What Pigeon's Cave Is
Pigeon's Cave — Shpella e Pëllumbave in Albanian, sometimes anglicised as Doves Cave — sits on the cliffside between Jale and Gjipe, a few minutes' run from Pirate's Cave. It's smaller than Pirate's Cave: not a cathedral arch you motor through, but a recess in the cliff face with a deep entrance and a shaded interior. Wild rock pigeons nest in the limestone hollows above the entrance, which is what gave the cave its name.
Most short Himara boat tours pair Pigeon's Cave with Pirate's Cave on the same itinerary. Allocated stop time is 20 minutes — long enough for a short swim and a few minutes drifting under the cliff overhang.
Why It Earns Its Spot on the Itinerary
Pigeon's Cave is rarely anyone's headline destination. It's a complement to Pirate's Cave: a quieter, more shaded swim stop that adds five minutes of bird-watching to the photo set.
| Aspect | Pirate's Cave | Pigeon's Cave |
|---|---|---|
| Defining feature | Cathedral arch you motor through | Recessed cliff cave with nesting pigeons |
| Boat enters? | Yes, fully | Partial / mouth only |
| Stop time | 10–15 min photo + drift | 20 min swim |
| Best for | Photography | Snorkeling, wildlife |
What You'll See
From the boat at the cave mouth:
- Wild pigeons flying in and out of the cliff above — most active in the morning
- Deep, clear water under the boat (visibility regularly 10+ metres)
- Rocky overhang shading the swim area
- Small fish populations along the cave wall (snorkel-worthy)
The shaded interior makes for cooler swimming on hot afternoons. The cave faces open water, so if a swell is running, the operator may shorten the stop or skip it.
Position on the Coast
Pigeon's Cave sits at approximately 40.148°N, 19.668°E, about 9 km north of Himara by sea, between Jale Beach and the Gjipe Canyon mouth. Standard short tours run the cliff in this order from Himara: Livadhi → Aquarium → Jale → Pigeon's Cave → Gjipe Canyon / Pirate's Cave → return.
Practical Tips
- Bring a snorkel mask — this is the quieter stop where you'll actually have time to use it
- Watch for pigeons before you swim — splashing scares them off
- Aqua shoes if you want to climb on the cliff base
- Don't expect a beach — there is no shore landing; you swim from the boat
Operators That Stop Here
Standard inclusion on short Himara tours from Himara Water Taxi, Sea Breeze, Himara Sea Escapes, Boat Trip Albania, and Himara Speedboat Trips. On longer Grama Bay tours, the cave is usually a brief drive-by photo stop rather than a dedicated 20-minute swim.
Related Reading
- Pirate's Cave — the cave you stop at right after
- All Himara boat tour options
