Sailing to Incredible Paradise Camping in Medvidina Bay

With the area being a rare secret on the island the waters are teaming with fish

Our local specialty is octopus baked under the baking lid - bell, called "peka". It comes with delicious potatoes grown on the island.

Octopus Under Baking Bell – The Taste of Our Island Evenings

On our island, evenings slow down around the fire. While the sky turns orange and the sea becomes calm, we prepare one of the most beloved Dalmatian dishes – octopus under the baking bell, or as we call it, hobotnica ispod peke.

It is not just a meal; it is a ritual of gathering, talking, and waiting while simple ingredients turn into something rich, tender and full of flavour.

What Is “Peka” and Why It Tastes So Good

Peka is a heavy metal or cast‑iron lid shaped like a low bell, placed over a round pan with food and then covered with hot embers.

Inside, octopus, potatoes and vegetables slowly cook in their own juices, olive oil and aromatic herbs, protected from direct flame but surrounded by gentle, even heat.

Because everything cooks “low and slow”, the octopus becomes incredibly soft, and the potatoes absorb all the smokiness and sea aromas from the sauce.

This is why peka is one of the most famous traditional dishes along the Dalmatian coast and islands.

Our Ingredients: Sea, Garden and Fire

For our octopus under baking bell we use:

Fresh Adriatic octopus, often caught locally, cleaned and prepared the same day.

Island potatoes, firm and sweet, perfect for slow roasting.

Seasonal vegetables such as onions, garlic and sometimes carrots or peppers.

Mediterranean herbs – rosemary, bay leaf and parsley – plus good local white wine.

Extra virgin olive oil from the region, which gives the dish its final, deep flavour.

Everything goes into one pan, so all the tastes mix together: a true marriage of sea and land.

How We Prepare the Octopus Peka

The preparation starts long before you sit at the table. First we make a wood fire and let it burn down to glowing embers, which will later rest on top of the baking bell.

While the fire is working, the octopus is cleaned and briefly pre‑cooked until it becomes tender, then cut into large pieces.

In the peka pan we layer sliced potatoes, onions and vegetables, add the octopus, season everything with sea salt, pepper and herbs, and pour generous olive oil and a splash of white wine.

The pan is covered with the metal bell, and hot embers are placed all over the top, creating an oven of stone, iron and fire.

During the next hour to hour and a half, we occasionally lift the bell, turn the octopus and potatoes, and add a bit more wine or oil if needed.

Slowly, the sauce thickens, the edges caramelise and the whole pan starts to smell like roasted garlic, herbs and the sea.

A Real Island Dining Experience

Eating octopus under baking bell is always a shared experience. The pan arrives on the table still steaming, and everyone serves themselves directly from the dish – tender pieces of octopus, golden potatoes and sweet roasted onions, all soaked in rich sauce.

We usually serve it with a simple green salad, local bread to soak up the juices and a glass of Dalmatian white or light red wine.

There is nothing complicated, nothing fancy on the plate – just honest, traditional food prepared with time and attention.

Part of Your Stay With Us

For our guests, this meal often becomes the highlight of the trip. After a day of sea and sun, you sit by the fire, watch the peka slowly cook and feel the smell of wood smoke and Mediterranean herbs around you.

When we finally open the baking bell and bring the pan to the table, you taste a piece of local life that you will not find in crowded restaurants or fast tourist menus.

If you would like octopus under baking bell during your stay, just let us know in advance so we can prepare everything in time.

We will take care of the fire, the ingredients and the cooking – you just relax, enjoy the evening and remember the taste of our island long after you return home.

The catch of the day is allways on the menu for everyone to enjoy

Kayaking in Medvidina Bay

Kayaking is one of the most peaceful ways to explore Medvidina Bay.

From the water you can see the steep red cliffs, pine trees and small beaches from a completely different angle, moving quietly over the crystal‑clear sea.

Your Red Kayak – Always Ready, Always Free

As my guest you have free use of our red sea kayak during your stay – no rental, no extra cost, just take it and go whenever the sea is calm.

The kayak waits for you right on the beach, so in a few minutes you can be paddling along the shore, visiting the other two beaches in the bay or just drifting in the sun.

You can use it alone or share it with a friend or partner, taking turns between swimming and paddling.

For safety, I always recommend staying close to the coast and avoiding strong afternoon wind or waves.

What You Can Explore by Kayak

From Medvidina you can follow the rocky coastline, discover small coves and look for underwater life in the clear shallows.

Early in the morning or before sunset the sea is usually calm like a lake, perfect for slow, quiet paddling and taking photos.

If you feel more adventurous, you can:

Visit the other two beaches in the bay and choose a new spot for the day.

Paddle along the cliffs and listen to the echo of waves under the rocks.

Combine a short kayak trip with snorkeling – just bring mask, fins and tie the kayak line to a rock while you explore under the surface.

Easy and Relaxed, Even for Beginners

You do not need experience to enjoy the kayak here.

The bay is naturally protected, with gentle water and no big boat traffic, which makes it ideal for first‑time paddlers and families.

Before your first trip I am happy to show you how to sit correctly, hold the paddle, turn, stop and get in and out of the kayak from the beach.

After a few minutes of practice, most guests feel confident enough to explore on their own.

Part of the Medvidina “Slow Life”

Kayaking fits perfectly with the slow, simple rhythm of Medvidina Bay.

You can start the morning with a quiet paddle, spend the day swimming and relaxing on the beach, and in the evening watch the sunset from the kayak, with only the sound of the paddle touching the water.

