November the 2nd, 2021 - The wildly popular Biokovo Skywalk hasn't long been open, but since it has been, it has become a top attraction for all those paying visits to Makarska and the surrounding Central Dalmatian areas. Though perhaps not for those who aren't fond of heights and are prone to a bit of vertigo, the Biokovo Skywalk has definitely been a hit in this otherwise truly stunning part of the country dominated by rugged mountains and dramatic scenery.

The attraction, which is a fantastic addition to the beautiful Biokovo Nature Park (NP Biokovo) also provides spectacular panoramic views of the area, as well as what lies far beneath your feet, has now officially closed itself off from public visits until the 1st of April next year. 

As Morski writes, the much loved Biokovo Nature Park and the Biokovo Skywalk in the Ravna Vlaska area have been officially closed to visitors as of yesterday as the winter break begins. Dalmatia, while calm, hot and very stable during the warm summer months during which the vast majority of foreign visitors descend on the Croatian coast, is known for its temperamental, unpredictable and sometimes dangerous weather and conditions during autumn and winter, and this is one of the main reasons that this attraction must be closed.

The Biokovo Skywalk will once again be open and made available to visitors from April the 1st next year.

They stated from Biokovo Nature Park that access to the lookout will be protected in a technical manner, and visitors will be prevented from accessing the glass surface of the skywalk area itself. However, it will still be possible to drive along the Biokovo road towards the highest peak of all, which offers jawdropping views - Sveti Jure.

It's worth mentioning that the recently held Days of Croatian Tourism in Zupa Dubrovacka (the Parish of Dubrovnik) the Biokovo Nature Park Public Institution won the annual “Anton Stifanic” award in the “company, institution or association” category for its exceptional contribution to tourism in 2020.

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September 30, 2020 - A few days ago, a viral video showed how easily one visitor unscrewed part of the Biokovo skywalk, which stands 1228 meters above sea level. Now, after an inspection, IGH claims Biokovo Skywalk is safe.

“All the screws on the Skywalk were inspected, and it was determined that all were tightened in a prescribed manner except the screw shown. In this particular case, it is a single screw on the handrail on which the handrail's adherence does not depend, and in particular, the load-bearing structure does not depend. Also, there is a safety fence under the handle itself, so safety has not been disputed at any time. The screw shown is not part of the load-bearing structure," said Igor Stefanac, head of marketing, public relations, state and public bodies of the IGH Institute, who supervised the entire construction of Biokovo Skywalk by the detailed design.

According to Stefanac, the confirmation that the project and budgets did everything was given by the competent Office for Construction during the structure's technical inspection. Slobodna Dalmacija called Stefanac but the Skywalk has already become headline news. Namely, last week on the Facebook page Dnevna doza makarskog nereda, a video was released that spread to the public at the speed of light. It showed that part of the promenade's construction, which took a year to build and opened on July 1, without any problem, can be easily unscrewed, which caused quite a shock among viewers.

How is it possible that no special protective screws were placed on the Skywalk construction? And how is it possible that the 8 million kuna lookout in the Biokovo area of Ravna Vlaška received a use permit? Stefanac said that it is important to note that all aspects have been checked before opening and the Skywalk is completely safe for visitors.

"For example, the capacity of a single element of laminated glass, measuring approximately 4 square meters per 2,000 kilograms, was tested in the plant. A test load test was also performed, which was performed at the end of the works and amounted to 300 kilograms per square meter of the entire structure," said Stefanac.

How could the Skywalk get a use permit if the screw could be unscrewed so easily? The director of the Biokovo Nature Park, Slava Jaksa, says that the lookout has passed all the necessary safety and durability tests before it is open for visitors.

A project worth millions

"After the video went public, the contractor was notified, as well as expert supervision, and all screws on the handle were found to be in good condition. The lookout remains open for visitors until the end of the visitor season. We emphasize that more than 100,000 visitors have visited the Skywalk since the opening," says Jaksa. He added that the Skywalk is part of the project "New Adrion - promoting sustainable use of the natural heritage of Biokovo Nature Park" funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the operational program.

