Baska Voda and Makarska Riviera

Biokovo Nature Park

The mountain Biokovo is the second-highest mountain range in Croatia. The highest peak is the Sveti Jure (Saint George) at 1762 m. It is situated on the Adriatic coast, right by the sea. Biokovo became a nature park in 1981. and it has more than 1,500 plant and animal species, some of which are endemic.

The mountain has over 400 pits and caves. Some of them are always filled with snow and ice. Some days when the weather is clear, you can even see Monte Gargano in Italy from the top of Biokovo.

The views of Biokovo are breathtaking. There are a couple of viewpoints that you have to stop at. Staza (897 m), Ravna Vlaška (1 228 m), Štrbina (1 338 m), Vošac (1 422 m) and of course Sveti Jure (1 762 m). To most of them, you can get by car, to some of them you have to hike 15-30 minutes, but it is worth it.

In the area of Nature Park Biokovo are several taverns and restaurants where you can enjoy the rich offer of local specialties. There are also several mountain houses where you can stay.

There are a lot of hiking trails on the mountain from Brela, Baška Voda, Makarska, Tučepi and Podgora. Individual and organized hiking is possible at the Park. Visitors can choose between light, medium and heavy mountain tours based on their physical abilities and according to their wishes. If you are into extreme sports, you can go rock climbing or even paragliding. Be sure to always wear appropriate clothing and shoes and have enough water.

If you want to experience the mountain, but hiking is not your forte, then the jeep excursion is for you. You can enjoy breathtaking views from the Biokovo mountain. The excursion can be in the morning or afternoon. You will be driving along the Adriatic coast to the karst mountain, to the highest point of Sveti Jure (1762m). Along the way, you will make a stop on the Ravna Vlaška (1228 m) viewpoint enjoy the view of the coast and the islands. After a short ride to the mountain house, you will continue on foot for about 30 minutes to the top of Vošac (1422 m). The tour guide provides some Dalmatian specialties like salted anchovies with homemade olive oil, bread and a glass of homemade red wine.

The Botanical Garden Kotišina is located on the coastal slopes of the mountain slope above the village Kotišina, at an altitude of 350-500 meters. It is not a classic botanical garden but is designed as a “walled part of nature”, which will retain the natural vegetation forms with its native flora. There are approximately 300 wild plant species In the botanical garden, that are typical for the Mediterranean and mountain climate. There are also some exotic, agricultural and medicinal herbs. Several hiking trails run through the garden. Educational panels are located along the trails and certain plant species are clearly marked with the name of the family and species.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to Top