From easy to difficult - there's a hiking trail in Cres for all
Hiking on Cres in Croatia offers hiking trails with different difficulty levels, from the easy ones along the shore to more difficult mountain trails. While hiking, riding a bike or sailing in your kayak, you will come across many of the approximately 1400 different plant species to be found on the island and you will often find sheep and donkeys or see a griffon vulture flying about.
Hiking trail suggestions:
Cres - Sv. Salvadur - Sv. Blaž
Trail length: 12 km, 3 hrs, medium-difficulty trail
The trail begins in the north part of the town of Cres and runs through centuries-old olive plantations along old stone walls once built by the residents to separate their land from other people’s land. After two hours, you will come to the Chapel of Sv. Blaž and the eponymous sandy beach
Sv. Salvadur – Gavza Bay - Cres
Trail length: 3.3 km, 1.30 hrs, medium-difficulty trail
The trail begins at the crossroads near the Sv. Salvadur Church and runs through olive plantations on rocky terrain all the way to the shore in Gavza Bay – you can return to Cres on a path along the shore.
Cres – Merag
Trail length: 4.5 km, 1.30 hrs, medium-difficulty trail
The trail begins in the north part of the town of Cres and takes you across the hills to the remains of the Sv. Church. The track continues farther to the small fishermen’s village of Merag.
Cres - Krčina - Loznati - Cres
Trail length: 12 km, 3 hrs, medium-difficulty trail
The trail begins in the marina and takes you down a wide stony road know as the French Path, to the village of Krčina. It continues to the village of Loznati where you will enjoy a magnificent view of the Velebit mountain on the coast. It then continues back to the town of Cres.
Cres - Nedomišlje - Valun
Trail length: 12 km, 3 hrs, medium-difficulty trail
A fire route will take you to the hamlet of Valun. Strolling down rocky paths through olive plantations, you will reach Nedomišlje Bay in about 4 hours.
When you arrive in the „Beli Visitor and Rescue Centre for Griffon Vultures“ eco-center in Beli, you can try one of the organized hikes on Tramuntana. The center organizes hikes on 7 different trails.
No snakes! But come prepared with lots of water
What is important to all hikers is that there are no poisonous snakes on the entire island of Cres, so there is no fear of these reptiles. A legend says that poisonous snakes were cursed by St. Gaudens, the guardian of Osor, so there still aren’t any on the island.
It is very hot in summertime, so you need to take plenty of water with you if you are taking a longer hike or bike ride.
Since Cres & Lošinj are connected islands and behave like one there are plenty of excursion possibilities on Lošinj island, too.