Biokovo Impression

Biokovo – national park rising above Makarskapeaks above 1000 m.a.s.l. and the change of climate from seaside to alpine... that's Biokovo Nature Park. It consists of pine forests with Mediterranean fauna and flora. Mostly rocks of course. However, it is not so easy to get to the national park. You have to wait in a row.

Thanks to God, we solved this problem by ordering a trip through a local travel agency, which had prearranged entry, so the wait at the entrance only took a few minutes. We breathed a sigh of relief when we saw the column waiting to enter and confirmed our choice.

If you are interested in the Balkans, you can find us also here.

The road to Biokovo is indeed for brave drivers leading along many switchbacks. Our little bus sped along these switchbacks very gracefully as if they weren't even there. If you meet any other car in the opposite direction, there is a problem...someone has to back it up. Our first stop was at the viewpoint, where the tourguide treated us to homemade sour cherries and told us a few introductory words about this national park.

The next stop was already at the Skywalk, a hypermodern view from the glass at the top, which looked more like a space body and, in my opinion, was not very suitable for the virgin nature. I would call it a tourist attraction that has little to do with local nature. Of course, everyone takes as many photos as possible at this attraction, even though the surrounding nature was a much bigger attraction. Various safari trips on jeeps, which are parked here, also start from this point.

I was pleased that we got further and could taste Biokovo for ourselves. Part of our trip was also a small hike to a beautiful viewpoint, from where we had the entire Makarska Riviera, the islands of Brač, Hvar and the Pelješac peninsula in the palm of our hands. The path led through the forest on a stony path, on which there were occasionally some pine cones. In the distance, Sveti Jurefollowed our path – the highest peak of this park, which measures around 1700 m.a.s.l..

Many tourists go to Biokovo every year. You will find many hiking trailshere. The Biokov peaks not only rise to the heavens, also about 400 caves are there and so-called jama lednica, that is, a karst formation that is constantly covered with ice and snow. This fact was mainly used in the past, when people from Biokov traded with ice, which they brought in cubes to people in towns and villages in the days when there were no refrigerators yet.

However, the history is interesting. Biokovo was still inhabited in the times when there was no writing. People quickly understood the advantages of Biokovo and began to use the fertile fields and build their homes here. At the beginning of the 20th century , lived here about 600 shepherds. People here were engaged in cattle breeding, shepherding and crop cultivation. Biokovo was a source of livelihood for the entire region. You might be wondering where they got the water from? The water was maintained here thanks to the impermeable soil of the clay. It was then used to water cattle.

The turning point came in 1962, when a powerful earthquake hit the area , destroying townsand villages under the mountains. The residents of Biokov also lost their homes and livestock.Nature forced them, so to speak, from the mountains that were their home, to come down to the coast and start looking for a new source of livelihood...and thus began the tourist tradition n this part of the Adriatic.

Residents received grants from the government for a fresh start after the earthquake, hotels began to be built, and people forgot what they were doing and had to learn how to do business with tourists. Biokovo started. Nobody lives here anymore, but there are tendencies to return here. Even today, you can find small stone houses surrounded by fields in the valleys. People rediscover the power and charm of Biokovo when they are already saturated with tourism. Of course, tourism has already reached here, but it is still an excellent refuge and source of livelihood.

It's amazing to splash in the Adriatic for lunch and bake in the 40 degree sun, and in a few hours to walk with a backpack in hiking boots on mountain paths and observe alpine wildlife. It is not recommended to go hiking here when it is too hot, because unfortunately there are cases when such visits turned out tragically. You always have to think about the fact that there is no water here and it can be really hot here too. So you better be careful and definitely consider hiking in Biokovo and don't forget to drink plenty of fluids.

On Biokovo you will also find a small botanical garden and several estates and churches. It is a really beautiful place for hiking. Sometimes just a view from the beach is enough and everyone stops doubting its majesty. He is a beautiful example of the power of nature, and therefore he must be honored and treated humbly...those who did not, Biokovo took them in.