Journey along the Croatian Adriatic coast – Ploče

The crossing from Trpanj on the Pelješac peninsula to Ploče on the Croatian mainland is the final ferry leg of our journey along the Croatian Adriatic coast – after starting from Krk to Cres, through the Zadar archipelago, from Split to Vela Luka on Korčula and from Korčula to Orebić. Ahead of us lie several hundred kilometres of scenic coastal road on the fascinating Jadranska Magistrala.

At the white Madonna statue in the small harbour of Trpanj, it was time to say goodbye to Pelješac, from where we take fond memories of beautiful landscapes, towns and encounters. The sea lies still and calm before us on this windless morning. Looking back, as the distance increased, the peak of Sv. Ilija came into view, where I was lucky enough to experience a sunrise with a 360-degree panorama of the islands in southern Dalmatia. Then it was time to look ahead.

Our next stop, Ploče, is located at the mouth of the Neretva River and is the second largest Adriatic port in Croatia. It is therefore of great economic importance both for southern Dalmatia and for the movement of goods to and from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Large loading cranes stood in the harbour, providing landmarks visible from afar. Wood, bauxite and ore are the main goods shipped there. Rusty red mounds of ore were piled up on the quays, waiting to be loaded onto ships later by the excavator cranes, which remind me of giraffe heads.

The port, the associated logistics, the local industry, but also numerous fruit plantations in the fertile Neretva river valley, provide jobs and prosperity in the city. Ploče is therefore more of a home for workers and less of a destination for travellers looking for relaxing nature or romantic old towns. However, Ploče is the southern starting point for the drive along the Makarska Riviera, where magnificent sandy beaches, glamorous seaside resorts and the wild, rugged Biokovo coastal mountains meet in a very small space.

There, the mountains once again act as a protective barrier against cold winds from the northern and eastern inland and ensure a mild climate all year round. In return, the coast heats up all the more in summer. During a stopover in Makarska in the late morning, we actually just wanted to explore the old town on foot. But temperatures of over 35 degrees and no wind caused a breakout of sweat at the slightest movement, so we couldn’t really commit to a sightseeing tour at this time of day. Another reason to return on a future trip. This time we continued northwards to find a nice pitch for the night at Kvarner Bay before finally heading back home across the Alps.

More pictures in the Croatia gallery.