The grey limestone wall of the Biokovo massif rises straight out of the sea behind Podgora to a height of 1,762 metres at Sveti Jure, making it the second-highest mountain in Croatia. From above, the Dalmatian coast looks like a thin green ribbon between the mountains and the islands. The road to the top — narrow, single-track, with hairpins so tight that two cars cannot pass — was paved during the Yugoslav era to service the radio tower at the summit.
The main entrance is at Makarska, about ten kilometres north of Podgora, and the park collects an entry fee per car. Allow at least three hours for the round trip if you drive all the way up, and longer if you want to walk a section of the marked trails. The Skywalk at Ravna Vlaska is the easiest highlight — no hiking required, just a short walk from the car park. Bring a jacket; it can be 15 degrees cooler at the top than at the coast.