01How Island Hopping Works from Tučepi

Tučepi is a village on the Makarska Riviera, between Makarska and Podgora. It has a small harbour and marina but no scheduled passenger lines to the islands. The practical ports are Makarska (about 5–6 km north, 10 minutes by car or taxi) and Drvenik (about 25–30 km south). Three islands are within a day's reach: Brač, Hvar and, with more effort, Vis.

Two ways to hop islands exist: scheduled public boats, which are cheap and flexible, and organised or private boat trips, which are convenient and cover bays that ferries skip.

02Getting to Makarska Port from Tučepi

Local bus
Coastal buses run between Tučepi and Makarska throughout the summer. The ride takes about 10–15 minutes and costs a few euros.
Walking or cycling
The coastal promenade and road to Makarska is flat and takes roughly 1 to 1.5 hours on foot, less by bike. This works for a late-morning departure, not an 07:00 ferry.
Taxi
Expect about €10–15 to Makarska port. Agree the fare before departure.
Own car
Parking at Makarska port is limited and paid in summer. Arrive early for morning sailings.

03Tučepi to Brač

Makarska – Sumartin car ferry

This is the cheapest island trip from the area. Jadrolinija runs the Makarska–Sumartin line all year. The crossing takes 50–60 minutes. Foot passengers pay about €4–5 one way. Frequency is around 3 daily crossings in low season and up to 7 in summer.

Sumartin is a quiet fishing village on the eastern tip of Brač. It is far from the main sights: Bol is roughly 40–45 km away by road, and public bus links are thin. With a car, the drive across the island takes about an hour. Without a car, Sumartin is best for a swim and lunch, not a full tour of Brač.

Makarska – Bol catamaran

For Zlatni Rat beach, the Krilo (Kapetan Luka) catamaran to Bol is the better choice. The crossing takes about 30–35 minutes and a one-way ticket costs about €20–25. It runs seasonally, mostly with one daily departure in summer, so check the day's timetable before planning a return. The beach is roughly a 20-minute walk from the Bol harbour along a shaded promenade.

Zlatni Rat is a gravel spit that changes shape with wind and currents. It gets crowded from late morning, so the first catamaran is the better option. Windsurfers use the strong afternoon wind.

04Tučepi to Hvar

Catamaran from Makarska to Hvar town

A seasonal catamaran has linked Makarska with Hvar town in some years, with fares of about €20–25 one way. Services change between seasons, so confirm that a sailing exists for your dates on krilo.hr or tp-line.hr. The return leg leaves in the late afternoon, which gives 6–7 hours in Hvar town. The schedule changes each season, so confirm the return time before buying a one-way ticket.

Drvenik – Sućuraj car ferry

The cheapest route to Hvar is the short Jadrolinija line 632 crossing from Drvenik to Sućuraj, at the eastern tip of Hvar island. It runs all year with up to 11 crossings a day in summer and takes 30–35 minutes. Foot passengers pay €4.10 in high season (29 May–27 September) and €2.40 otherwise. A standard car up to 5 m long costs €19.70 in high season and €13.50 outside it. Children aged 3–12 pay €2.10 in high season.

Sućuraj is more than 70 km from Hvar town by road, so this route suits drivers who want to explore Hvar's quieter east, including Jelsa, Vrboska and Stari Grad. Without a car, it is a poor choice for seeing Hvar town. Note that a rental car cannot always be taken on every ferry for free: check rental contract terms on ferry travel.

05Boat Tours from the Tučepi Area

Group day tours

Full-day boat tours from Makarska usually visit Hvar (often Jelsa or Hvar town) and Bol on Brač. Prices start at around €50 per person. Most run 8–10 hours. Some operators include a bus transfer from Tučepi, Brela and Baška Voda to Makarska harbour, with a meeting time around 08:00–08:30. Lunch and drinks are normally extra.

Private speedboats

Speedboat day tours that include stops such as Stiniva cove, the Blue Lagoon area and Brač beaches usually charge a per-boat fee. One listing from Makarska charges a booking fee plus cash for skipper and fuel: about €220 for a boat for up to 6 people and about €400 for up to 11. Split between six, the extra cost is modest and the route is flexible. A private boat is worth it for groups of five or more. For couples, a group tour or public catamaran costs far less.

Diving and snorkelling

A dive centre next to the Tučepi marina runs boat trips toward Hvar and Brač: about €69 for a day trip, €195 for three days and €315 for five days. Two-dive day trips with a guide and gear were listed at €84.

06Day Trip to Vis and the Blue Cave

Vis and the Blue Cave on Biševo are possible from Tučepi, but the distance is large. Most Vis excursions leave from Split or Hvar. A boat from Makarska is a long day and typically costs €100 or more per person. For a first visit, Hvar and Brač give better value and shorter travel times.

07Sample Itineraries

Cheapest day: Brač by ferry (about €10 return)

  1. Bus to Makarska in the morning.
  2. Ferry to Sumartin (about €4–5 each way).
  3. Swim, lunch in the village, then return on an afternoon ferry.

Best single-island day: Bol and Zlatni Rat (about €40–50 return)

  1. Catamaran from Makarska to Bol in the morning.
  2. Walk to Zlatni Rat, swim, lunch in town.
  3. Catamaran back in the afternoon, after confirming the return time.

Two islands in one day: group boat tour (from about €50)

A guided boat tour covers Hvar and Brač with bay stops. It is the most relaxed option if public timetables do not fit.

08Insider Tips

  • Check the return sailing first. Catamarans from Makarska often have one daily return. Missing it means a taxi boat or an overnight stay.
  • Buy tickets on the day of the ferry only for car lines. For catamarans in July and August, book ahead online or at the Makarska ticket offices.
  • Wind matters. The strong bura from the north can cancel catamarans and small boats. Keep a flexible day in the plan.
  • Take cash. Many small boat operators collect skipper and fuel payments in cash.
  • Go in June or September. Water is warm, boats are less full and prices are lower.
  • Skip the Hvar town nightlife day trip unless that is the goal. The late-evening party scene means missing the last boat back, and a late taxi boat costs far more than a night in a basic room.

09Best Time for Island Hopping

The full range of catamaran services runs from roughly June to September, with the widest timetable in July and August. The car ferries to Sumartin and Sućuraj run all year, but boat tours operate seasonally, typically May to October. Sea temperatures reach about 24–25°C in August and stay near 21–22°C in late September.

10Practical Checklist

  • Passport or national ID card for ferries and catamarans.
  • Sun protection and water; shade on boats is limited.
  • Water shoes for pebble beaches such as Zlatni Rat.
  • Small euro notes for buses and kiosks.
  • Printed or saved tickets in case of weak mobile signal at the port.