, as several other spots along the Karaburun coast are incorrectly marked as the Blue Cave on various mapping platforms.
What Makes It Different from Haxhi Ali Cave
The Secret Blue Cave and Haxhi Ali Cave are both sea caves on the Karaburun Peninsula, but the experience at each is quite different. Haxhi Ali is large — a wide arched entrance, dramatic cliff walls, a long history and a name that most visitors to Vlore already know. The speedboat enters the cave directly and the visit takes place on board.
The Secret Blue Cave is smaller, newer to tourism, and requires active participation to enter. The light effect inside is the main draw — it is purely visual and particularly suited to photography. The two caves complement each other well, which is why our full-day Grama Bay tour includes both as separate stops on the same route.
Key Facts
Lloviz Bay (also called Nezhaj Bay), Karaburun Peninsula. Coordinates: 40.2383668°N, 19.445898°E.
Sunlight enters through a narrow underwater opening and reflects off the clear water, creating an intense blue glow inside the chamber.
Not possible. The entrance is too low and narrow. Visitors enter by crouching through the rock opening from the water.
Around midday when the sun is positioned to send light directly through the cave entrance. The blue effect is weaker in morning or late afternoon.
Falls within the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park. The surrounding water is among the clearest on the Albanian Riviera.
Only included on the full-day Grama Bay tour. No other tour from Vlore currently stops at this cave.
How to Visit
The Secret Blue Cave is only accessible by boat and is currently included on one tour — our Grama Bay, Blue Cave & Haxhi Ali Cave full-day tour. It is one of eight stops on the route, sitting between Haxhi Ali Cave and the later stops further south along Karaburun. The visit allows time to swim to the entrance, pass through into the chamber, and spend time inside before returning to the boat.
If seeing the Blue Cave is your main reason for booking, this is the tour to choose. It also includes Haxhi Ali Cave, Dafina Bay, the Canyon of Smugglers, Englishman Bay and Grama Bay — making it the most complete single-day route along the Karaburun coast from Vlore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Inside Lloviz Bay on the Karaburun Peninsula, approximately 45 minutes by speedboat from Vlore. The entrance is tucked between cliffs and not visible from a distance — the boat approaches from close range to find it.
Sunlight enters through a narrow opening at the base of the cave and reflects off the clear water surface, lighting the interior with an intense blue glow. The effect is strongest around midday when the sun is at the right angle to reach the entrance directly.
No. The entrance is too low and narrow. Visitors enter by swimming from the anchored boat and crouching through the rock opening into the chamber inside.
Only the full-day Grama Bay, Blue Cave & Haxhi Ali Cave tour. It is one of eight stops on that route. No other tour from Vlore currently includes this cave.
Between May and September. The blue light effect is most vivid around midday. The full-day tour departs at 10:30 AM and typically reaches the cave around midday, which is well-timed for the light.