SPORT AND RECREATION

Exceptionally favourable microclimatic conditions and peculiarly beautiful nature enable guests and visitors to spend their holiday on Cres pursuing diverse sports activities. For a large number of holiday-makers, in particular for the young, it is difficult to imagine a holiday without recreational and sports activities. If you wish to spend your holiday taking part in various activities you will certainly be satisfied with Cres as it offers opportunities of going in for almost all sports on land and sea. Apart from the usual recreational activities such as tennis, mini golf, beach volley, table tennis, basketball and football, this island offers you the opportunities that you cannot find at home. Cres owes its potentials to its position: the Adriatic is not only the clearest sea in the Mediterannean, but also the closest to continental Europe. Here the bathing season lasts from May to October. Apart from the well-indented coastline of the archipelago, a real treasure of our island are numerous beaches, mostly located in its western part. Some of these beaches look like sea shells, indented by sea waves, that gradually steep into the emerald blue sea. A large number of the beaches can be reached on foot; if you wish to visit them you just have to take a walk along one of centuries-old paths , surrounded by dry stone walls and green belts of olive and juniper trees which are permeated with the odours of rosemary, mint and thyme. On the other hand, some beaches can be reached only by sea; if you do not have your own boat, you may join one of our organised boat trips. One of the destinations you may choose to visit is "Blue grote", a cave which owes its particular beauty to a magnificent play of light and water. Or you may rather choose one of the beaches situated in the proximity of urban centres and catering facilities, where canoes, pedal boats, sunshades and deckchairs are offered for hire.
If you feel like taking up a challenge of sailing, submarine fishing, parachutting, you have come to the right place. The island offers various opportunities for submarine sports activities. There is a school of diving where the equipment may be hired. Diving centres are situated in Cres, Martinšcica and Beli. Those who would like to try sailing, may join courses of sailing organised both for adults and children.

Nature lovers who would like to get to know the interior parts of the island may use marked walking paths, the length of which amounts to about 100 km. The trips around the island, which will give you an opportunity to come across breathtaking landscapes, may satisfy various wishes : some of you may wish to relax, others may wish to explore cultural and historical monuments scatttered all over the island, while some may have a wish to take part in recreation and enjoy unspoilt nature. Another motive may be a wish to study the rich flora of the island. The fact that a genuine treasury of authentic vegetation is situated on a relatively small surface makes many parts of the island real botanical gardens. Though exposed to the scorching Mediterranean sun, these gardens are still green and woody; do visit them because of their harmony and well preserved nature, because of their ever green junipers, evergreen oaks, laurels, centuries old olive trees, blooming lavender and rosmery……

The best seasons for bike tours across the hilly areas of the island, which offer magnificent views, are spring and autumn. Increasingly popular among visitors of Cres, these tours are recommended as a way of learning, through exploring, more about the island.
In short, one should travel all over the island of Cres and discover it. Its beauty and wealth is not hidden. Once discovered, the island will remain forever in your heart.