Korčula: 5 hiking routes designed with emphasis on the island’s wine and food specialties
- by croatiaweek
- in Travel
In order to further develop active tourism on the island, the Korčula Tourist Board have designed five circular hiking trails of varied difficulty and interests.
During the design of the routes, attention was focused on the contents of the routes, in order to promote and further develop other tourist products with an emphasis on eno / gastro products.
The routes are:
ČARA – POSIP ROUTE
South side of Korčula island (Photo: Luka Jačov/Public domain)
This 7km route begins at the south end of the Čara field in the direction of Čavića luka bay. After 1 km the sign will direct you to the left to a rather wide and clear path mostly shaded by pine trees for about 4 km. The route will lead you to the road Pupnatska Luka – Čara. Some 500 m in direction of Pupnatska Luka there is a agrotourism restaurant „Konopica“, offering local produce.
In direction of Čara after some 200 m the paths leads into into the vineyards to a waterhole, through olive groves and back to the asphalt road. Continue along this road towards Čara for about 500 m, where you will turn left into the vineyards where the path will take you back to the starting point.
Near the starting point there is a winery PZ Čara and in the village of Čara you are able to visit wineries: Šain-Marelić, Tasovac and PZ Nerica and in Zavalatica winery Intrada Krajančić where you can taste some of the best Pošip wines around.
PUPNAT–PUPNATSKA LUKA HIKE & BEACH
This 13.32 km route starts some 100 meters after the road crossing towards Pupnatska luka, opposite the waterhole that in the past was used to water the cattle. For the first kilometre the path passes through olive groves and macchia. The path then becomes asphalt road and is used by the locals to reach their fields. Here you can enjoy spectacular views over the Lastovo archipelago. Part of this part of the route pass through pine forest, offering shade. At the end of the asphalt part of the path passes by the agricultural hamlet Žukovica, today abandoned.
After the third kilometre the route continues to be macadam again and leads towards the bay/beach Pupnatska luka. For about one kilometre you will be able to enjoy in the shade of tall pine trees. The path slowly opens to olive groves takes you to the most beautiful and best-known beach on Korčula island – Pupnatska luka. From here it is possible get back to the starting point by walking on the asphalted road.
However, you can continue walking on the macadam path for about 2 km, to the other side of Pupnatska luka beach to the road Čara – Pupnat. This road will take you back to Pupnat (right), or to the village of Čara (left)
ŽRNOVO-BRATINJA LUKA
Ivan and Jakša from Konoba Maha with their food (Photo credit: Korčula Spring Food & Wine Festival)
This 14 km route starts at the end of Žrnovo (Postrana) village in the direction of Pupnat. For most part the path is shaded, although some parts are very much exposed to the sun.
After about 1,5 km the lane comes to a clearing with a waterhole, after which the path becomes wider and lead to the restaurant “Konoba Maha”. After passing the restaurant the path will take you south, towards the sea. The path has hiking markings both on the ground and on the drywalls.
The path enters a part where it becomes very difficult but not dangerous. Do not fail to notice two small caves that were created by flowing water. The path will slowly take you to the beautiful pebble beach Bratinja luka.
To return you should continue along the macadam road (right from Bratinja luka) back to Žrnovo (start of the route). The return is rather long, 9 km. On the way back you can enjoy spectacular views of the open sea and “lace” like drywall structures above Pavja Luka bay.
S. MARTIN’S ROUTE
St Martin Parish Church (Photo: Yodean71/CC BY-SA 4.0)
The 8.35 km route starts in front of St. Martin parish church in the village of Žrnovo. The records of the church can be traced back to 1329.
The path continues through olive groves to the hamlet of Postrana. In Postrana the path leads to a small piazza with St. Rocco church overlooking the villageThe church was built in 1874 on foundation of an old 16th century church. The path continues towards the sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes placed in a natural cave followed by Žrnovo graveyard and a small church of St. Vid from 1300.
The path now continues along well-kept olive grows, macchia and drystone walls for a few kilometres where it reaches the main road: Korčula-Lumbarda. After about half kilometre in direction of Korčula the path leads to the right up to St. Anthony church. 101 stone steps lined by cypress trees take you downhill. We invite you to visit Komparak honeybee farm cake/coffee shop Škatula where you can taste products made of carob fruit. Both producers are holders of the Croatian island products label.
The route continues towards bay Luka where you can opt to walk through the park or by promenade back to the Town. Om the way you can see the monument to the fallen solders of WW1; the chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes from 1908 and “Piazzeta” from 1815.
The route ends in the old town, in the church of All saints, the oldest Korčula brotherhood, from 1301. Here the brotherhood’s book of Hymns is kept as well as the song of St. Martin.
So, we invite you to celebrate the end of your route by visiting cake shop “Cukarin” where you can try traditional Korčula cakes. Cukarin also holds Croatian Island product label.
RUTA KOČJE – MARMONTOV PUT
Banja (Photo credit: Wakowik/CC BY-SA 3.0)
The 5 km (9 km if you are starting from Korčula town) route starts in the Brdo hamlet in village of Žrnovo and leads to the Protected Forest vegetation reserve Kočje which is surrounded by dolomite rocks and a dense century-old forest. The walk offers spectacular views of Pelješac peninsula and Banja and Vrbovica bays.
After about 1 km you will reach a sign marking the entrance to Kočje. Here the path passes over rocks that can be slippery, so proceed with PERCAUTION. Within Kočje, take your time and explore this magical place. Try to find a spring of water which, according to legends is often visited by fairies.
After you pass through the “fairy land” you will come to a glade where you will notice a narrow path cuddled in macchia. Continue along this path for about 1,5 km where you will reach Marmont road that will take you back to village of Žrnovo (1 km). To return to your starting point walk through village for about 1,5 km, back to Brdo Hamlet or continue back to Korčula.
More details about the routes with descriptions and GPX tracking are available on the website: https://www.visitkorcula.eu/cro/setnje-pjesacenje.html.
The routes are marked with brown signs and are suitable for tourists / guests who want to explore the island of Korcula on their own.
