Bratinja Luka

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.

Defora means “towards the open sea.” It is the name for the southeastern side of the island of Korčula. Besides the interior and the vineyards of Žrnovo, it includes the coast from the Ražnjić peninsula, the easternmost point of the island, to Pupnatska Luka.

One specific feature we immediately noticed about Korčula is the depth of its southern coves. Korčula has about a dozen bays on this side that are very deep, both in terms of height and length. This is also the case with Bratinja Luka.

From a height of about 300 m, you must descend a narrow, winding road to sea level. To make the adventure even greater, the last half of the journey is a gravel road. The path is perfectly fine regarding driving safety, but be prepared for your car to be more dusty than ever before. The adventure of reaching this beach begins in Žrnovo. Well-placed signs and directions are a pleasant confirmation that your navigation isn’t lying.

All beaches in this area are pebbly, with grain sizes ranging from coarse to the finest shingle. There are mostly buildings in the bays. In some places, these structures are few and better integrated, while in others, they significantly mar the coves, which is unfortunate, as most of them should be protected natural monuments.

Bratinja Luka is one of the bays that hasn’t been overly spoiled by houses. We encountered one building under construction and several others hidden in the greenery. The structures do not “offend the eye” in terms of style or size.

We liked the path that leads from the parking lot down to the beach. Part of it goes through deep shade, and the vegetation and the entire atmosphere beautifully emphasize the isolation and wilderness of this bay. The entrance to the path is here 42.917970096376216, 17.077433200868676

By the way, this is one large bay that is divided into two smaller ones. The “sister” bay of Bratinja Luka is Orlanduša. You will pass Orlanduša by car on the way to Bratinja Luka. Due to its orientation, the beach there is more of an afternoon spot. If you decide to swim between these two bays, there are 350 m from one beach to the other.

There is very little shade, only in one corner at the edge of the beach, so if you plan to stay longer than a couple of hours, a parasol is recommended.

Sea clarity and a small number of visitors are the main characteristics of Bratinja Luka. The shingle is medium-sized and relatively comfortable for walking. This is one of our favorite beaches on the island, but it is also one of the hardest to reach.