Onboard reference

You're on a MareBoats tour

A quick guide to what you are about to see. Tap any stop to open the details — history, why the water is that colour, little things you might miss.

Best read from your phone while the skipper is driving.

The stops

• Hvar Town & HarbourStarting point · 2,400+ years of history

  Hvar is one of the sunniest places in Europe — about 2,726 hours of sun a year. That is why the old locals used to offer free nights in their hotels to anyone unlucky enough to get a cloudy day in summer.

  Looking back from the water you can see the Španjola Fortress on the hill. It was built in the 16th century to protect the town from Ottoman and Venetian attacks, and the views from up there are worth the climb if you have a spare morning.

  • The big stone building on the main square is St Stephen’s Cathedral, finished in the 17th century.
  • Hvar has been continuously inhabited for more than 2,400 years — one of the oldest towns in Europe.
• Red RocksSouth coast of Hvar · cliff jumping

  These vertical cliffs are red because the limestone is full of iron oxide — basically slow-motion rust. The colour gets more intense late in the afternoon when the sun hits from the west.

  The water here is deep right up to the rock, which is what makes it perfect for cliff jumping. The classic spots are between 5 and 10 metres.

  • Always check with the skipper before jumping — depth and wind matter.
  • Best photos: lower angle from the water, looking up at the cliff.
• Dubovica BeachIconic bay · 16th-century stone house

  Dubovica is the postcard beach of Hvar — a pebble bay protected by a natural cove, with pine trees coming down to the water. The stone house at the beach dates back to the 16th century and was originally used by local farmers bringing the olive and grape harvest down to the boat.

  The water stays calm here even on windy days because of the way the bay is angled to the south.

• Borče BayQuiet cove · warm-up swim

  Borče is a smaller, quieter cove on the south coast. It is the perfect first stop if you want a warm-up swim before the busier spots.

  Crystal water, very few other boats, and a sandy patch under the water about 30 metres from the rocks.

• Green Cave (Zelena Špilja)Biševo · sunlight through the roof

  The Green Cave gets its name from how the sunlight reflects off the algae on the walls and turns the water a deep green. Unlike the Blue Cave, the light here comes from above — through a hole in the ceiling — so the effect is strongest around midday.

  You can usually swim inside. The cave is bigger than it looks from outside and echoes beautifully.

  • Entrance fee: €12 per person.
  • Best light: between 11:00 and 13:00 in summer.
• Blue Cave (Modra Špilja)Biševo · the famous one

  The Blue Cave works backwards to the Green Cave: the light comes in from under the water, through a submerged opening, and lights up the whole cavern in an impossible electric blue.

  It was discovered in the 19th century by a local painter who spotted the light from a small hole above. Today you enter in small rowing boats — we wait outside and you go in with the official staff.

  • Entrance fee: €24 per person.
  • Best colour: between 11:00 and 12:00, when the sun hits directly.
  • No swimming inside — only rowing boats are allowed.
• Stiniva BayVis · voted best beach in Europe (2016)

  Stiniva is what is left after a sea cave collapsed thousands of years ago. What you are left with is a cathedral-like beach closed off from the sea by two huge cliffs, with just a narrow opening to get in.

  In 2016 it was voted the best beach in Europe by European Best Destinations. It gets busy at midday — going early or late is worth it.

• Pakleni IslandsPalmižana · Ždrilca · Taršće

  The Pakleni Islands — 21 islands and islets just across from Hvar town. The name comes from paklina, a kind of pine tar the old fishermen used to waterproof the wooden boats. Nothing to do with "pekao" / hell, even though Croatian makes it sound that way.

  Palmižana has the best restaurants, Ždrilca is the postcard turquoise shallow bay with two or three floating bars, Taršće is wilder and emptier.

• Budikovac (Blue Lagoon)Shallow · crystal clear · snorkeling

  A small island between Vis and Hvar with a shallow lagoon about 1 to 3 metres deep. The visibility here is some of the best in the archipelago — on a calm day you can see every pebble on the bottom from the boat.

  Turtles, bream and the occasional octopus are spotted regularly.

  • Great spot for first-time snorkelers — shallow water, no strong currents.
  • The tiny restaurant on the island serves grilled fish caught the same morning.