Saplunara Anchorage Guide
Also known as: Uvala Saplunara, Mljet SE Bay, Sandy Bay Mljet
Saplunara is the best beach on Mljet island — and one of the finest sandy beaches in all of Dalmatia. Located at the far SE tip of the island, well outside the national park, it allows free anchoring on magnificent white sand. The beach has a natural, unspoiled character with pine trees reaching the water's edge and clear, shallow water ideal for swimming. A small seasonal settlement provides a basic konoba. The bay is completely open to the south and SE, making it a fair-weather anchorage — but in the stable summer Mistral pattern it is idyllic. Worth a long day or overnight stop on passage between Dubrovnik and Korčula or Lastovo.
Quick Reference
GPS
42°42.0'N 17°45.5'E
Depth
2–6m
Bottom
sand
Holding
Excellent holdingProtected From
N, NE, NW, E, W
Exposed To
S, SE
Best Months
May, June, September, October
Fee
Free to anchor
Permit
Yes — Croatian eNautička cruising permit required. No national park fee — outside NP boundaries. Standard Croatian regulations.
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m on excellent sand in 2–6m. Bay is outside the NP so free anchoring permitted. 150m beach exclusion applies Jun 15–Sep 15. SE Jugo exposure is the main risk — monitor forecasts carefully for overnight stays.
Set this in Safety Anchor Alarm — FreeThe Anchorage
Saplunara is widely regarded as the finest beach on Mljet island — a wide bay of pale, clean sand at the SE tip of the island, outside the national park boundaries. Free anchoring on excellent sand in 2–6m. No mooring buoy requirement here (outside NP). 150m beach exclusion applies in season. The bay is open to S and SE — Jugo sends swell in quickly; depart if SE wind develops. Beautiful and relatively wild despite its reputation.
Setting Your Anchor
Bottom at Saplunara: primarily sand. Deploy 7:1 scope minimum (42m at 6m). Set firmly in reverse and snorkel to verify bottom — avoid Posidonia (€2,000 fine).
Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade, Delta.
Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm
Set GPS anchor alarm to 60m radius. 60m on excellent sand in 2–6m. Bay is outside the NP so free anchoring permitted. 150m beach exclusion applies Jun 15–Sep 15. SE Jugo exposure is the main risk — monitor forecasts carefully for overnight stays.
May–October in settled weather. Peak in June and September. July–August sees moderate traffic but nothing like the NP anchorages. Completely avoid in Jugo or any SE forecast.
Navigation Hazards
- SE exposure — Jugo swell makes bay untenable within hours of onset; depart for Okuklje if SE wind forecast
- 150m beach exclusion zone in season — anchor clear of the sandy beach head
- No facilities outside Jul–Aug — bring everything you need
- Isolated location — nearest fuel or provisions at Korčula town (22nm)
Rules & Regulations
- Permit: Required — Croatian eNautička cruising permit required. No national park fee — outside NP boundaries. Standard Croatian regulations.
- Anchoring fee: Free to anchor
- Maximum stay: 3 days
- Restrictions: 150m beach exclusion Jun 15–Sep 15. No fires on the beach. Respect the natural environment.
- Croatian eNautička (MMPI) permit required for all foreign yachts.
Facilities
- Fresh water: Not available
- Fuel: Not available — nearest: Korčula town (22nm)
- Restaurant/Konoba: Small seasonal konoba at the beach, open Jul–Aug only.
- Provisions: None — Korčula town (22nm)
Skipper's Tips
- This is a genuine bucket-list anchorage — white sand, clear water, pine trees, no roads; arrive early in season
- Overnight in June or September for the most memorable experience — almost no other boats
- The walk around the SE headland gives views across to the open Adriatic toward Italy
- Check the SE Jugo forecast rigorously before committing to overnight — escape route is Okuklje (6nm W, excellent shelter)
A note on this guide: Always check current weather, NAVTEX/VHF bulletins, and HHI charts. Use a GPS anchor alarm — never rely solely on a guide for navigational decisions.
Sleep peacefully at Saplunara
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