If you’ve ever been to Croatia, then you probably know how special it is. However, I must admit, over the past few years it has become more and more popular (i.e. crowded). Unfortunately, if you visit in July or August you will be rubbing elbows with many tourists fighting for a spot near the water. Cue in the virtually undiscovered island of Proizd, a secret local hideaway far from the crowds.
Proizd was voted Croatia’s most beautiful beach in 2007 by the Croatian Tourist Board, and it’s not hard to see why. The clean white rocks contrasted with the deep turquoise waters is breathtaking, and probably the clearest water I’ve ever seen in all of Croatia. Proizd is completely off the beaten path and is perfect for a day trip if you’re looking for some peace and quiet.
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Disclaimer: all of the photos in this post are completely unedited and from my iPhone( or GoPro)…the water really is that color! A fancy DSLR camera wasn’t needed to capture Proizd, it’s so naturally beautiful on its own!
Where is Proizd?
Proizd is located off the West Coast of Korčula Island, one of my favourite Croatian islands. A boat ride from Vela Luka to the island will take 35 minutes.
How to get to Proizd
To get to Proizd, a small boat leaves from the port town of Vela Luka 3 times daily during the summer at 10am, 11am, 12pm, and 1:30pm. The boat returns at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm. Get to the boat 25 minutes early to assure you a seat in the high season. It only holds about 25-30 people. Tickets costs 50 kuna roundtrip (about $7.36 USD currently).
Proizd boat timetable
What to do in Proizd
Ok, there are only a few things to do on this island, but it’s so worth going to. If you love nature and secluded beaches, you will fall for Proizd very quickly.
1. Wander through the woods, pick a trail and let it lead you to a new secret beach
Take the beaten path to get off the beaten path. Makes sense, right?
One you get off the boat and pass the one restaurant near the dock, you will notice a wooded forest that has several different narrow walking paths that lead in different directions. You can’t really go wrong, so pick one, take the short hike, and see where the path takes you!
My favorite view below, after a 10 minute walk through the green forest led to this…
2. Relax!
This is the perfect place to take a book, lay out and relax. It doesn’t get more peaceful than this.
That’s the beauty of this island. It is completely devoid of tourists and you will only see a handful of locals around. At any given point, I don’t think I saw more than 10-15 people at a time at one single beach. At some spots, there weren’t any people at all. Keep in mind, I was there in August, in the height of peak season! I can’t even imagine what it would be like in May or late September, but I’m definitely intrigued to go back and find out!
Who wouldn’t want a whole paradise island to themselves?
Where to Stay in Proizd
Sorry to burst your bubble, but Proizd is uninhabited! There are NO houses, apartments, or hotels on the island. Another reason why I loved this island so much!
There is one restaurant and one beach bar, and that’s it! The rest is just you and nature (and a handful of Croats). Staying in nearby Vela Luka is recommended as you can easily catch a boat directly from there.
Tips for Visiting Proizd
- Wear appropriate shoes because it is very rocky (no sand unfortunately)
- Bring snacks as there is only one restaurant where the boat docks
- Don’t stay at one beach, explore as many paths as you can (I didn’t know about this until it was too late and I was only able to see 2-3 beaches)
- One beach is nude, just FYI
- Pay attention to boat departure times, the last one is at 7pm! Dont get left behind or you WILL be sleeping on the beach alone (hey, this might not be a bad thing after all)
Where is your perfect secluded paradise island? Let me know in the comments below. I may need some inspiration for future travels 🙂
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MY TOP 5 RECOMMENDED TRAVEL GEAR:
1.Sony Alpha 6000 Mirrorless Camera: I made the switch from my huge DSLR and I wouldn’t go back. It’s light, compact, and takes amazing photos!
2. Sony 10-18mm Wide Angle Zoom Lens: this wide angle lens is the key to landscape shots. I use this lens more than the original and am super happy with it. It’s not cheap, but super worth it if you want to get those special nature shots. Honestly, I would purchase the Sony alpha 6000 camera body only and save up for this lens to go with it.
3. E Bags Packing Cubes: the biggest life changer to keep me packing light! This is my biggest travel gear obsession and I have NO idea how I traveled without them before.
4. LifeProof NUUD Waterproof Case (iPhone 6): this helps protect my phone from water, sand, dirt, and the numerous drops that incur while I travel. I love it!
5. GoPro Hero 5 Black: I am a proud GoPro ambassador and obsessed with GoPro selfie pics if you didn’t notice! This is an essential item when you’re traveling solo to get all your cool shots (and of course underwater pics). Plus it’s so much fun to use! 🙂
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Thanks for your valuable post, Really nice and very informative.
This is truly amazing!
merci pour les informations
Looks amazing – great post! ‘Planning to go there Spring 2019 (wow – that sounds far away!)
Haha yeah that’s far away, but more to look forward to! Enjoy 🙂
Hello there CrazyTravelista Ü
My boyfriend and I are vistiting Croatia for the first time now in the end of May and I have one question; I understand it so that you where visiting Proizd now in March 2016 and came out there with the small boats that bring tourists out there and back every day.
We will stay 3 days in Vela Luka and our host said that there are no boats leaving for Proizd now in the low season, but that we can pay a taxiboat or rent our own boat and travel out alone. How did you get out there?
March is also low season as I understand it, and I haven’t found any dates for high and low season for the boats on the net yet.
