Sailing Through Croatia

Island hopping on a sailboat has been on my bucket list for a while now. I used to think it was an activity reserved for the rich, it actually can be done for less than you'd think. After quite a bit of research I found a company that will take you on overnight trips, hopping from island to island in Croatia for a reasonable amount.

Besides not costing a fortune, we did NOT want to be on a boat with a ton of other people. I actually like cruises, but that was not the kind of trip I wanted to take. It needed to also be kid friendly, as we were taking our 8 year old. I found the company, Responsible Travel (responsibletravel.com )and my first reaction was "ooooh." They are a travel organizer with emphasis on "reducing tourism's harmful impacts and maximizing the good." I dug around their website and chose a four day Dubrovnik to Hvar, Croatia trip. Booking was really easy and communication was good. The tour included one triple room on a catamaran for four nights, all breakfasts, a skipper, and guide/crew member, boat toys such as paddle boards. The catamaran allowed a max of 10 guests, meaning there could be up to 7 other people with us. We were totally fine with that especially considering the amount of money we were saving versus booking a totally private charter.

Day 1: Sipan/Koločep. We set sail in July. The weather was gorgeous but soooo hot. Like EVERY body part is sweating kind of heat and "I'm going to pass out if I don't get water right now". Supposedly it was abnormally hot that month and if I were to do it again (yes I would), I would probably go in ANY other month. The sailing company was Huck Finn Adventures. We started in Dubrovnik and met at their office. We met our skipper, Daniel, our guide, Tajana, and one family of five from Ireland (a mom, dad, 3 older daughters) and boarded a nice catamaran. We settled into our rooms, then set sail for our first stop, Koločep. The breeze outside felt fantastic especially after walking in the heat of Dubrovnik. I think it took just a couple hours and we docked in front of a small family owned restaurant. I loved that the entire island wasn't crowded at all. You could smell the food on the grill and we were ready for lunch. We ordered our meals and enjoyed them on their covered patio with a view of the sea. After lunch we took a hike up and over the island where the boat was meeting us on the other side. It was so quiet and peaceful, I don't recall seeing any other people along the way. Our guide, Tajana, told us about sites along the way, like the cute little buildings. By the time we got to the other side, we were so ready for a swim. It felt amazing after the hike. We sailed some more and stopped at our spot for the evening. The old little bar we had a drink at was so cute. The restaurant was waterfront and the food and service were great. Although the weather was sunny and hot all day, a storm had rolled in and the rain got us good. Luckily we were under cover.

woman in blue dress in croatia

Day 2: Mljet Island. We woke up and Tajana, made us breakfast. Eggs, cereal, fruit, and a lovely charcuterie board. We stopped at the little grocery store to pick up lunch then Daniel and Tajana got the catamaran going and we headed towards even bluer water. This was my favorite day and island. We e-biked, hiked, and swam in Mljet National Park (a must-do/see). There were a lot more people visiting this island, but still, not crowded. After the swim in the salt lakes, we bike back to the boat and sail to a swimming spot. We had a blast jumping off the catamaran with the other family. Zuljana Bay for dinner and our overnight stay. We dined at a local's home where they made us an amazing traditional Croatian meal.

Day 3: Korčula Island. Breakfast then off to explore Korčula. Churches, restaurants, shops and GELATO. We had the day to explore the island on our own. Then more snokeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding and even stopped at an inflatable course on the water. This night we started at a quaint wine bar run by the owner. He was so sweet and accomodating, we ended up staying there the whole evening chatting and eating and drinking. Daniel and Tajana hung out with us too and the Irish dad played us some music on the guitar. He was great! They were all so fun.

Day 4: Hvar. We went to a couple spots around Hvar. This day was mostly spent on the boat and in the water. Daniel even let my son take the wheel and taught the guys some sailing basics. It was a really cloudy day but the water wasn't bad, temp-wise. Dinner was in a VERY secluded cove. This area looked like it had a dozen residents.

Day 5: Hvar. The last day. After breakfast we went to our last spot. The waves were rolling hard this day. Unfortunately it was too choppy for a swim. We arrived in Hvar town and said our goodbyes to the other family, Daniel, Tajana. I kind of wish we had one more day but maybe next time! I also wish we had stayed in Hvar at least 1-2 nights. It was crowded but looked really fun. We stayed only a couple hours waiting for our ferry to Split, Croatia.

We only had one night in Dubrovnik, but did three in Split. Glad we did it that way and here's what we did and where we stayed:

Dubrovnik (before sailing):

• Hotel- Grand Hotel Park. Nice room with a huge pool. Walking distance to Sunset Beach.

• Walked around Old Town and found some Game of Thrones filming locations.

• Went to beach by our hotel. Beach was rocky and tiny but water was the perfect temperature.

Split (after sailing):

• Hotel- Beach Hotel Arc. Loved the view and the large room. Owner was welcoming and friendly. Location was quiet and beach was down the hill but a little far from main city.

• Walked around Old Town including visiting the famous bar in the city walls. Worth the hike. The bar is kind of hidden and built along the cliff side/city walls. Probably not for someone terrified of heights though.

• Krka Waterfalls, Food & Wine Tasting Tour. Booked on Tripadvisor. Highly recommend.

• ATV tour with Split Outdoor Adventure. This was my next favorite thing we did besides the sailing trip. I've been on several ATV tours in different countries and this one was epic.