From Makarska: Hidden Gems of Hvar Island’s North Shore

Hvar’s north shore is made for a fast boat. In five hours, you reach quiet coves, steep sea cliffs, a historic harbor town, and an unpopulated islet that would be awkward to visit on your own. The two best parts are the small group and the variety, with no more than 10 or 12 people and four very different stops.

I especially like the chance to snorkel at Veliki Pokrivenik and Zečevo, then walk around Jelsa rather than spend the entire day bobbing offshore. The main caution is the ride itself: the speedboat can be rough between stops, and people seated in front may get soaked. Seasickness, back problems, pregnancy, limited mobility, and age over 70 are listed concerns.

Key points to know before booking

• Four distinct stops: Swim at Veliki Pokrivenik, cliff jump at Mala Stiniva, explore Jelsa, and snorkel at Zečevo islet.
• A true small-group outing: Boats carry a maximum of 10 or 12 people, depending on the vessel.
• Most of the time is on the water: The cruise from Makarska takes about 35 minutes, with another 70 minutes in Jelsa.
• Snorkeling gear is supplied: Masks and snorkels, bottled water, warm jackets, and safety equipment are included.
• The front seats get wet: Sit toward the back if you prefer shade and a drier ride.
• Weather matters: Rough conditions can lead to a rescheduled trip or a full refund.

Leaving Makarska for Hvar’s north shore

Your meeting point is the Promare Boat Charter information desk on the Makarska waterfront, about a minute from the Ferris wheel. The outing begins with a 35-minute panoramic cruise across to Hvar, giving you an early look at the Dalmatian coast from the water.

This is not a slow sightseeing boat. The speedboat is chosen to cover ground quickly, which is why you can visit several places in half a day. That also means a firmer ride. If you are sensitive to motion, take the warning about seasickness seriously. A calm day can feel easy, but wind and waves change the ride quickly.

The boats carry a maximum of 10 or 12 people, depending on the model. That is a useful limit for a speedboat, where too many bodies can make every stop feel cramped. Smaller groups also make it easier to hear the skipper and get help with the snorkeling equipment.

Skippers may include Dinko, Goran, Marco, or Marko. The strongest part of the guiding is the friendly, practical approach. Dinko has been praised for being professional and good-humored, while Marco and his wife were noted for explaining the places and answering questions. One skipper even turned the boat around after a cap blew into the water. Those small actions matter on a fast-moving outing.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a change of clothes. Bottled water, masks, snorkels, warm jackets, and safety equipment are supplied. Food is not included, and there is no restroom on board, so use facilities before departure.

Veliki Pokrivenik, cliffs, pebbles, and a cave

The first stop is Veliki Pokrivenik, a quiet bay on Hvar’s northern shore. It has impressive cliffs, a pebble beach, and a hidden cave. Since the bay is difficult to reach without a boat, this stop gives you the kind of setting the tour is designed to find.

You get about 35 minutes here for swimming and snorkeling. The water is clear, and the rocky edges give you something to look at beyond the open sea. The supplied mask and snorkel are useful for a quick look below the surface, though this is not a technical snorkeling trip with a long guided route.

You can also stay aboard or sit in the sun if you do not want to snorkel. That flexibility helps, since the group may include strong swimmers, casual swimmers, and people who simply want a quiet cove. The beach is made of pebbles rather than soft sand, so water shoes could be useful, although they are not listed among the required items.

The stop is short enough that you should move promptly once the skipper gives the signal. You are not coming here for a long beach afternoon. You are getting a concentrated taste of a secluded bay before moving on.

Mala Stiniva for swimming and cliff jumping

Mala Stiniva is the more dramatic of the two early swimming stops. Stone cliffs drop vertically into the sea, forming a narrow, photogenic bay. The water is crystal-clear, and the cliffs provide the tour’s main opportunity for cliff jumping.

Cliff jumping is optional, of course. I would first watch how other people enter the water and follow the skipper’s instructions. The tour includes safety equipment and a professional skipper, but personal comfort matters more than proving anything. If you would rather swim or snorkel, you still get the full value of this stop.

You have roughly 35 minutes here. That is enough for a few swims or jumps, but not enough for a leisurely session if everyone wants a turn. The pace works best if you treat each cove as a short outdoor activity, not a full beach visit.

The vertical rock walls also mean limited shade and little to do onshore. This is a water stop, pure and simple. Pack your sunscreen where you can reach it, and do not assume you will find refreshments here.

Jelsa gives the half-day a human scale

After the coves, the boat continues to Jelsa, an old town on Hvar’s northern coast. You get about 70 minutes of free time, the longest stop of the day. That break is important. Four hours of sun, spray, and swimming can be tiring, and Jelsa lets you slow down.

Use the time for coffee, a walk, or a quick look at the town’s historical monuments. The stop is not a full town tour, so you will need to choose what matters most. If you like to explore at a relaxed pace, 70 minutes is enough to get your bearings and enjoy the waterfront, but not enough for an extensive visit.

Jelsa also gives the tour some cultural balance. Without this stop, the outing would be almost entirely about scenery and swimming. Here, you see an established island community with buildings and monuments tied to Hvar’s past.

Keep an eye on the departure time. The boat cannot wait indefinitely for late arrivals, and the next stop is only a short cruise away. I would use the first few minutes to find a restroom and pick up any food or drink you want, since there is no restroom on board and meals are not part of the price.

Zečevo islet and its clear turquoise water

From Jelsa, you make a short cruise to Zečevo, an unpopulated islet in the Hvar archipelago. It is protected as a significant area, and its appeal is simple: untouched surroundings and clear turquoise water.