If you stay with us and would like to use the red kayak, just ask on arrival – it is included in your stay and always ready for your next small adventure.

We provide underwater camera so you can take photos while you snorkel

Sridnja Medvidina – the Heart of Medvidina Bay

Sridnja is the middle and longest beach in Medvidina Bay – a wide curve of smooth pebbles, turquoise water and deep green pines behind.

English version would be "Middle Medvinia".

Sheltered from the wind and crowds, it is the most beautiful of our three beaches, perfect for long swims, sunbathing and quiet evenings under the stars.

From your sunbed you see only sea, rocks and agaves on the red cliffs – no bars, no loud music, just the sound of waves and the feeling that this hidden corner of Hvar belongs only to you for the day.

Agave – silent guardians of Medvidina bay

When you arrive in Medvidina bay on the south side of Hvar, one of the first plants that catches your eye are the agaves – those sculptural, blue‑green rosettes growing from the rocks above the sea. They look like they have always been here, quietly watching the waves, wind and sun in this hidden corner below the village of Gdinj.

Agaves are perfectly adapted to this dry, stony landscape: they store water in their thick leaves, withstand summer heat, and need almost no soil to survive. That makes them a natural part of the wild Mediterranean scenery that surrounds Incredible Paradise Camping and our small cove.

A plant that flowers only once

The most fascinating thing about agaves is their life strategy: most agave species are what botanists call “monocarpic”, which means they flower only once in their lifetime – and then die. For 10–20 years (sometimes even longer) the plant just sits and grows slowly, building up energy in its rosette of leaves.

Then, suddenly, one season it decides that the time has come. From the centre of the plant a thick flowering stalk starts to rise, sometimes growing several centimetres per day, until it becomes a tall “agave tree” covered with hundreds of small flowers.

The “death bloom” – a spectacular farewell

This last act of the agave is often called a “death bloom”: the plant pours all its stored energy into one huge flowering stalk, produces nectar for insects and seeds for the next generation – and after that the mother plant slowly dries out and collapses. It is a spectacular and rare moment; most visitors will only see a few agaves in full bloom in their lifetime, because each individual plant does it just once.

If you are staying in Medvidina bay at the right time, you may notice such a stalk rising above the other agaves along the path or above the stone terraces. First the leaves in the centre change shape, then the stem pushes up, and over the next weeks it becomes a natural “tower” with greenish‑yellow flowers buzzing with bees and other pollinators.

The circle of life: pups and new agaves

Even though the mother plant dies after flowering, the story does not end there. Agaves usually leave behind “pups” – small copies of the plant that grow around the base, or even tiny plantlets (bulbils) on the old flower stalk, which can take root and continue the line.

In this way one agave can create an entire family over the years, slowly spreading along dry stone walls and rocky slopes above the bay. When you walk around Incredible Paradise Camping and see groups of agaves at different sizes, you are probably looking at several generations of the same plant family.

Agaves and the spirit of Medvidina

For us, these plants are more than just “decoration”. They represent patience, endurance and a different sense of time – quietly growing for many years, then making one grand, generous gesture before disappearing and giving space to their children.

Sitting under the pines, listening to the cicadas and watching the sea, you may notice an agave stalk on the horizon and remember that some beings live their whole life for one single bloom. In Medvidina bay, among the rocks and the sound of the waves, this simple plant tells a big story about the circle of life.

Incredible Paradise Camping is a small, wild corner of Medvidina Bay with space for just 6–7 tents and a maximum of around 15 guests – a real Robinson‑style escape by the sea.

A Wild Camp Above the Sea

Incredible Paradise Camping sits on the southern side of Hvar, surrounded by pine trees, stone walls and vineyards, with open views over the bay and the island on the horizon.

Instead of a big campsite with hundreds of pitches, there are only a few carefully chosen tent terraces carved into the hillside, each with enough space and privacy to feel like your own small piece of coast.

With a maximum of about 15 people on site, the atmosphere stays quiet and relaxed, even in high season.

You wake up to the sound of cicadas and waves, not traffic or loud music, and the first thing you see in the morning is the blue Adriatic below your tent.

Robinson Style – But Comfortable

The camp is simple on purpose – this is Robinson style camping, not a classic holiday park.

You sleep in your own tent or one of our prepared spots, cook outdoors and spend most of the day between the beach, the sea and the shade of the pines.

At the same time, you are not completely alone: there is basic infrastructure, fresh water, shared spaces and a host who knows the bay and island very well.

If you need help with setting up your tent, planning a day on the sea or organising a meal from local ingredients, I am always close by.

Three Beaches, Endless Sea

From the camp you can walk down to three different beaches in Medvidina Bay – each with its own character, from the wide Sridnja to the quiet Južnja where we sometimes make a small beach campfire.

The water is crystal clear, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, kayaking or just floating and watching the cliffs and pine trees above you.

Because the bay is sheltered and there are no big hotels or crowds, it often feels like a private movie set – especially early in the morning and in the evening when the light turns golden and the sea becomes completely calm.

For People Who Love Nature More Than Comfort

Incredible Paradise Camping is ideal for guests who prefer nature, freedom and simplicity to luxury and animation programmes.

If you like to sleep close to the sea, cook outdoors, watch the stars instead of screens and share the bay only with a few other respectful campers, you will feel at home here.

With only 6–7 tent positions and a maximum of around 15 guests, it is easy to find your own rhythm – read a book in the shade, paddle with the kayak, join a seafood dinner, or just sit quietly and listen to the night sounds of the island.