Central Adriatic Route – a Little Bit of Everything

As the new sailing season is just about to begin, I was asked to prepare one nice sailing trip in Central Adriatic. When proposing the route I always want to know the type of the clients, their taste, affinities, mood as well as age. So, if you would like to swim in hidden bays, enjoy the nature, taste local food, do some sightseeing, explore the nightlife and, of course, sail, then this post is for you. The route consists of a little bit of everything and could be a bit demanding because it lasts only one week. But if you keep reading, I know that you are up to the challenge.

Supposing you have chartered the yacht at SailingEurope base in Rogač, Šolta island, or elsewhere in Split region, our first destination would be at Kike’s. It’s a family-run restaurant in the pristine Jorja bay on the south coast of Šolta Island. Homemade Dalmatian specialties and local wine are guaranteed, as is a safe mooring. In case of southerlies, a visit to Kike’s should be postponed.

The next leg includes sailing towards the south slopes of Hvar and, along its coast, to the tiny and almost deserted Šćedro island. It is easier to reach the island than to pronounce its name, but it’s worth an effort. It is safe to drop the anchor in several bays and enjoy easy afternoon swimming, snorkeling or even hiking through the pine-woods. One may also find two or three family-run taverns there, while locals are extremely cheerful and interesting to talk to.

Prepare your guidebooks and learn a few lines about the medieval Mediterranean history because Korčula town will be our next stop. Korčula’s stone-made fortifications, churches, museums, tiny streets full of artisans’ workshops and inevitable terraces have a lot to tell about its rich history and about the life of Marco Polo, its most prominent citizen.

There is no time to lose so, after enjoying some time in Korčula, try to sail out as soon as possible. There is quite a lot to sail in order to reach Hvar town. Leave your yacht at ACI Marina Palmižana and get your fancy outfit ready because, apart from its historical sights and beauties, Hvar has become a center of exclusive partying during the summertime. Laganini lounge bar in Vinogradišće bay (just next door to the marina) and Hula Hula bar are there to offer you hot rhythms and cold cocktails during the daylight, while Carpe diem in the city and in Stipanska bay are there to keep you awake until the morning.

After a long night in Hvar, you deserve to chill out a bit so a smaller route is planned for this day. Sailing among Pakleni Islands and docking in Vis harbor or anchoring at Stončica bay sounds good after a party night. However, the partying scene is also pretty alive in Fort George, not far from Vis town center.

Cruising the outer coast of Vis will give you many opportunities to drop the anchor and take a break in one of the numerous virgin bays of this beautiful island. You can spend the night in Komiža port or on the buoy in front of it. This traditional fishermen’s village offers you to experience the atmosphere of the Mediterranean as it once was. Tiny little streets between stone-made houses, locals living their lives not paying attention to all the fuss tourists usually make and a special Dalmatian calmness are not possible to explain.

The last day of the trip doesn’t allow us a lot of choices – it is time to get back home so sail out and head towards the base. Make sure to come there in time, but allow yourself one last swim on the way back. Shallows in front of Maslinica (Šolta) seem quite fine for that purpose.

It is possible to do this trip in one week but I am sure that every place mentioned here is so beautiful that you might want to spend more than one night at each of them…

I wish you a calm sea, a fair wind and a strong mast!