Still undisturbed by mass tourism, Dugi otok (which means Long Island in English) is definitely one of Croatia’s best-kept secrets. With 45 km in length (27.65 miles), it’s more than four times shorter than its American equivalent. Despite the name, it’s not even the longest in the Croatian Adriatic. However, it’s long enough to hide several fabulous places with preserved nature. Here are five must visit places while on the island.
Telašćica
Telašćica is a nature park defined by its magnificent cliffs. It’s an absolute must visit. The walking trails will lead you to amazing viewpoints, and afterwards you can take a dip in a salt lake called Mir (Peace). According to the name, it’s really more peaceful than the sea. It’s also warmer, and the colour is greener. In the morning and late afternoon, you can have the nature park all by yourself, as the most of tourists just make day trips there, starting to arrive at around 11 am.
Sakarun Beach
Sakarun Beach is a perfect spot to chill out. Its fine sand will delight the whole families, and the colour of the sea might remind you of a postcard from the Maldives. The entire area at Sakarun is protected, which applies to Posidonia, the sea grass, as well. If you wonder why they don’t collect it more often, you should know that its role in nature is preventing coastal erosion. By the way, it’s soft, so nothing will happen even if you step onto it.
Veli rat / Big Cape
Veli rat is the island’s westernmost cape, whose name in English would be Big Cape. The most apparent landmark of the cape is a lighthouse built in 1849, which is the highest in the Adriatic. It guards the entrance to Dalmatia. Most people visit the cape for camping or enjoying the two beaches, whereas some even sign up for weddings in a little chapel. It’s also possible to find accommodation in the lighthouse itself.
Božava
Božava is one of the most charming villages on Dugi otok. It offers a true escape from the chaos of the 21st century world. As soon as you catch a whiff of pine trees, you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Božava is basically a destination for those who appreciate having crystal clear sea at one’s doorstep. It offers perfect scenery for soaking up the sunny days. It’s a village where houses are still modest, and where locals still have time to chat with tourists. It’s also a place where people are casual, even at dinner, regardless if you stay in one of hotels or self-catering apartments.
The description of Božava would also apply for other villages on the island. If you have time, visit the picturesque village of Savar, a tiny hilltop village of Dragove, or Sali – which is the biggest settlement on the island.
Veli žal / Big Beach
Veli žal is another picturesque beach, located underneath the village of Dragove. Its main appeal is the jewel-like colour of the sea, with the combination of pebbels and fine sand. It is a place for a perfect day outdoors, far from the crowds. Just make sure you bring some cash for the parking fee, and a parasol for the fact there is no natural shade there.
Active holidays
By now, I believe you’ve pretty much got the point on what Dugi otok is all about. It’s a place for all those who like to doze off with the sound of crickets and those who don’t mind having no thumping nightlife around them (although there is a disco in the village of Sali). If you’re into active holidays, you can rent a bike, a boat or a kayak, you can go hiking along several marked trails, you can sign up for a diving trip, or even explore two caves – Strašna peć and Golubinka. I spent seven days on the island, but it wasn’t enough to visit all the interesting places. Hopefully, I’ll cover the caves on the next occasion. Yeah, Dugi otok is a place with no rush.
How to get there
If you travel without a car, you can get on board a catamaran, which connects the coastal town of Zadar with the villages of Božava, Brbinj and Sali. There are two companies which operate the catamaran lines to Dugi otok: Jadrolinija and G&V Line Iadera. Both of them depart from the Old Town Peninsula in Zadar.
The starting point for travelers by car is the ferry port Gaženica in Zadar, from which ferries depart for Brbinj, Dugi otok. There is also a regular bus service on the island (Liburnija), but it’s not too frequent, as it’s mostly adapted to the arrivals and departures of ferries. In Sali, there is a regular taxi service (Taxi Frka), whereas the hotels in Božava offer their own shuttle service.
In the end, if you’re more of a visual type, here’s a link to my video about Dugi otok, which can give you more details on what to expect there.