Hope you can help me figure this out 😉
Ingvild & Tom
HI! I’m a little confused about when you’re going? You said March 2016 but that was 2 months ago. Did you mean May? The boat season starts in May usually in the middle to end of the month. I went in August and there were a few boats a day taking people to the island since it was high season. The season is usually mid May to end of September. The islands basically shut down during the offseason. If you go outside of this time, you may need to rent your own boat. 🙂
Looks like an amazing place to visit and I may get to experience it in May. 😉 I didn’t know there were so many beaches and you’ve provided some great tips for arriving and making the most of your visit. Nice that your phone camera took those amazing pictures!
May is an excellent time to go to Croatia! I hope you get to make it here for some relaxation! 🙂
Croatia looks like an amazing country that has recently made it on my bucket list. Sorry to hear everyone else is discovering it too.
Yes, definitely go soon! It’s still less crowded than other coastal countries in Europe like Spain, Italy, Greece…and a little cheaper too 🙂
Looks absolutely stunning, like a piece of paradise, would love to get there some day.
It was my tiny paradise for the day 🙂
Croatia has been at the top of my list for so long! This just makes me want to go even more!! Great post!
Thanks! Croatia is a MUST!!! 🙂
We loved our time in Croatia! Was only in pula and Rovinj and it was magical, had some of the best snorkeling experience ever 🙂 proizd island looks amazing, if we head back (which I know we will!) Will make sure to visit..
Ohhh Rovinj is one of my favorites in Croatia! Magical indeed 🙂
This looks so beautiful and I love that the photos are unedited and we can see what it is really like! I must admit, I hear so many people going to Croatia that I hadn’t put it on my list but if it’s still possible to find places like this, I should rethink it 🙂
Oh you should definitely go! There are still so many untouched places like this. Oh and I especially love the Istria region up north! Its more quiet and has so much to offer! Rovinj has become one of my favorite cities in Croatia. You should add it to your list 🙂
Yes, this sounds like the perfect option to escape the now-busy world that is Croatia. And I’d be lying if I said that every aspect of this island isn’t awesome. It’s kind of exactly what we’ll be looking for when we head that way soon!
Ya the secret definitely got out about Croatia! I still love it and will continue to go, but its so nice to find these hidden little gems there to get away from it all. Hope you get to make it over there!
Wow, you really did found a hidden Island. I used to spend my childhood on Croatian coast and have to admit i have never heard of this island:)
Oh then you must visit!! Its so peaceful ad secluded. Im sure you will love it! 🙂
The water is so beautiful! This looks like a very relaxing island to visit. Croatia is already on my list, and now this island!
This island is also off the west coast of Korcula, one of the best islands in Croatia, in my opinion! You should definitely go and see both! 🙂
This looks and sounds AMAZING. Sounds like my ideal day too! Croatia is definitely getting wayyy popular, but I’ll definitely be going here too when I visit!
YA it is, but its because Croatia is awesome! There are many lesser visited places that I really enjoy to get away from the crowds..especially Vis island. 🙂
Wow, gorgeous photos! Croatia is one of my favorite destinations, I can’t wait to get there one day!
Its hard not to fall in love with Croatia!! 🙂
This island looks all secluded and beautiful..more like an untouched beauty..wowww…
And I love those places that are less popular and crowded. They are like hidden gems..and oh my god. These are unedited pics from an I phone..wow..This place is indeed beautiful then…
haha yep! Iphone and 2 from my GoPro…all unedited. Imagine how it would look if I edited them! But I didnt want to take away from the natural beauty of the place. Some places are better left in their pure form 🙂
Proizd – somewhere new, I’ve never heard of it! Nice to read about somewhere different, looks gorgeous – reminds me of the secret beaches in Ibiza. Thank you!
Thanks! Now that you mention it, there were a few really pretty beaches in Ibiza that i wasnt expecting! Loved Formentera 🙂
Ooh, secret beaches! Thanks for sharing. It’s hard to give those up. If you are ever in Australia you could try Hyam’s Beach near Jervis Bay. Also stunning and secluded
Thanks for the tip! Australia is high on the list!!! 🙂
I love little islands like these–except for the fact that you nearly always have to take a tiny boat. (I, uh, don’t really like tiny boats, and neither does my stomach.)
Are you allowed to stay overnight on the beach? Sounds like it would be lovely (and very peaceful!).
Well, there are no accommodations on the island and I’m not sure camping is allowed. (I didnt see anyone doing it while i was there). So I’m not exactly sure, but my guess would be no. And the boat wasn’t THAT small, im sure you would be fine :). I get sea sick super easily and it didnt bother me at all!
oh my, this really looks like paradise. I went to Croatia but I didn’t know this place. thank you for letting us know it! 🙂
Ya i never heard of it before either. I’m so glad I went!
As weird as it may sound, I actually prefer rocky beaches over sandy ones. I don’t really know why but possibly because I’m from the Philippines and we have a lot of sandy beaches so I kind of had enough of that. I haven’t been to Croatia but from all the blog posts I’ve read about it I think it’s such a beautiful place. This island looks like a dream, a beach to yourself! 🙂
Haha ya i guess I can see that-although I do love the sand beaches! Croatia is paradise, you should really try to make it out there!! 🙂
Beautiful pictures! I tend to think of Croatia in terms of food and architecture — I’d be definitely wrong to ignore its landscapes, too. Thanks!
Oh ya, being out on the water is the best part about Croatia. The water is SO gorgeous!