Dolphins in Croatia: meet the Lošinj bottlenose dolphins and watch them the right way

The best-known wild dolphins in Croatia are the bottlenose dolphins of Lošinj, an island in the northern Adriatic, where the Blue World Institute has studied a resident community of about 180 since 1987. Spice Escapes takes a hosted group to Lošinj on Croatian Chillout, a half-board week beside Veli Lošinj with a full day on a small boat in the dolphins' home waters.

Below: the dolphins, the watching rules and our week. On the boat day they are a chance, never a promise. The holiday is 7 nights, 1 May 2027 – 8 May 2027, from £869. See the dates and book online on the Croatian Chillout page.

About 180 bottlenose dolphins call Lošinj's waters home

The bottlenose is the only dolphin living in the coastal waters of the northern Adriatic. Striped and common dolphins, and even fin whales, turn up now and then.

Blue World's research area runs through the Kvarnerić channel and down Lošinj's east coast, round the islets of Trstenik, Ćutin, Palacol and Orjule. Round Vis, in the central Adriatic, it records several hundred more.

Researchers know each one by the scars on its fin

Blue World calls its Adriatic Dolphin Project the longest ongoing study of a single resident bottlenose dolphin community in the Mediterranean. Researchers photograph dorsal fins, whose marks and scars tell one animal from the next, and the catalogue holds over 2,250 Adriatic dolphins.

So the dolphins have names. Oruda, a male from the east side of the island, has been known since he was a newborn and is often seen babysitting other mothers' calves.

Their numbers fell, and their waters are now protected

Blue World estimates the Lošinj community shrank by 39% over eight years from 1995. In summer especially, boat noise and harassment kept them from key areas, and their fish prey declined. The community seems to have recovered, though its size changes from year to year.

The waters round Cres and Lošinj are now a protected site in the European Union's Natura network. Croatian law prohibits capturing, harming or harassing dolphins.

How to watch dolphins in Croatia without disturbing them

Blue World's code of conduct for boats, in short:

• Approach slowly from the side, never from behind or head on, and hold back at about 100 metres at first.
• Come no closer than 50 metres unless the dolphins choose to come to you.
• No more than three boats within 200 metres of a group, all on one side of it.
• Stay 30 minutes at most, and leave at once for mothers with small calves, tail slapping, loud breaths or long dives.

Do not swim with them or feed them. Blue World counts both as harassment, and people have needed medical attention after bites and blows.

Our boat day in their waters, and their centre in Veli Lošinj

Croatian Chillout's suggested plan gives a full day to a small boat trip round the Lošinj archipelago, swimming in secluded coves and snorkelling. These are the waters Blue World studies, so you may be lucky.

The Lošinj Marine Education Centre is in the middle of Veli Lošinj, the town beside our hotel. It has exhibitions and short films about the dolphins, entry is free, and you can adopt a dolphin there. Our slow last full day in Veli Lošinj suits a visit.

Keen watchers can also book Blue World's own dolphin-watching trip separately, from May, weather and bookings permitting, with up to three hours at sea on a 12-seat boat.

Half board, a host and a table to swap sightings round

Hotel Punta is half board, so breakfast and dinner are taken care of. Jackie Whyte hosts the week and travels with the group, so after the boat day there are people to compare photos with.

Most people on a Spice holiday book on their own. Groups are around fifteen people, and some reach twenty. A room to yourself carries a single supplement. Read our guide for first-time solo travellers, or see our solo holidays for the over 50s.

Whale sharks in the Maldives, or a quieter week in Europe

Maldives Wildlife Cruise & Beach Chillout is 12 nights, 27 Nov 2027 – 9 Dec 2027, with seven on MV Felicity, a wooden boat taking twelve guests at most, and a whole day searching for whale sharks off Dhigurah. Availability: 2 places left. See our Maldives guide.

Closer to home, and not wildlife trips: Crete Discovery is 7 nights, 5 Oct 2027 – 12 Oct 2027, half board with a boat ride to Spinalonga if you wish, at extra cost. Read, Relax & Restore: A Week in Spain's Green North is 7 quiet nights in Cantabria. Browse our wildlife and safari holidays and holidays in Croatia.

Questions people ask

Where is the best place to see dolphins in Croatia?

Round Lošinj and Cres in the northern Adriatic, where Blue World's own watching trips begin at its centre in Veli Lošinj. It also studies dolphins round Vis, in the central Adriatic.

Are there dolphins in Croatia all year round?

Yes, round Lošinj the community is resident. Blue World counts 44 as its most resident dolphins, present in these waters all year.

Can you swim with dolphins in Croatia?

Blue World asks people not to. Wild dolphins can bite or strike out, and swimming with them counts as harassment, which Croatian law prohibits.

Will we definitely see dolphins on the boat day?

No. The day is planned round coves, swimming and snorkelling, and dolphins are a chance. Even Blue World's own trips can spend up to three hours at sea finding them.

Book the Lošinj week online, or ask Jackie first

See the dates and book online on the Croatian Chillout page. Availability: 13 places left.

Questions before booking can go to Jackie Whyte, who hosts the week, through our contact page, or to Rosie, the chat on the holiday page.