Windsurfing, Wineries and Salt Pans

Nakovana village is almost at the end of the peninsula and was once the home of the Illyrian people, an ancient culture that dominated much of the Adriatic region until it was conquered by the Romans: numerous artifacts including pottery and a fertility shrine have been found in the surrounding area. In more recent times, it was a thriving fishing and farming village; you can see the old olive groves as you walk around, before it was burnt to the ground during World War II. Today, it is an almost ‘ghost’ village, with just one family living in the lower part of the village and is a fascinating place to wander around.

This long, pebbled beach is a paradise for both windsurfers and sunbathers, with a welcome breeze that puts the wind in your sails and cools down the baking heat of a Croatian summer. If you fancy trying your hand at windsurfing, this place offers an excellent 1.5-hour beginner’s trial (or you can just rent a board if you’re already a bit of a pro). If this doesn’t appeal, it’s also a great place to just chill out on the beach while watching the antics of the windsurfers. To book a trial or rent equipment, book online

Guess what’s the speciality of this restaurant? The Peljesac Peninsula doesn’t just do great shellfish! The Tuna Bar is one of a few restaurants that can serve blue fin tuna as there are strict fishing quotas in place to protect this endangered fish - so you can tuck into a guilt-free lunch. Try the tuna sushi or tartare for the freshest, melt in the mouth flavours.
As this is a popular restaurant, booking is recommended. Contact the restaurant here: +38598225675

This is one of the largest and most well-known of the wineries on the peninsula and a great place to do some more wine-tasting. You can choose to taste just the reds, the whites, or a mixture, or even some of their vintage bottles. Tastings are at 3pm and include a tour of the winery. If you’re visiting in the height of summer, it’s worth contacting them in advance to reserve a place. Call them on: +385993698004.
Note the winery is closed on Mondays.

Its back to Ston and the natural resource that instigated the building of the ‘Great Wall’. Salt has been produced in this area since Roman times and the technique hasn’t changed much in the last few thousand years. Watch the introductory video in the small museum to learn how the evaporation pans work then take a walk around the site to see the process in action. If you’re visiting between July and September, you’ll see the ‘finished’ salt being shovelled into barrows and taken away for packaging. There’s also a shop on site where you can buy some to take home. If you’re not used to using natural salt crystals, it’s definitely worth buying some. Sprinkled on meat or fish, it completely transforms the flavour and is so much nicer than ‘table’ salt.

For a light supper before heading back to Dubrovnik, Gastro Mare is the perfect place. It’s one of the finest restaurants on the peninsula and serves a fantastic 5 course tasting menu. But you’re not here for that menu! This road trip has been all about the oysters and the wine and so this is what I recommend you end it with: a wine and oyster pairing at the restaurant bar. There’s raw, grilled and tempura oysters (with truffles) to try, the flavours of each matched with a local wine. It’s totally decadent and a must-do!

This trip has introduced you to some of the gastronomic delights of the Peljesac Peninsula, as well some stunning scenery and historic wonders. I hope you enjoyed them all as much as I did.