Makarska, Croatia

Makarska, Croatia, located on a bay between the Adriatic sea and Biokovo mountains, was the beach destination that we all looked forward to for the first half of the trip. We rented a four bedroom apartment owned by a Croat couple who lived a few blocks away who eagerly greeted us upon arrival. They helped us with our bags, proudly showed us their modern/eclectic pad, left the fridge stocked with some Croatian beer and homemade fruit salad (delicious combination of cherries, peaches, and plums), and told us that we were their first official guests. Not really what parents of two toddlers wants to hear about a place that is not child proofed in the slightest (e.g. white leather coach = coloring not allowed in the house), but we quickly made some modifications and no damage was done. We had air conditioning and two balconies, one of which with seaside views. There was a nearby park for the kids to play at in the evenings, with clear views of the mountain range, and multiple bakeries and markets a short distance away. In short, it was a really nice home away from home for five nights.

Day 1: We arrived in Makarska later than planned and very tired/dehydrated from our hike in Plitvice that morning. Macaroni and cheese was for dinner followed by a quick tour of the city with one of our hosts, including a stop at Cubano beach at the request of the kiddos.

Day 2: Our first full day in town we had a surprise reunion with friends who happened to be in the same area at the same time. They suggested we meet at Brela Beach and we're so glad that they did. The water was clear blue, there was a rock for jumping, and the weather was perfect. The kids were both asleep in the car by the time we got home. 

Day 3: We grabbed some different filled pastries from a bakery down the street for the road and spent the day in Mostar.  

Day 4: Drove to Split for the morning and spent the afternoon at Brela beach. The waves were super strong, so the kids played in a natural kiddie pool formed by boulders. 

Day 5: When it looked like rain was imminent, we took the morning to explore Makarska's port and Donja Luka beach playground area, as well as have a nice seafood lunch at a local restaurant. We made one last trip to Cubano beach in the evening and packed up for our morning departure to Austria. 

Cubano Beach in Makarska

Rain in the distance.

Final Impressions: Makarska was a great home base for all that we wanted to see and do in this area of Croatia. It was clean, felt safe, and we would definitely recommend the area (and our apartment for that matter) to anyone wanting to follow a similar itinerary of day trips and beach time. We could have used one additional dedicated beach day for the kids, but we thoroughly enjoyed the time we had there. Croatia, you and your people exceeded every expectation we had of you. It would be wonderful to return some day.