Last Updated: May 12, 2022
Hvar To Korcula: Ferry, Car & Private Boat
Planning to do some island hopping in Croatia and need tips on traveling between Hvar and Korčula? Then you’re definitely in the right place because this guide will tell you all you need to know about traveling between these two islands.
Korčula and Hvar are two of Croatia’s prettiest and most visited islands. They’re also two of the most expensive islands in the country when it comes to accommodation and restaurant prices, but that’s an entirely different topic.
This detailed guide covers all the ways you can travel between the islands, including ferry frequencies and prices. So, read on to see the best ways to hop from Hvar to Korcula, and start planning your travels through Croatia!
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Hvar to Korcula by Passenger Ferry
Passengers ferries and Catamarans operate between Hvar and Korcula throughout the year. Their frequency depends on the season though – in the winter season there’s only one boat transfer per day, while the summer season sees four catamarans depart from the Hvar port for Korcula.
The route from Hvar town to Korčula Island is serviced by two ferry companies – Jadrolinija and Kapetan Luka. The journey takes between an hour and an hour and a half, and costs between 40 to 150 Kunas.
The thing to note is that it’s cheaper to dock in Vela Luka than in Korcula town. Transfer to Korcula town is much more expensive, and you always have the option of riding a bus from Vela Luka to Korcula town.
There are four bus connections from Vela Luka to Korcula town in the off-season, and I can only imagine that there are even more connections during peak season. The route is operated by Autotrans d.d., tickets cost 45 Kunas per persona, and the ride is approximately one hour.
It would cost you about 85 Kunas to take a ferry from Hvar to Vela Luka and then a bus to Korcula town, but some 150 Kuna to ride the ferry directly from Hvar to Korčula town.
The more expensive journey is the better option if you don’t want to waste any time, but the former option is more suitable for tourists who actually want to explore Korčula Island.
It’s worth noting that there’s also a fast ferry from Hvar town to Prigradica on Korčula Island during peak season. The ferry duration is only about 50 minutes, ticket prices are around 9 Euros, and it operates once per day at around 6 PM.
Another thing to keep in mind is that this is just the direct route from Hvar to Korcula Island for foot passengers. If you have a bicycle and you want to explore more of the Croatian islands, you’ll have even more options. You can take a ferry to Split, stay in that town for a few days and then get on a ferry to Korčula.
You can even travel from Hvar island to Brac island if you want. The Croatian islands are very well connected by boats, and tickets for foot passengers are usually not expensive. Ferry tickets for cars and other vehicles are much pricier, and it’s generally much trickier when you’re traveling by car.
FIND FERRY PRICES AND OPTIONS
CHECK PRICES HERE
Hvar to Korčula by Rental Car & Ferry
If you have a rental car, you actually have several ways of traveling between Hvar and Korčula Island. However, both of those include taking at least two ferry transfers, since there currently aren’t any direct car ferries that travel directly from Hvar to Korčula Island.
The first option, which includes very little driving, is to take a ferry from Stari Grad ferry port to the Split port on the Croatian mainland. From there, you can get on another ferry to Vela Luka on Korčula Island. The route is served by Jadrolinija, which is one of the largest and most important ferry operators in Croatia.
This ferry route can take a while and it’s expensive, but it’s definitely the most convenient way of traveling between Hvar and Korcula, especially for those who aren’t that keen on driving on Croatian roads.
Ticket prices on the Stari Grad-Split ferry for passenger vehicles are around 300 Kunas in high season, plus some 50 Kunas per foot passenger. This ferry journey lasts for approximately 2 hours.
The ferry journey from Split to Vela Luka lasts for approximately three hours. Ferry tickets cost 470 Kunas for vehicles, plus 60 Kunas for foot passengers. During peak season, passenger and vehicle ferries depart twice a day for Korčula.
The other option is to head to Sucuraj, on the far east coast of Hvar island. There you can take a ferry to Drvenik – the ferry duration is only some 30 minutes, and ferry tickets in peak season are 186 Kunas for passenger vehicles, plus 16 Kunas per passenger.
