What Butterfly Cove Is
Butterfly Cove is a small, cliff-enclosed inlet on the outer coast north of Himara, on the stretch that runs toward the Karaburun peninsula. It is not a village beach with sunbeds and a bar. It is a narrow gap between pale limestone walls holding a pool of deep, exceptionally clear turquoise water. There is no road down to it, so the cove is reached only from the sea.
What the Stop Is Like
Boats ease into the mouth of the inlet and hold position while passengers swim from the deck. The water is deep and calm inside the shelter of the rock, and the pale limestone below the surface throws the colour bright turquoise on a sunny day. Typical swim time is around 20–30 minutes, depending on the operator and how many stops the trip is running.
- The inlet is narrow, so only one or two boats fit comfortably at once
- The water is clear enough to see the rock and any fish below
- There is no shore to land on, you swim from the boat
- A waterproof camera or sealed phone case is worth bringing for the colour
Getting There
The cove lies on the outer coastline north of Himara. Because it is a small, unmarked inlet rather than a fixed itinerary stop, it is usually reached on a private or custom speedboat charter, or added to a longer northern-coastline trip when sea conditions allow. If Butterfly Cove is your priority. Ask the operator before booking whether they will include it.
Sea Conditions
The inlet faces the open coast, so calm water makes the difference between a comfortable swim and a skipped stop. On a settled, sunny day it is at its best; when a swell is running, operators may pass it by in favour of a more sheltered swim. Ask the skipper on the day whether the cove is on the plan.
