The Biokovo range rises almost vertically from the coast behind Brela, with the highest peak — Sveti Jure at 1,762 metres — about 12 kilometres inland. From the village the mountain wall fills the entire skyline; on clear evenings the limestone goes gold and the sea below turns dark blue.
Several waymarked trails climb into the lower slopes from Brela. A reasonable half-day hike takes you up to the village of Gornja Brela and on into the foothills of the Biokovo Nature Park, with views back over the riviera and out to the islands of Brač and Hvar. Carry plenty of water — the slopes are dry, exposed, and surprisingly hot once you leave the coastal pines. For the famous Skywalk glass viewing platform, you need to drive up from Makarska to the higher reaches of the park.