You have about 40 minutes here for swimming and snorkeling. The islet is a fine final water stop because you can cool off after walking around Jelsa, then spend the last part of the outing in a quiet setting. A beach bar is available if you want to wind down with a drink, though any purchase there is at your own cost.

The bar is also the only stop with a clear onshore refreshment option. At the earlier coves, you should expect swimming, snorkeling, and rock views rather than services. If you want a drink at Zečevo, remember that you may need to swim to shore, depending on where the boat anchors.

Zečevo is not a place for a long cultural visit or a broad range of activities. Its value is the water and the feeling of being away from a developed resort. You can snorkel, float, sit on the beach, or simply enjoy the final quiet pause before the return to Makarska.

What the five-hour schedule really feels like

The advertised duration is five hours, and the schedule is tightly arranged:

• About 35 minutes from Makarska to Hvar
• About 35 minutes at Veliki Pokrivenik
• About 35 minutes at Mala Stiniva
• About 70 minutes in Jelsa
• About 40 minutes at Zečevo
• The remaining time covers short boat rides and the return to Makarska

This is a brisk day. You see more than you would by trying to reach these places independently, but each stop has a fixed rhythm. You swim, dry off, board, ride, and repeat. That pace is the reason the tour works for people with only part of a day available.

It is less suitable if you want to spend several hours on one beach. It is also not the right choice if your ideal boat trip means a calm, shaded cruise with minimal spray. The front of the speedboat can be wet on the way between stops, especially in rougher conditions. Sitting toward the back is the practical choice if you want more shade and a drier ride.

The boat ride is part of the attraction, but it is also the physical tradeoff. You get access to places that are hard to reach by road, in exchange for wind, sun, and motion.

Is $91 good value?

At $91 per person, the price is fair if you want several Hvar highlights without arranging transport, equipment, and a private boat yourself. The cost covers the skipper, snorkeling equipment, bottled water, warm jackets, safety equipment, and insurance.

The value comes mainly from the route. You are not paying for a single bay and a short swim. You get two separate coves, Jelsa, Zečevo, and the boat transfers from Makarska. A speedboat also lets you cover the distance in a way that a slower vessel cannot.

Food, drinks, and restroom access are not included. That is not unusual for a five-hour small boat trip, but it affects your planning. Eat before you leave, carry only what you need, and use the facilities at the waterfront or in Jelsa.

The small group improves the value. A maximum of 10 or 12 people gives you more room than a large excursion boat and makes the water stops less chaotic. You should still expect a shared outing, not a private charter. The skipper needs to balance different comfort levels, swimming abilities, and preferences.

Weather, comfort, and practical limits

Weather is the one factor that can change the whole day. If conditions are unsafe, the trip may be rescheduled or you may receive a full refund. This policy is useful, but it does not make rough water comfortable, so check the forecast and avoid booking it as your only possible activity if your schedule is very tight.

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, wheelchair users, people prone to seasickness, or people over 70. Those limits reflect the boat type and the repeated transfers in and out of the water. You should also consider your own ability to climb aboard after swimming, since the outing is built around several water stops.

The warm jackets are a thoughtful inclusion for the ride back, when wet clothes and wind can make the boat feel cool. Still, bring a complete change of clothes. Sunscreen is essential, and a towel is required for comfort after each swim.

Pets are not allowed, and smoking is not permitted in the vehicle. English and Croatian are the operating languages.

Who will enjoy this Hvar boat trip most?

I would choose this tour for active couples, friends, families with confident older children, and anyone staying in Makarska who wants a quick taste of Hvar. It works especially well for people who would rather swim in a quiet bay than spend a full day in a major island town.

It is also a good fit if you like variety. The day moves from cliffs to a beach, from a historic town to an unpopulated islet. You can snorkel, swim, cliff jump, walk, have coffee, and take photos without needing several separate bookings.

Families should think about the pace and water access. The schedule is manageable, but young children need to be comfortable around open water and a moving speedboat. One family had to abandon an earlier departure because rough water frightened their youngest child, then enjoyed a later trip with older daughters. That is a useful reminder that weather and age matter more than the attractive route on paper.

You may also see dolphins, though that is a lucky extra rather than a promised part of the trip. Drone photos have sometimes been offered by the skipper, but you should not book expecting photography service. Treat any aerial pictures as a bonus.

Should you book the north shore tour?

Book it if you want a compact, active Hvar outing with clear water, dramatic coves, and enough time in Jelsa to stretch your legs. The friendly skippers, small boat, supplied snorkeling gear, and thoughtful weather policy make the arrangement easy.

Skip it if you are prone to seasickness, need a restroom close by, dislike getting wet on boat rides, or want long, unhurried time on one beach. For everyone else, $91 buys a useful mix of coast, water, town, and island scenery in a single half-day. Sit near the back, eat before departure, and bring dry clothes. Those small choices will make the trip much more comfortable.

FAQ

Where does the Hvar north shore tour start?

It starts at the Promare Boat Charter information desk on the Makarska waterfront, about a minute’s walk from the Ferris wheel.

How long does the tour last?

The activity lasts five hours. Starting times vary, so you need to check availability when booking.

Which places does the boat visit?

The route includes Veliki Pokrivenik, Mala Stiniva, Jelsa, and Zečevo islet, before returning to Makarska.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Masks and snorkels are included, along with bottled water, warm jackets, safety equipment, and insurance.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included. Zečevo has a beach bar, but purchases there cost extra.

Is there a restroom on the boat?

No. There is no restroom on board, so use facilities before departure or during the free time in Jelsa.

What happens if the weather is bad?

If weather conditions make the trip unsuitable, you will be offered either a rescheduled outing or a full refund.