Walking the Makarska Riviera QQQ

Biokovo Botanical Garden

Level of difficulty: Moderate

Distance: Approximately 5 miles (about 3 hours).

Ascent: 1,000 feet.

Behind Makarska lies an area of olive groves, orchards and old stone villages set on the steep slopes leading up to the grey ridge of the Biokovo mountain range. Stretching for 35 miles along the coast, much of the Biokovo range has a wealth of plant and animal life. The nature park was formed to protect the unusual combination of pine forests, scrubland and arid, desert-like areas.

Several walking and cycling trails pass through this protected area. Your walk today starts from Gornje (Upper) Tucepi, and continues to the Biokovo Botanical Garden, where you'll have time to explore. The botannic garden was established in 1984, and aims to conserve and research the mountain plant species. Return to the hotel along a well-marked path, via the village of Kotisina.

Bast to Makarska

Level of difficulty: Moderate

Distance: Approximately 7.5 miles (about 5-6 hours).

Ascent: 1,600 feet.

Descent: 2,624 feet.

Take a short coach transfer from the hotel to the village of Bast. From here, you'll walk to Mileta’s pine tree via the small village of Zlib, and proceed towards the Vepric Shrine. This shrine, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is set into the side of a hill where the landscape, with its forest and stream, resembles that of Lourdes in France. Founded in 1908, and comprising a chapel, altar, confessionals, stations of the cross and paths for processions, this otherwise peaceful site fills with pilgrims on the feast days of 11 February, 25 March, 15 August and 7-8 September. Afterwards you'll return to the hotel.

Imotski Lakes

Level of difficulty: Moderate

Distance: Approximately 5 miles (about 4-5 hours).

Ascent: 650 feet.

Descent: 650 feet.

Starting in the Lokvicici area, today's walk winds through the Imotski Valley, and passes three lakes as you head towards Prolosac.

From here, you'll continue towards Imotski, where a 10th-century fortress offers magnificent views over the town and the Blue Lake. One of the most beautiful karst lakes in Croatia, Blue Lake – named for the colour of its water – sits within porous limestone cliffs which allow the water level to change constantly. In the rainy season it can be 90 metres deep. In the summer it often dries up, and local people have been known to play football on the dry bed. Back in 1914 it reached a depth of 450 feet and actually overflowed!

Your walk also takes in the nearby Red Lake, reputed to be the deepest lake in Europe at 925 feet. This lake is not named for the colour of the water but for the rocks that surround it...

Both lakes are thought to be connected by underground channels to the Adriatic Sea.

Coastal Villages

Level of difficulty: Easy

Distance: Approximately 8 miles (about 3-4 hours)

This introductory, half-day coastal walk will take you on a stroll through the picturesque villages of the area, including Brela and Baska.

Along the way you'll see beautiful white pebble beaches bordered by lush pine forests, all beneath the pink-hued Biokovo Mountain. The mountain is the highest in Dalmatia and the second highest in Croatia, reaching 1,762 metres at its highest point.

This walk offers lovely views of the coast and islands and, depending on the time of year, wild flowers in bloom.

Wings of a Seagull

Level of difficulty: Easy

Distance: Approximately 10 miles (about 5-6 hours).

Descent: 850 feet.

From the village of Simici follow the path to Gornja (Upper) Podgora, located at the foot of the Biokovo Mountain. In 1962 a massive earthquake devastated this village, leaving behind the ruins of churches and a large keep. Following the earthquake, almost the entire population of Gornja Podgora moved to the coast, creating the port and resort of Podgora as it is today.

Overlooking the port you will see a monument known as the ‘Wings of a Seagull’ built in remembrance of the partisan navy who formed here during World War II.

From Podgora your walk leads you to the seaside resort of Tucepi, four kilometres south-east of Makarska, via the beautiul Osejava peninsula nature park before returning to your hotel.