When you arrive in Drvenik, you have two options. You can drive on to Ploce, where you can take a ferry to Trpanj on the Peljesac peninsula. The main goal is to reach Orebic, where you can get on a direct ferry to Korcula island. Orebic can be reached by road, but it does take about two hours to drive from Drvenik to Orebic.
The Ploce-Trpanj-Orebic route also takes about two hours, and that’s without including the waiting time for the Ploce-Trpanj ferry. The reality is that this ferry route can take quite a while, especially if you don’t get there early enough to ensure you have a spot on the ferry. Tickets for this route also cost around 140 Kunas for the car and some 30 Kunas for foot passengers.
On the other hand, driving can also take a while since you have to cross over the Bosnian border. This should become a non-issue in mid-2022 though when the Peljesac Bridge opens for the public and starts allowing passengers to access the peninsula directly from Klek.
If you’re comfortable driving, it’s definitely best to just drive from Drvenik to Orebic. The 2-hour drive is scenic, you have the option of stopping along the way wherever you want (the Ston walls and Trstenik on Peljesac peninsula are gorgeous), and it’s the cheapest option out of the bunch.
The ferry route from Orebic to Korcula (check bus fares here) takes only some 15 minutes, and it costs about 75 Kunas for vehicles, plus 16 Kunas for passengers during peak season.
One important thing to note about the prices listed here is that they’re only for passenger vehicles up to 5 meters in length. Cars longer than 5 meters, trailers, campers, and motorcycles each cost differently, so be sure to check the exact price list here.
FIND RENTAL CARS & FERRY PRICES AND OPTIONS
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Hvar to Korčula by Private Boat
Another option for travel between the two islands is to arrange a private boat transfer. This is possible, but it’s not very common. It’s worth noting that private boat transfers are an option for foot passengers only and that it is not possible to transport vehicles by private boats.
You will need to contact one of the many speedboat and boat taxi services that operate in Hvar and arrange a transfer with them directly. There are no information or price quotes for these private transfers, but I can only assume that they’re more expensive than any other way of traveling between Hvar and Korcula.
The downside is that information on the Internet is very limited – I was able to find only this service, and even they didn’t say much other than you need to contact them personally to arrange a transfer.
I would recommend that you ask a Croatian friend to do this for you since they’re going to have an easier time negotiating with the locals and they might be able to get you a better price.
There’s no information on the prices, but considering that their speedboats transfer up to 12 people on board, I’d assume that it’s definitely not less than $500 for the group. I did manage to find that it’s about $650 for a private transfer of 12 people between Hvar and Split, which is a journey of a similar length, so I’d guess somewhere in that ballpark.
Another thing to keep in mind here is that you could always rent a boat and venture out on your own. This is by far the most expensive option out of the bunch, but it’s also the one that gives you the most flexibility and freedom. If you or anyone in your group has any skipper experience, this is definitely something you should consider.
It’s also possible to pay for a professional skipper to be on the boat with you, but it’s going to cost a lot more money.
You can check out boats available for rent on most boat rental sites that operate in Croatia, including Dream Yacht Charter, Click & Boat, and many others. Click & Boat is a great site for renting sailboats and other smaller boats – you’re renting directly from the owners in various locations throughout Croatia, and you can choose whether or not you want a professional skip boat.
It’s even possible to find boats that are under 100 Euros per day, which is a pretty good deal if you’re thinking of traveling from Hvar to Korcula for just a few days. It’s worth noting that the cheaper boats generally don’t have cabins, so you will need to pay for accommodation in Korcula, as well as for the docking.
FIND PRIVATE BOAT AND OPTIONS
CHECK PRICES HERE
About the Author Anna Timbrook
Anna is the co-owner of expert world travel and can't wait to share her travel experience with the world. With over 54 countries under her belt she has a lot to write about! Including those insane encounters with black bears in Canada.
