Biokovo

Biokovo is the largest and highest mountain in Dalmatia. It rises vertically from the Adriatic Coast to height of 1762 m.
Because of it’s geographical position, Biokovo is a mountain that has continental as well as Mediterranean climate, so various plant species of both worlds meet and live next to each other. There are lot of caves and pits around Biokovo and very often one can meet wild muflon as well as various bird species and foxes too.

The Biokovo Botanical Garden Kotisina has been established in 1984 above the village of Kotisina, a horticultural monument (16.5 hectares) aimed at nature conservation and protection of the Biokovo plant life.

The views from Biokovo are spectacular – on the clear day one can see all Dalmatian islands as well as large part of Dalmatian coast to the south, and to the north, towns of Vrgorac and Imotski and their surrounding villages. Sometimes, when it’s very clear, one can see a peak of Monte Gargano in Italy too.
The coastal town of Makarska, that lies on the very south edge of Biokovo is seen from Biokovo as a amazing bay with tiny little houses placed in the rows around it. The nature park Biokovo dominating above Makarska Riviera, is the good destination for botanists as well as walkers and cyclist.

The beauty of Biokovo has always attracted explorers and visitors and you are likely to be thrilled too. What is the best way to get to know it. There are over thirty marked trails leading up the mountain on the seaward side and eight on the landward side. On your way up, you will pass ancient villages on the foothills of the magnificent rocky mountain: Gornja Brela, Topici, Bast, Veliko Brdo, Makar, Kotisina, Gornji Tucepi, Gornja Podgora and Gornje Igrane on the seaward side, and Kozica, Rascane, Zupa, Biokovsko Selo, Rastovac, Zagvozd and Zadvarje on the other side of the mountain. A main hiking trail transverses the mountain - the Biokovo Mountain Trail with its twenty control points. However, one should not forget that Biokovo deserves full respect and therefore should be well-prepared for the ascent.

The weather conditions can change in a moment, no surface water is to be found and any deviation from the marked trail entails some risk. Hiking boots, backpack, spare clothing, raincoat, drinking water, some chocolate and a good map of the Park are the items you will surely need. Climbing the steepest ascent in Croatian mountains at dawn, you will be surprised to learn that the people of Biokovo once used the same trails to carry hay and potatoes or drive their livestock to pasture. Biokovo is the mountain that one can visit either by car or bicycle as well as on foot from various parts of Adriatic coast and Makarska Riviera.

There is public transport service going from Makarska and surrounding area to Biokovo Mountain. Access from the coast : Makarska - Makar - Vosac - Sveti Jure (5 hrs 30 min) or Makarska - Tucepi - Staza - Sveti Jure (asphalted road, 31 km).