IstraPanorama

Did you ever dream about sailing in a large luxury boat in a warm sea, under a blue sky and in the midst of hundreds of islands with gentle bays for anchoring? If that is the case, than Croatia is the nearest place to be in Europe.

click on photo to enlarge

In the North of this Adriatic paradise are the Istrian coastal waters. Compared to the rest of the Croatian coast, this coastline is gentle and green, dotted with the many Venetian coastal towns. Amidst the endless blue sea, the magnificent Brjuni Islands and numerous humble saints - marvellous islets that were named after them - extend in a row. Here you will meet St. Andrew, St. Catherine, St. Peter, St. John, St. Nicholas, ... a string of beautiful virgin bays for anchoring, crystal clear depths for swimming and safe and sheltered marinas (harbours).

On the southernmost point of Istria, Cape Kamenjak, one can visit a nature park with its many unique species of plants and wonderful views. The gentle bays give you protection for any weather. From there you have your way open to the Kvarner sea with its many well-known islands, such as Krk, Rab, Cres, Losinj, Unje, and many others. All have small rustic towns to offer, some the tranquillity that goes together with the absence of traffic. And from there the Dalmatian coast is only a few miles away.

It is not so difficult, nor exceptionally expensive to enjoy these wonders from your own luxury yacht. Many companies offer good seaworthy boats for rent. And when you are not a licensed skipper yourself, just hire one. He will also be able to guide you to the best places to see. Hereafter you will find the website address of a company where we regularly rent a boat ourselves and that we can recommend (AMS-Yachting).

But for those of you who prefer a motorboat, rather than a sailing boat, again there are plenty of places where you can rent a boat. Even for those with no experience at all in boating, one can rent a boat with a motor limited to 20 hp, so that no licenses are required. A suggestion may be to rent such boat in Rovinj and from there to visit the caves in the Limksi Canal. And of course in every coastal town one can join a sightseeing boat bringing you to unique places and have a relaxing afternoon in a bay. Some of these short cruises, offer you a fishermen's meal, some even using the fish you have caught yourself.

And whatever type of boat you use, the lucky ones may experience close encounters with dolphins, swimming alongside the boat or jumping out of the water. Especially on the rare stormy and rainy days, your bad luck may be more than compensated with the sightings of this splendid animal.