This project's total value is 34 million kuna, of which about 27 million kuna is a grant from EU funds. Simultaneously, the rest is financed by the Fund for Environmental Protection and Energy Efficiency and its own users and partners' funds - MARA and HGSS.

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September 23, 2020 - Less than 90 days after the Biokovo Skywalk opened, a Makarska Facebook group shared a video by a visitor who too easily was able to unscrew part of the attraction, which stands 1228 meters above sea level.

24 Sata reports that Facebook page Dnevna doza makarskog nereda published a rather troubling video from the recently opened Biokovo Skywalk above Makarska.

"Less than 90 days after the opening of Skywalk, the screws are unscrewing themselves," it is written in the post, while in the video, the visitor can be heard saying: "Here it is, it's easily unscrewing."

The video shows a man unscrewing a screw that holds a part of the Skywalk's protective railing, which stands tall at a height of 1228 meters.

Index.hr has since contacted the Biokovo Nature Park Public Institution, which is in charge of Skywalk.

In response to Index's inquiry, they say the contractor was notified when the video went public. They add that no irregularities were noticed.

"The Biokovo Skywalk passed all the necessary safety and durability tests before it was opened for visitors. After the video went public, the contractor was informed about it, as well as expert supervision, and all screws were checked and have been found to be in good condition. The lookout remains open to visitors until the end of the visitor season. We point out that the lookout itself has been visited by more than 100,000 visitors since its opening," the response reads.

The Skywalk Bikovo lookout was opened in early July by Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and is part of the 'New Adrion' project worth 31 million kuna, which is mostly financed from the European Regional Development Fund.

It was designed to be in the shape of a horseshoe that towers over a cliff overlooking the Makarska Riviera, the Adriatic, the islands, and the open sea.

The project partners were the Public Institution Makarska, the development agency 'MARA' and HGSS.

At the beginning of the year, a video was shared by Dalmatinski Portal, in which people jump over a fence to visit the still unfinished Skywalk.

At that time, they had not even installed the supports for the protective railing. 

The construction of the lookout is part of a project called 'New Adrion - Promoting the Sustainable Use of the Natural Heritage of PP Biokovo'.

The Skywalk is located 1228 meters above sea level and is envisaged as an upgrade of an existing lookout point in the Ravna Vlaška area of the Biokovo Nature Park. 

This lookout is designed as a prestressed reinforced concrete structure that cantilevers over a cliff overlooking the Makarska Riviera, Adriatic, islands, and open sea. A glass walkway has been laid on the primary concrete structure to provide a bird's eye view in all directions, creating a unique adrenaline experience. 

The potential of the Ravna Vlaška lookout point has been enhanced by an innovative architectural and engineering solution, which with its attractiveness, goes beyond the local tourist offer and contributes to the tourist potential of the whole of Dalmatia.

Within this part of the Biokovo Skywalk project, which will be in the zone of the visitor infrastructure of Ravna Vlaška, the construction of a geological pillar with special info blocks is envisaged.

The total cost of the construction of the lookout and the geological pillar, as well as its accompanying surveillance, stands at slightly more than 8 million kuna in total.

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August 12, 2020 - Since the Biokovo Skywalk opening, Biokovo has become one of the most sought after locations overnight, not only on the Makarska coast but far beyond.

Slobodna Dalmacija reports that this heavenly lookout has ushered Biokovo into the new age tourism industry, where there is no time for an in-depth exploration of the destination; most tourists want to put a "check" on their "must visit" list and capture the experience with a camera.

But is Biokovo ready for this rush of hungry tourists? And, quite frankly, what comes next?

Slavo Jaksa, director of the Public Institution Biokovo Nature Park, comments on the future of Dalmatia's hit attraction. 

"The Skywalk is in itself an attraction and an additional product of the nature park that has raised the level of attractiveness of the whole of Biokovo. How much interest has increased, it is difficult to say for now because the year is as it is, and it is not a year to make comparisons," he points out.

