If you're craving a slice of nature and want a change from the throng of Croatia's historic cities, then the Neretva Delta is what you're after. Within an hour and a half of Split, it's a mosaic of waterways, marshes and lagoons that you can peacefully meander along as you switch your holiday to a slower pace for the day.
You'll arrive in the morning at Villa Neretva, where you'll board a trupica – a traditional Croatian riverboat – and take to the waterways of the Neretva River. The river's wetlands sprawl across Bosnia and Herzegovina, with a relatively small stretch flowing through Croatia before it pours out into the Adriatic Sea. In this protected conservation area, you'll glide through the clear water, with a good chance of spotting herons, egrets and pygmy cormorants. There are over 300 species of birds here among the other wildlife, so keep an eye out for some more unusual finds, like colourful kingfishers, black and yellow fire salamanders and vibrant Balkan green lizards.
Past Lake Kuti, you'll stop for lunch at Neretva House Tavern, which can only be reached by boat, for a feast of traditional Dalmatian dishes. Then, relax as you weave through the green wetlands, on your return to land.
