Mali Zaton is a bay about 2 kilometers long along Croatia’s Dalmatian coast. The bay’s importance stems from the good protection it offers from the bora and winds in general, as well as its proximity to Dubrovnik (Ragusa). The town is only 6 nautical miles away, so boaters looking to make a stopover before arriving there will find this an ideal spot. Mali Zaton is the name of the bay; the anchorage is to the north at a depth of 12 meters—do not proceed all the way to the end of the inlet. Veli Zaton, on the other hand, is the name of the small village located immediately to the left after entering the bay. In the village’s small marina, there is a pier with depths ranging from 1.5 meters (quay) to 4 meters (head); there are also about ten mooring buoys. When entering the bay at night, follow the red light flashing every three seconds located at the entrance.

The entire area is ideal for anchoring a boat, thanks in part to the clean, calm waters. Along the coast, there are a few beaches popular with tourists and vacation accommodations. If you’re looking for more amenities, you’ll need to head into the Town, but of course, near Dubrovnik, marinas and ports are much more expensive than the average in Croatia, and it’s hard to find a spot during peak season. Furthermore, the Old Town (the walled area worth visiting) is quite a distance from these marinas (Gruz, Club Orsan, etc.).

The Gulf of Zaton is unique in that it is a quiet, affordable place with unspoiled natural beauty, despite its proximity to Dubrovnik. The small village overlooking the gulf has the same characteristics found in other towns along the Croatian coast: stone houses by the sea, a typical medieval historic center, and a backdrop of hills covered in Mediterranean scrub.

Good protection from the wind; the bora blows with less intensity in southern Dalmatia. Good anchorage, but be sure the anchor has held; there are a few (limited) large stone slabs present. We would like to take this opportunity to remind boaters to always pay close attention when dropping anchor and to check its hold, especially along the Dalmatian coast. The seabed is not always sandy or muddy (which provides good holding power and is ideal for the commonly used Danforth anchor); in fact, as you can also see from the morphological composition of the coastline, there are often rocks, and the favorable climate also promotes the growth of abundant seaweed. The seabed is also often undulating and, in some cases, even steep, so be sure to have plenty of chain, a grapnel-type anchor for rocky bottoms, and a rope on hand to throw ashore if necessary.