"We expected an increase in the number of visitors and increased interest, but I must admit that we were still surprised by the extent of it," adds Jaksa.

The current problem is the crowds on Biokovo, which are created due to the enormous interest, and in the current year, this issue is being solved by limiting the number of vehicles. Namely, only 25 vehicles can enter in an hour, but it happens that tourists return because the queues are too big, or because the closing time of the park is approaching. Thus, long lines are standard.

"It is not so much of a burden because we control it. Namely, we also regulate the issue of road congestion and possible pollution," claims Jaksa, adding that next year they plan to sell tickets online.

"This will reduce congestion and the influx of cars. It would function like at Plitvice Lakes or Krka, and tourists would come at a certain time when they take a ticket and thus significantly reduce the crowds," the director adds.

Is Biokovo endangered in the sense that it is now suddenly visited by a mass of tourists?

"Not yet. We as an institution are here to protect the mountain, and we ensure the protection of nature and monitor, and when this season is over, we will evaluate and see what can be concluded and applied next year. But I always say that Biokovo protects itself only for the simple reason that it is an inaccessible mountain. We do not yet know whether this is just an opening effect or will be a continuous public interest. We will see where improvements are needed and prepare for the next year in which, we hope, tourism will return as it was, which we all want," explains Jaksa.

For the next year, other facilities are planned, along with the already completed lookout point and a new bicycle and hiking trail, visitor center, and children's playground. The project is worth 34 million kuna.

"All this will be completed in 2021 and it is clear that the structure of guests is now changing. We get a wider base, and with Biokovo Skywalk, we see what effect has been achieved, not only for tourism on the Makarska coast, but for the county and Croatia. We have tourists who come from other counties, while so far Biokovo has been visited mainly by guests from the Makarska Riviera," says Jaksa.

The more extensive base also means the need to educate visitors, which the director says they are already doing at the reception itself.

So, what can we expect next year? How will the road handle increasing traffic?

Jaksa emphasizes that they will be significantly relieved by selling tickets online, and as far as the road itself is concerned, he agrees that it is too narrow. Thus, Jaksa warns to drive at your own risk.

In principle, there are plans to rebuild the road, but for now, it is a long shot. There was also talk of shuttle buses, which are actually the best, safest and most environmentally friendly solution, though this was also left for the second budget period. Recall, a public transport system was discussed within the existing project "New Adrion - Promoting the sustainable use of the natural heritage of PP Biokovo".

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June 4, 2020 - Biokovo Nature Park will soon be enhanced thanks to the most attractive lookout point in Croatia - the new Biokovo Skywalk. 

Namely, Dalmacija Danas reports that the construction of the Biokovo Skywalk began last year in the Ravna Vlaška area. Although the end of the works was announced for the spring, the coronavirus crisis has taken its toll, and it's not surprising that the highly anticipated opening is delayed. Although it has already garnered a great deal of public attention, the Skywalk is still not open to the public and walking on it is strictly forbidden.

Unofficially, Dalmacija Danas learns that the project will be completed by the end of June, and the permit for use should be obtained within 60 days from the end of the works.

On Wednesday, Split photographer Eddy Meštrović visited Ravna Vlaška and filmed the new Skywalk from above. 

The glass walk over the abyss will be a great attraction that will bring even more visitors to this Nature Park. The construction of the glass lookout is part of a project called 'New Adrion - Promoting the Sustainable Use of the Natural Heritage of PP Biokovo'.

The Skywalk is located 1228 meters above sea level and is envisaged as an upgrade of an existing lookout point in the Ravna Vlaška area of the Biokovo Nature Park. 

This lookout is designed as a prestressed reinforced concrete structure that cantilevers over a cliff overlooking the Makarska Riviera, Adriatic, islands, and open sea. A glass walkway has been laid on the primary concrete structure to provide a bird's eye view in all directions, creating a unique adrenaline experience. 

