Getting your bearings in the Pakleni Islands
The Pakleni Islands lie off Hvar Town in Croatia, with Sveti Klement the largest island in the group. Palmižana is a bay and marina on Sveti Klement, while the beach often called Palmižana is at Vinogradišće. Those names matter when choosing a boat: a marina arrival, a beach landing and a swimming stop from an anchored yacht make different days.
Start with the kind of outing you want. A boat excursion puts the route and onboard equipment into one booking; a summer taxi boat takes you towards an island destination for an independently planned beach day. Guided kayaking adds paddling, while E-Foil is a separate instructed water activity. Keep the trip to Hvar and the onward island journey separate in your plans.
Our picks: Pakleni experiences
Our take: Choose the kayak for a guided paddle or the e-foil for instruction on the water. The catamaran from Split includes lunch and drinks.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
E-foil session with instructor
- Safety equipment
- Helmets with radio connection
- Insta360 videos
An instructor accompanies your e-foil session.
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Sailboat trip from Hvar
- Paddle board
- Snorkel masks
- Lifejackets
The sailboat has cabins, a kitchen and a toilet.
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Catamaran day trip from Split
- Cheese and chicken salad lunch
- Unlimited water, soft drinks, wine, and beer
- Short tour of Hvar town
A guide and musical entertainment accompany the catamaran trip.
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Island boat trip from Hvar
- Welcome drink
- Snorkeling gear
- Ice box
A host and skipper accompany the trip. Cave entry is extra.
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Pakleni cruise from Hvar
- Stand up paddleboard
- Snorkel masks and lifejackets
- Fuel
A skipper accompanies the four-hour cruise.
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Guided sea kayak outing
- Kayak equipment
- Snorkeling opportunity
- Dry bag
A local guide leads the sea kayak tour.
Check availability →Pakleni boat days and water activities
A four-hour yacht outing, a cave combination and instructed E-Foil offer distinct ways onto the water; kayaking and longer sailing add other options.
Sveti Klement and Palmižana
Sveti Klement combines Palmižana marina with bathing at Vinogradišće, reached directly by boat or on foot from the marina bay. Vinogradišće has a mixture of sand and pebbles, with restaurants nearby. For a beach visit, identify the arrival bay before deciding how much walking or onward movement to include. A named island stop alone tells you less than a clearly described landing.
Vlaka offers another side of Sveti Klement, with a pebble beach by the settlement. The footpath from Palmižana bay is 3.5 km long; allow for the walk and the return boat rather than adding it casually to a brief stop. Our Palmižana and beach guide distinguishes the bays and island names.
Beaches and coves beyond Palmižana
Jerolim and Marinkovac offer different shore settings within the Pakleni group. Jerolim has pebble beaches and is an established naturist destination. Stipanska, on Marinkovac, has a rocky shore; Ždrilca is another bay on Marinkovac, reached by boat. Choose the shore you want to spend time at rather than treating every island name as an interchangeable swimming stop.
Swimming from a boat is another way to experience the coast. A stop at anchor gives you water time without promising a landing, and shore facilities belong to particular locations. Bring what your chosen outing needs and follow the skipper's instructions for entering and leaving the water. For an active day, compare snorkeling and guided kayaking.
Boat tour or taxi boat?
A Pakleni boat tour suits an organised day, while summer taxi boats suit a chosen shore destination from Hvar harbour. The four-hour yacht outing includes a skipper, fuel, a paddleboard, snorkel masks and lifejackets. The Hvar cave combination includes a host, skipper, water, welcome drink and snorkeling gear; cave admission is extra. Instructed E-Foil includes the board, safety equipment, radio helmets and videos, and had no reviews in November 2026.
With limited time, choose the four-hour yacht outing; for paddling choose the guided kayak trip with equipment and a dry bag; for a longer sailing day choose the Hvar sailboat with cabins, kitchen and toilet. Its food and drinks are separate. The Split catamaran combines an onboard meal and drinks with a short Hvar Town tour. Read the boat tour comparison, or the taxi boat guide for independent island access.
Name history and marine protection
The Pakleni Islands take their name from pine resin, or “paklina”, in the historical explanation given in the Hvar tourism brochure archived in 2023. The resin was used in shipbuilding. That account connects the name with a local material rather than a story about hell. The islands are also locally called Škoji.
The Pakleni Islands are a protected landscape, with the surrounding marine area in Natura 2000. Posidonia meadows, reefs and sea caves are part of that environment. Respect coastal vegetation and leave anchoring decisions to the skipper within local rules. Hvar's old town, main square and Fortica are on Hvar itself. For that town and overnight base, continue to Hvar as a base.
Plan a Pakleni island day
Pakleni planning starts with your departure town, activity and shore destination. Use these guides to separate the journey, the day on the water and your overnight base.
Boat trips compared
Hvar yacht outings, Split catamarans and instructed E-Foil.
Summer taxi boats
Island destinations, return arrangements and private transfer prices.
Palmižana and the beaches
Separate the marina, Vinogradišće and other island coves.
Paddle and snorkel
Guided kayak outings and sailing with snorkeling equipment.
Caves and island hopping
Biševo and Ravnik combinations with a Pakleni stop.
Private sailing and speedboats
Routes and group capacities for a boat booked together.
Getting to the islands
Split, Hvar Town and the separate onward boat journey.
Choose your base
Hvar Town locations and stays on Sveti Klement.
Seasons and sea conditions
Boat operating seasons and the daily weather decision.
Good to know before leaving Hvar
Pakleni boat journeys depend on the sea, and strong wind or high waves can cause cancellations. Agree your return arrangements before setting off on an independent beach visit. Summer taxi boat service and the marina's operating season describe different services, so match each part of the day to your travel date.
Palmižana marina lists shops, toilets and showers among its facilities, but plan access and supplies for your own destination. For cave combinations, distinguish swimming stops from the Blue Cave visit on Biševo: bathing, swimming and diving are prohibited inside that cave. A day around the Pakleni coves and a cave circuit serve different priorities.
Pakleni Islands questions
Is Palmižana a separate island?
No. Palmižana is a bay and marina on Sveti Klement, the largest Pakleni island. The beach commonly called Palmižana is at Vinogradišće. Decide whether your boat reaches the marina bay, the bathing bay or an offshore swimming stop when planning your day.
Can I take a taxi boat from Hvar?
Yes. Summer taxi boats from Hvar harbour serve destinations including Jerolim, Stipanska, Mlini, Ždrilca and Palmižana. Arrange the return for your chosen destination and travel date. Strong wind and high waves can interrupt service, so keep the weather decision separate from the published summer service description.
Is this the official island website?
No. Pakleni-islands.org is an independent guide, separate from the tourism authorities, harbour administration and landscape management bodies. The guide explains island geography and compares ways to visit. Booking terms belong to the selected activity, while the skipper and local instructions determine the practical day on the water.