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 Who ever dared to say Croatia doesn't have sandy beaches? Not only it has
beautiful beaches, but it also has an island completely made of sand.
The name of the island is Susak and it is unique in the whole of
the Mediterranean. The island is situated in Kvarner Bay, 10 miles
southwest of Losinj island. Here is Susak island map!
Just go
there, without apology or regret. Don’t say anything, least of all a
promise: that is implied, for no one comes to the island of Susak only
once. After the first encounter, there will be no summers when you won’t
wish to come here. Nor will anyone ask you why, if you don’t go one year.
Everyone will know that it must be something weightily and pressing,
something that has just temporarily gone wrong.
Susak
is indeed a special island. An island of sand and sandy beaches! On the northern side, the
banks of sand reach up to hundred meters. Around the 11th-Century
Benedictine abbey, the old village of Gornje Selo (Upper Village), also
known as Selo, sprang up. On the other side, by the sea, is the village of
Donje Selo (Lower Village), also known as Mul (Pronounced: Mool). There
are about 150 inhabitants living permanently on this island, while in
America there are about 30 to 40 times more natives of Susak and their
descendants. Only in the summer does the population rise, expanding
five-fold. There are two reasons for this - the first is the tourists
seeking true relaxation in the untouched sandy beaches nature which is so distinctive
here, wanting to live according to its rhythm, but also seeking the taste
of the food and the far-famed Susak wine. The other is the call of the
heart of those who left a long time ago, but keep coming back every
summer. It’s hard to understand their language: a strange mixture of
English and the Susak dialect of Croatian, which only those who live or
used to live here can understand.
Susak is a small
island with only 4 square kilometers of land. Entire island is a large
beach. The best way to get to know the island is to walk around it. The
track is 11 kilometers long and runs along the shore. Wherever you stop
you can have a swim. It takes a little over three hours to tour the
island. All you need to take on your walk is something to quench your
thirst along the way. Some of the sandy beaches are often used by naturists. The
most popular clothing optional beach is the one in Bok Bay, east of
island's settlement.
And when
on Sundays or holidays the girls put on the unique folk costume – wide,
short and colorful – it will be an attraction for the visitors. A folk
costume mini skirt! Apart from festivities and rare occasions when they
will wear it, one day is a constant – Emigrant’s Day on the last Sunday
in July. This is always a great event for the island, when many
generations of those who left and those who have stayed meet together, a
day around which plane tickets are booked, meetings are scheduled and
family reunions planned…
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How do I get to
Susak?
In order for you to
get to Susak sandy beaches, you need to get to either Mali Losinj or Rijeka first. The
Susak-Rijeka connection is by ship a few times a week. This ship, which is
a catamaran, also stops in Cres, Martinscica, and Unije. The Susak-Mali
Losinj connection is the usual route to get to Susak. To get to Mali
Losinj, there is a ferry connection to the Island of Cres-Losinj in two
different locations. From Rijeka, you could basically go either way, but
if you are closer to the Island Krk, then you should take the Valbinska –
Merag connection, which is on the Island of Krk. If you are in Istria, (
Opatija, Pula, or any other town in Istria ) then to reach sandy beaches
of Susak island, you should consider the
Brestova – Porozine connection. People prefer the Island of Krk connection
because it’s faster and a bit less scary. If you enjoy narrow, high roads,
then you might want to consider the Brestova – Porozine connection. Both
ferry connections run quite often during the summer. Mali Losinj is also
connected to Pula, Zadar, and Venice in the summer time through various
other connections.
Useful links:
Ferry connections. |