The potential of the Ravna Vlaška lookout point has been enhanced by an innovative architectural and engineering solution, which with its attractiveness, goes beyond the local tourist offer and contributes to the tourist potential of the whole of Dalmatia.

Within this part of the Biokovo Skywalk project, which will be in the zone of the visitor infrastructure of Ravna Vlaška, the construction of a geological pillar with special infoblocks is envisaged. It is a three-dimensional representation of the cross-section of geological periods and the geological origin of Dalmatia's glorious Biokovo Nature Park, which will be made according to the inputs of the park's expert service.

The total cost of the construction of the lookout and the geological pillar, as well as its accompanying surveillance, stands at slightly more than 8 million kuna in total.

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The construction of a glass platform, known as the Biokovo skywalk located over the edge of the imposing mountain began back in autumn of this year, marking the creation of a rather incredible structure over Makarska indeed.

As Slobodna Dalmacija writes on the 19th of December, 2019, the Biokovo skywalk is actually an arch of sorts that will be covered with glass, it is located twelve metres from the edge of a 1228 metre-high cliff, and is the only one of its kind in all of the Republic of Croatia, according to a report from Jutarnji list.

As was initially written last year, the so-called skywalk, a pedestrian-biking trail along the gigantic Biokovo, will set up infopoints and panoramic telescopes, refurbish and construct pleasant rest areas, playgrounds and a visitor centre, and also improve overall transportation. The project is scheduled to be completed and ready for visitors in 2021, with a total value of 34.2 million kuna.

The Biokovo skywalk is a horseshoe shaped walkway with a guardrail and floor made entirely of glass. The walkway will be formed on the reliance of multi-layer safety glass on the steel structure, and the entire platform will ''stick out'' over the edge of the cliff and, in addition to opening the already stunning view to the Adriatic sea, it will also enable the experience of taking in Biokovo's sheer size and beauty from a bird's eye view.

Within this part of the Biokovo skywalk project, which will be in the zone of the visitor infrastructure of Ravna Vlaška, the construction of a geological pillar with special infoblocks is envisaged. It is a three-dimensional representation of the cross-section of geological periods and the geological origin of Dalmatia's glorious Biokovo Nature Park, which will be made according to the inputs of the park's expert service.

The total cost of the construction of the vantage point and the geological pillar as well as its accompanying surveillance stands at slightly more than 8 million kuna in total, and its construction should take around ten months, as is currently predicted.

The visitor's centre of the Biokovo skywalk will also have an educational function and it will be located in the Župa Visitor Centre in the nearby Zagvozd municipality, which will be more specifically located in the old elementary school building. It will be a reception and interpretation-educational site for visitors to northern Biokovo, namely Zabiokovlje, which presents and interprets the geology, geographical features, flora, fauna and even the old mythology of this rich area.

The visitor centre will have the most spent on it, a massive 10.6 million kuna in total, and its construction could take as long as two years as is currently foreseen.

In addition to the old school which will be put back into good use, Rodićeva cesta (road) is also currently in dire condition, so that will also be arranged as a walking and cycling trail for nature lovers to use and enjoy, and even professional athletes will also be able to use it for training and fitness purposes. Four sites at which visitors can relax will be erected next to it, with the cost of this phase of the project amounting to 2.8 million kuna in total.

Rest areas will be set up along the entire Biokovo road (Biokovska cesta), and in addition to them, there will be so-called picnic areas with tables, booths, children's parks, outdoor school-oriented areas, panoramic telescopes, infopoints, 35 signal panels (three of which will be for the blind) and Bigbelly and Smartbelly smart waste bins (for mixed waste disposal and for the proper disposal of bottles and cans) that have a built-in compaction press and announce when they are full or when emptying is required via a built-in Wi-Fi system.

Two specialised shuttle buses will be acquired within the scope of the Biokovo skywalk project, along with 15 regular bikes and 15 electric bikes with GPS trackers and a charger for electric cars. In addition, the construction of the Makarska - Biokovo cable car is also planned.

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