Boat Rental Starigrad-Paklenica — 2027 Guide: Velebit Channel, Zrmanja Waterfalls and Southern Pag

Starigrad-Paklenica sits on a narrow strip of coast below the Velebit mountain, about 50 km by road from Zadar. Behind the village open the canyons of Paklenica National Park, and in front of it lies the Velebit Channel, the strait between the mainland and the island of Pag, which ends in the south at Novsko ždrilo, the entrance to the Novigrad Sea. This guide covers the routes, the bora, which is a serious matter here, and our boats.

Routes from Starigrad

Distances are approximate and measured from the harbour in Starigrad. Cruising times apply to a speedboat or RIB at 20–25 knots in calm sea.

• Tribanj (about 5 NM to the northwest, 15 minutes): a string of small hamlets, among them Kruščica, Šibuljina and Lisarica, along deep coves and pebble beaches below Velebit. Good for a swim and a coffee away from the crowds.
• Rovanjska (about 4 NM to the southeast, 10–15 minutes): a quiet village with a small harbour and beaches, on the way towards Maslenica.
• Zrmanja river mouth and the Novigrad Sea (about 6 NM to the Maslenica bridge, roughly 15 NM to Obrovac): you pass under the Maslenica bridge through Novsko ždrilo into the enclosed Novigrad Sea, with the small town of Novigrad and its fortress above it, and then upstream into the Zrmanja canyon. The water is green and calm.
• Southern Pag (about 10 NM across the channel to Dinjiška bay, 25–30 minutes; about 20 NM to Paška vrata and Pag town, one hour): the east coast of Pag is bare and rocky because the bora has covered it with salt spray for centuries, so from the sea it looks like a lunar landscape.

For the Kornati, Dugi Otok and departures from the city, see our nautical guide to Zadar, and for the west coast of Pag and Beritnica beach our guide to boat rental on the island of Pag.

The Zrmanja waterfalls tour

The Zrmanja is the trip that sets Starigrad apart from the rest of the coast. Departure is at 10:00, and the boat first runs along the coast towards the river mouth, under the Maslenica bridge. It then enters the canyon with its steep cliffs, passes through Obrovac and stops at the Jankovića buk waterfall, where you swim below the falls and look at the old watermills. On the way back down the canyon the boat stops in the fishing village of Ribnica for a swim, a coffee or lunch, which is not included in the price. You are back in Starigrad around 15:30, and the skipper, fuel and drinks are included in the price.

The bora in the Velebit Channel

The Velebit Channel is known as the place with the strongest bora on the Adriatic. The bora drops down from Velebit from the northeast, blows in gusts, which in winter storms reach hurricane force. Some of the strongest wind gusts in Croatia have been measured at the Maslenica bridge, and the old Maslenica bridge is regularly closed to traffic because of the bora. In summer the bora is rarer and shorter, but it can start suddenly, even under a clear sky.

• Signs. A cloud lying on the peaks of Velebit like a cap, sudden cold gusts from the mountain and white streaks of foam on the sea towards Pag.
• Why it is dangerous. Along the Starigrad shore the bora blows off the land, so the sea close in is calm and looks harmless. The gusts still push the boat away from the shore towards Pag, where the waves are highest and shelter is scarce.
• Forecast. Before you leave, check the marine forecast and warnings on meteo.hr, and listen to VHF at sea. If a bora is forecast, stay in port.
• If it catches you at sea. Head for the shore below Velebit, where the sea is calmer, not towards Pag, slow down and have everyone put on life jackets.

The good news is that the channel has the weakest jugo on the Adriatic, and the maestral is relatively light here, so summer days without bora are usually calm.

Season

• June–September: main season. The sea is warmest in July and August, and days without bora are most common.
• May and October: fewer people and more pleasant temperatures for hiking, but cooler sea and more frequent bora.

Sea and mountain: a day on the boat, a day in Paklenica

The entrance to the Velika Paklenica canyon is just above Starigrad. Trails lead through the canyon past Anića kuk, one of the best-known climbing walls in Croatia, towards the Manita peć cave and further into Velebit. Mala Paklenica is a quieter, wilder canyon southeast of the village, near Seline. There is an entrance fee to the park and the price depends on the season, so check it on the park's official website.

A good plan for a few days: one day on the Zrmanja, one day to Pag or Tribanj by boat, and one day on foot through Paklenica, starting early in the morning while the canyon is in shade. Days when the bora closes the sea are a good moment for the park, with a windbreaker.

Our boats in Starigrad-Paklenica

All boats in Starigrad on Crystalium Booker depart from the village harbour. Fuel is not included in the rental price: you take the boat with a full tank and return it full. Rentals of three days or more get a 10% discount, and on weekly rentals the seventh day is free.

• Hydrosport 737 (7.37 m, 150 HP, up to 8 people): €280 a day, the most affordable boat on offer. View the listing.
• Highfield 860 RIB (8.6 m, 300 HP, up to 12 people): €530 a day. View the listing.
• Bayliner Trophy (6.5 m, 200 HP, up to 6 people): €380 a day with the skipper included in the price, for guests without a licence. View the listing.
• Zrmanja waterfalls tour: the shared tour costs €70 per person, with a minimum of 7 participants to depart, and we combine solo travellers and couples with other guests. The private tour costs from €400 for two people to €700 for 11–12 people. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure.

Booking works like this: you send an inquiry, we check the date with the owner, you pay the reservation to us, and you pay the rest to the owner on the day of the rental.

Boat rental in Starigrad-Paklenica with Crystalium Booker

See all boats and tours on the Starigrad-Paklenica location page or send us your dates and number of people through the contact page, and we will suggest a boat. Do you rent out a boat in Starigrad, Seline or elsewhere below Velebit? List it with us.