Mountains_Makarska_Biokovo

Hiking in Makarska was one of many highlights of our spontaneous vacation to Croatia. The good mixture of mountains, seashores and – surprisingly – poor planning.

In June 2021, my finest buddy and I had been all set to fly again to the UK to attend her trouble’s marriage ceremony within the Scottish Highlands. And then the Delta variant occurred and all flights between the UK and Germany had been cancelled and the border was successfully closed. Not superb. Fresh out of a really, very prolonged “lockdown mild” right here in Germany, we had been decided to get away and booked spontaneous flights to Split, simply hours after Dalmatia was declared a no-risk zone.

Ever since I went on a mountaineering journey to Northern Albania in 2017, mountaineering has turn out to be a staple of any journey. And so shortly after we booked our flights, we had a burning query on our minds: the place can we go mountaineering? 

Our unique goal: mountaineering within the mountains of the Biokovo National Park

Hiking in Makarska: the plan

After trying into some choices near Split (together with Marjan Park in Split, the place we did a stunning stroll later within the week), we stumbled upon the Biokovo National Park in Makarska, only a quick journey alongside the Dalmatian Riveria from Split.

Information on mountaineering routes wasn’t precisely forthcoming on-line (therefore why I’m writing about my very own expertise – you’re welcome, web) however we noticed that the town’s botanical gardens had been positioned within the park and determined to make it our goal.

Makarska_marina

View of Makarska from the Tourist Office

On arriving in Makarska, we headed to the vacationer data. We had been eager to see how we may incorporate the newly-opened Skywalk into our day journey (regardless of my crippling worry of heights, I used to be surprisingly on-board – for Instagram-related content material.) However, the girl int he vacationer data as a substitute advised us a few route as much as the height of Vošac, the native mountain, which was in her opinion extra lovely than the Skywalk. (Interestingly, we appeared to run into various locals who appeared fairly towards the venture.)

She additionally advised us about another walks to close by seashores, together with one not too long ago heralded as one of the vital lovely seashores in Europe: Nugal Beach.

Makarska_town

Makarska’s lovely cathedral

Setting off

So with a brand new route in thoughts, we set off with renewed vitality, water provides and bureks… at virtually precisely noon. (Cue ominous music.)

Unsurprisingly, it was sizzling. We had been sizzling. We had been actually dripping with sweat inside minutes. The begin of the route took us to the hamlet of Makar, excessive above the shoreline.

The route was steep. Very steep.

We struggled. We actually struggled.

Makarska_hiking

View of Makarska from above

We understood why the girl within the vacationer data had referred to as this half the worst part and had advised we drive up (we didn’t have a automobile and had been barely naive…).

On reaching Makar (with damaged spirits), we had been going through one other vertical ascent into the mountains. We relented. We as a substitute took the path to our proper, staying past the mountain high and heading for the botanical gardens as a substitute. It was the correct determination.

Makarska_hiking_church

Hiking path to the Botanical Gardens

Recalculating the route

The path to the gardens was shaded and had lovely views of Makarska beneath and out to the islands within the Adriatic. We skirted previous a cute mountain church, in addition to a number of deserted homes. The botanical gardens themselves had been completely disappointing however getting there was satisfying!

And it was on the gardens that we realised we may head again right down to the shore extra straight and head to Nugal seashore in spite of everything, earlier than strolling again to the city. It was one other good determination.

Hiking to Nugal Beach

Admittedly, the route down was principally alongside a paved street which – except for the good views of the mountains behind us – was actually nothing to jot down dwelling about.

But after skirting behind a Kaufland grocery store, we discovered ourselves in a wooded, rocky space on the shore, the place we discovered an exquisite seafront route right down to the seashore.

Gettingto_NugalBeach

The seafront path to Nugal Beach

Nugal seashore

And what a seashore it’s. It’s very simple to see why this was voted one in every of Europe’s most lovely.

The small, rocky seashore is located in a small, sheltered nook between two clifftops, looking onto the clear, blue sea.

Picture-perfect describes it nicely. The rocky slope right down to the seashore can be good for getting some images of the seashore. The seashore itself is FKK-friendly too (so finest to take your snaps earlier than descending the hill…!) which was completely good for getting out of our sweaty mountaineering gear.

After about 90 minutes on the seashore and a dip within the sea to chill off, we took up the seafront path by means of the woods once more again to the marina of Makarska. The route is actually clear and accessible and makes a stunning stroll again into city.

Back within the city, we dropped into Hops! Brewery for a cool glass of Biokovsko, a locally-brewed beer (and one other advice from the girl within the vacationer workplace), earlier than heading again to the bus station to go dwelling. The good option to end a day of mountaineering in Makarska.

It was a very, actually nice day. Oh – and we by no means made it to the Skywalk.

LocalBeer_HopsBrewery_Makarska

A well-earned beer

Mountain and seashore hike in Makarska: the necessities

  • Hiking route: 11.5km in complete, with a really steep incline to begin with.
  • Getting there from Split: 09:15 bus from Split, 18:00 bus from Makarska. Travel time roughly 90 minutes.
  • Cost: 54 Kuna (round €7.20) per individual every method.
  • The path is well-marked. Difficulty: medium/arduous.


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