Boat Rental Vrboska — 2027 Guide: Zlatni Rat, the Makarska Riviera and the Coves of North Hvar

Vrboska is a small fishing village on the north coast of the island of Hvar, about three kilometres from Jelsa, set at the end of a long, narrow sea inlet that continues through the village as a canal. Because of the little bridges over that canal it is called "Little Venice". The inlet is one of the best-sheltered harbours on the island, with an ACI marina and piers along the waterfront, which makes Vrboska a practical base for a day boat rental: you leave from calm water and within a few minutes you are in the Hvar Channel, with Brač and Biokovo in front of you. This guide describes the routes that make sense from Vrboska in particular, the prices from our listings and what to watch out for.

Why start from Vrboska

• A sheltered bay. The inlet cuts deep into the land, so the berth stays calm even when it is blowing outside. The island shields the north coast from the jugo, so the sea around Vrboska and in the coves of the north side is often calmer than on Hvar's south coast.
• Close to Brač and the mainland. The Hvar Channel is narrow here: Bol on Brač is about 5 nautical miles away, and the Makarska Riviera is less than an hour's ride.
• A quiet village. Vrboska has none of the crowds of Hvar town. Along the waterfront there are konobas, the 16th-century fortress church of St Mary of Mercy, the church of St Lawrence with paintings by Venetian masters, and a small fishing museum.

For Hvar town, the coves of the western part of the island and a trip to Vis, read our guide Boat Rental Hvar, and for the neighbouring bay to the west, the guide Boat Rental in Stari Grad.

Routes from Vrboska

• Bol and Zlatni Rat (Brač). The shortest crossing and the most popular trip: from the mouth of the bay to Bol it is about 5 nautical miles, around fifteen minutes in a fast RIB. Zlatni Rat, a pebble spit that changes shape with the wind, looks its best from the sea; anchor outside the marked swimming zone. The spit lies in the narrowest part of the channel, where westerly and north-westerly winds are amplified, which is why it is famous among windsurfers. So go to Brač in the morning and head back before the maestral strengthens in the afternoon.
• Zečevo and the coves of north Hvar. The islet of Zečevo, about two kilometres north-east of Vrboska, is a protected landscape and a favourite excursion spot for locals, with clear, shallow water for swimming. Between Vrboska and Jelsa there is a string of pebble coves that are hard to reach by road, and Jelsa is ten minutes away for a coffee or lunch. This is also the route for the no-licence pasara: short stretches along the coast, without crossing the channel.
• The Makarska Riviera. For the larger RIBs and a calm day: past Sumartin at the eastern end of Brač to Brela, Baška Voda, Makarska or Tučepi it is 15 to 17 nautical miles, forty minutes to an hour in a fast RIB. From the sea you see the pebble beaches beneath the steep cliffs of Biokovo. Part of the route crosses open water, so the BSC 720 or Solemar B25 is better suited, plus a skipper if you lack experience.
• Pakleni Islands (full-day trip). The Pakleni Islands are at the other end of Hvar: about 18 to 20 nautical miles each way from Vrboska, along the north side of the island past Stari Grad and Cape Pelegrin. In a fast RIB that is about an hour each way, so plan a full day, an early start and a fuel reserve. What to see on the Pakleni Islands is covered in the Hvar guide.

Wind and season

• Jugo. Hvar shields Vrboska and the north coast, so the jugo is felt less in the coves here than on the south side of the island. Out in the open channel there can still be waves, so check the forecast before crossing.
• Maestral. This summer north-westerly blows in the afternoon and is strongest around Bol. Mornings are the calmest.
• Bura. The north-easterly from Biokovo hits the north coast of Hvar directly. When a strong bura is blowing, the channel is rough and it is better to stay in the bay.
• Season. June and September bring warm sea and fewer crowds, July and August are the most in demand so book earlier, and May and October are possible with cooler water and less settled weather.

Our boats in Vrboska

Prices are in euros for the whole boat, and a skipper can be hired at extra cost for all the RIBs:

• Solemar B25 Offshore (7.5 m, 250 HP, up to 13 people): €450 a day or €300 for half a day; shower, fridge, Bluetooth music and GPS. The best choice for the Makarska Riviera and the Pakleni Islands. View the listing.
• BSC 720 (7.2 m, 225 HP, up to 12 people): €400 a day or €280 for half a day; a sporty, stable RIB for Bol and longer routes. View the listing.
• Maestral 150 (5.7 m, 115 HP, up to 8 people): €280 a day or €200 for half a day; Bimini top, bathing ladder and fridge. View the listing.
• Sea Dragoon 575 (5.75 m, 60 HP, up to 6 people): €230 a day or €170 for half a day; low fuel consumption, Bimini top and bathing ladder, for Zečevo, Jelsa and Bol in calm seas. View the listing.
• Pasara Traditional (4.6 m, 6 HP, up to 5 people): €85 a day or €60 for half a day; a traditional, locally built boat that, according to the listing, needs no licence, for swimming in nearby coves and fishing. View the listing.

Licence, fuel and booking

• Licence. For the RIBs you need a valid boat driving licence (Croatian category B or a recognised foreign licence). If you do not have one, hire a skipper.
• Fuel. All the boats run on petrol. For the Pakleni Islands or the Makarska Riviera expect much higher consumption than for Bol.
• Booking. You send an inquiry with the date and number of people, we check the date with the owner, you pay us the reservation (that is our commission), and you pay the rest to the owner on the day of the rental.

Boat rental in Vrboska with Crystalium Booker

See all the boats on the Vrboska location page or send us your dates and number of people via the contact page, and we will suggest a boat. Do you rent out a boat in Vrboska, Jelsa or elsewhere on Hvar? List it with us.