Pelješac is a peninsula in southern Dalmatia in Croatia. The peninsula is part of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County and is the second-largest peninsula in Croatia. From the isthmus that begins at Ston, to the top of Cape Lovišta, it is 65 km or 40 mi long. The Peljesac Channel divides the peninsula from the island of Korcula. Scattered like breadcrumbs across the foothills of the dolomites, the hamlets and villages of southern Peljesac evoke an ancient past. The rocks, the vegetation, the groves of pine and cypress – everywhere a sense of timelessness prevails. On the hills above the sea, abandoned villas and gardens, stone walls, and columns lie crumbling in the sun.

Lemon, fig, and almond trees, herbs, and wildflowers surround the village’s gardens and fields. The historical sea captains’ town of Orebic – with its shops, market, cafes, and restaurants is at the bottom of the Sveti Ilija Mountain. A footpath into the mountains to the summit of Sveti Ilija begins near Viganj – Croatia’s windsurfing capital. There, seaside restaurants and pebbly beaches attract a lively crowd in the summer months.

The island of Korcula and Mljet are just across the channel. The peninsula makes a nice day trip from Dubrovnik. The best is to do it by car or you can always book a private tour of the Peninsula that includes wine tasting in the Potomje region and oyster sampling in the Ston area.