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The islands and the coast of Kvarner offer a completely different landscape. Many species of the plants and animals living in Kvarner can be considered known and renown specificities of that region. With almost 2,700 plant species, among which numerous rare and endemic samples, the Kvarner flora belongs to the richest Croatian regions from the point of view of botanic heritage. On the island of Krk there have been registered about 1,500 vegetal species, whilst the islands of Cres and Lošinj follow immediately. The Kvarner flora, thanks to territorial partitions and heterogeneity of its zones, gives to its visitors the opportunity to enjoy the richness of pine forests. It is well known the particularly aromatic effect of its famous cones, scents of sage, rosemary and basil, laurel and myrtle, not to forget specialties prepared with chestnuts, figs and forest fruits, among which species of edible mushrooms are distinguished.


The islands
The coast becomes very steep, with mountains arising almost perpendicularly to the sea. Northern sides of the islands are often very bare and hit by bora wind, whilst southern ones are rich in Mediterranean vegetation. There we meet the large islands of Krk, Cres, Lošinj, Rab and Pag, but also smaller islands like Susak, Unije, Ilovik, Premuda, Silba, Olib, Ist, Molat and many other. islands The nautical route connecting the northern to the southern Adriatic passes in the channels among the islands, and during Summer season many are the sailing a motor crafts sailing southwards or the opposite direction. The coast is full of gulfs and bays where it is possible to find the beauty and loneliness of a small beach.







The Unije island
Unije looks like almost all its sisters, low. The homonymous landing-place is situated in a small gulf sheltered from the dominating wind, form where a half-moon beach opens, one of the rare in northern Croatia. The landing is idyllic: 3 small restaurants open to the quay, among old fishermen with wind-blown faces, children spending time to jump from the pier and marvellous houses with pergolas and blooming gardens among numerous shadowed areas. The island has also a small runway, but the quiet is absolute and everything still looks authentic. On the other side of the island, there are three deep bays: Vodiska, Podkujni and Maracol, the last being equipped with many buoys, and may not be used only when scirocco wind blows. From there, a quick and pleasant path leads to the village that can be reached in 20 minutes. Fascinating is the reed-patch leading to the beautiful lighthouse of Vnetak cape. Leaving Unije you sail close to sandy islands Canidole, Vele Srakane and Male Srakane: the first with a monastery surrounded by nice houses. The two islets seem to lead ships towards Mali Lošinj, only 7 miles away.



The Mali Lošinj island
The entrance to the best known natural port of northern Adriatic is marked by the light of Capo Kurila and by the red light of the islet Zabodaski. Approaching Mali Lošinj you come to an assuring dimension of sea people. On the left, modern shipyards, successors of passed centuries' shipbuilding, are still in use with their high cranes close to the Marina Mali Lošinj, that has a better known dependence in the old area of the village. Before the shipyard, a mobile bridge (opened from 9.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m., 3 meters deep) passes over the Privlaka channel (in that point Mali Lošinj is only sixty metres wide). There you pass over to Kvarneric. Mali Lošinj is now a cosmopolitan holiday resort and able to satisfy everybody's wishes. A walk through the narrow internal streets make you breathe the air of great masters of Lošinj.







The island of Susak
Once left Mali Lošinj, it is worthwhile to head for Susak. The island is an enormous heap of compact sand pressed on a Karst plain. Vegetation, therefore, is represented by reed-patches and infinite rows of vine-trees. It is worthwhile (10 minutes) to climb to the village on top of the little hill, where life goes on quietly among little houses and local vine cellars. Back to Mali Lošinj, you enter into deep (but crowded by many boats) bays of Krivica and Balvanida situated in a green and wild milieu. The following pass between Ilovik and Sv. Petar is really beautiful, in the past it used to host a powerful monastery whose remains are visible on the coast. Mooring is not allowed in the channel, but there are many buoys. To reach Premuda you need just one hour.

The island of Premuda
Premuda is part of the external island line and, for that reason more accessible. There is a spectacular island cemetery in the port, one of the few that can be seen in the Mediterranean. Also here a short walk (10 minutes) leads to the village of Premuda, where there are many pleasant little houses. One road leads to Loza, landing-place for the ferry, situated on the east coast of the island. A bit south of the port, there opens the large and safe bay of Premuda Uvala.

Towards the island of Olib
Left Premuda, you can head towards Silba and Olib. Leaving on the left the cliff of Greben, you reach the beautiful south part of Olib, Južna Slatina, one of the most sensational natural swimming pools of the Adriatic. Approaching the pebbly beach, the sea changes colour from green to turquoise and to celestial. Not far from that point, there is the solitary bight of Sv. Nikola, reassuring anchorage announced by two beautiful bitts in a Dalmatian style. Going back to north you can head for Rab, where a visit to the old city is a must, the savage Pag or directly to the green bays of Luka pod Sv. Križ, in the south part of Cres. Leaving the bay, you can go back to Lošinj, on the other side you are in Kvarner again, in a countless wondering on that sea entering the land.




For more information about Kvarner: www.kvarner.hr