Hvar Adventure

An activities company with an office in Hvar town. It runs sea kayaking round the Pakleni islands, sailing outings, self-guided GPS bike routes and tastings at wineries in Jelsa and Vrboska.

Who they are

Hvar Adventure is a family company on the island of Hvar, in Dalmatia. According to its history page it was founded in 2005, from a group of people who wanted to show the island's nature and history with outings designed by themselves; elsewhere on the website they speak of twelve years sailing, so the exact date should be taken with caution. They say their team has been with the house for many years and is trained in tourism and hospitality, and that their speciality is the sea: day sailing, overnight crossings and boat hire. They do not publish the founders' names or the tourist registration number.

The office is at Jurja Matijevića 20, in the centre of Hvar town, a minute's walk from the ferry quay, and is open every day from 9:00 to 20:00.

What they do and where

Their offer revolves around the island itself and its neighbours. At sea, group or private sailing outings, at sunset, with a night on board or on a traditional boat, towards the Pakleni islands or the island of Vis, and private, group or Blue Cave of Biševo speedboats. The Pakleni outings last about six hours, the Vis one about ten and the sunset sailing four. On land they organise off-road and walking routes through the interior, wine tastings, bikes with or without wine and sea kayaking.

The group kayak is a good example of how they work: a four-hour outing of about 8.5 kilometres around the Pakleni islands, with a stop to swim and snorkel at Jerolim and Marinkovac. It leaves in the morning at 9:30 and in the afternoon at a time that changes with the month, from 16:30 in July to 15:30 in September. It costs €60 in the morning and €70 at sunset. The website does not set a specific season; it speaks of outings also out of season, so in spring and autumn you have to ask.

Meeting point, groups and equipment

On the group kayak you meet on Križna Luka beach, about seven minutes' walk from the seafront promenade, past the Franciscan monastery, at 9:15. Groups are of 2 to 8 people in the morning and 4 to 8 in the afternoon, and the outing does not run if the minimum is not reached. It includes a single or double kayak, paddle, spray skirt, life jacket, dry bags, snorkelling gear and a guide. You have to bring water, a hat, sunglasses with a strap, sun protection, water shoes and something to eat. It is a medium level of physical exercise. There is no published minimum age: the smallest life jackets are for three-year-olds, and they ask you to tell them beforehand if you are going with children.

Bookings, cancellation and languages

You book on the website, by email at [email protected] or by phone on +385 91 228 0088. If you cancel 30 days or more ahead you get the whole deposit back; with 14 days, half, and with 13 days or fewer, or if you do not show up, nothing. On outings with a night on board the deposit is not refunded. If the company cancels, it refunds everything, and it reserves the right to change the route because of the weather. The listings indicate an English-speaking guide; they do not mention Spanish.