Bačva Cove

In our series of articles about the island of Korčula, we bring a review of some of its beaches. This island has plenty of them, and the four we decided to cover will give a very nice picture of what you can expect on Korčula in that regard. These are Žitna, Pupnatska Luka, Bačva, and Bratinja Luka.

Bačva is reputed to be one of the most beautiful coves on Korčula. Unfortunately, our people are experts at destroying nature, so this bay has been permanently marred by construction. An oversized multi-story building on the right side of the cove is a particular eyesore. Once you step onto the beach, everything will become clear. Most other buildings are smaller and skillfully hidden by vegetation. Whether this is for aesthetics or out of fear of building inspections, we do not know.

Bačva Cove is one of the most beautiful on Korčula. Unfortunately, it has been permanently disfigured by unauthorized construction.

If we ignore all the above, the cove is stunning! Its unique feature is a beautiful sea semi-cave located on the right shore.

As with Bratinja Luka, you need to descend from a height of about 300 m to sea level.

The road leading to the bottom is paved. It is narrow like the one to Bratinja Luka, but quite pleasant to drive.

There is no gravel road here, so at the bottom, you will find a paved widening suitable for parking. There isn’t much space, perhaps for just over ten cars, so it’s recommended to arrive early. Those who don’t find a spot here park in the passing places along the road.

From the parking lot, a path about 170 m long descends toward the beach. The path is beautiful!

It passes through native vegetation, olive trees, and figs.

It ends next to a beach bar / tavern right on the beach. You can also rent kayaks at the establishment.

We wanted to explore the cove by kayak, but since the place only opens at 11 AM (?!?) and by then it’s already too hot, we gave up on that idea. You can also reach the cave by swimming, as it is only about 80 meters from the beach.

The shingle on this beach is much finer than the one in Bratinja Luka!

The sea is beautiful and clean. There are significantly more people on the beach than in Bratinja Luka, which is not surprising, as the cove is much more accessible (in Bratinja Luka, half of the descent is a gravel road).

In terms of nature itself, Bačva is perhaps even more beautiful than Bratinja Luka. It has finer shingle, and the semi-cave adds extra appeal. When you first see it while driving down the road, it truly has a WOW effect!

What we liked more about Bratinja Luka was its seclusion, the smaller number of people on the beach, and the less building devastation. The surroundings and nature are equally beautiful.

Why are we comparing these two coves? Because they are very similar, and a few details will determine which choice is right for you.

If you don’t want to get your car dusty jolting for half an hour on a gravel road and want a place to grab a coffee or something to eat, and you love fine shingle, Bačva is certainly the better choice. If you prefer isolation and a sense of wilderness, and a little dust doesn’t bother you, Bratinja Luka is the choice for you.