Budikovac is a pair of islets off the south-east coast of Vis, with a shallow lagoon between them called the Blue Lagoon (Plava laguna). A day on one of Gradina Vis d.o.o.'s (Official source, ) buoys costs €60 (From the operator, ), and the Green Cave on Ravnik, 1.7 NM (Measured by us, ) south-west, lets you row your own dinghy in for a €15 (From the operator, ) ticket in summer.
Written by Domagoj Franc, editor. Reviewed by Ivor Benko, skipper.
All 50 facts on this page name their source, the latest checked on : 20 from the operator, 14 from official sources, 12 measured by us and 4 from third-party sources, such as pilot books and magazines, so treat those 4 as a guide.
Come into the lagoon only from the south, between Mali Budikovac and Veli Budikovac, and keep closer to Mali Budikovac: shallow rocks run out from Veli Budikovac. (Official source, )
The shallow passage on the north side, between Veli Budikovac, the rock Sanak and Mali Budikovac, is not navigable. Two special marks with topmarks show it. (Official source, )
A field of numbered buoys off the Budikovac islets, run by Gradina Vis d.o.o. under a concession, for boats up to 12 m. (From the operator, )
The concession holder's staff tell you which buoy to take, and you follow their instructions. You get an invoice for the fee, and you may ask to see the price list. (From the operator, ) Picking up a mooring buoy
€60 a day on a buoy in 2026, VAT included, paid in cash when you arrive. (From the operator, )
You may not empty a black tank at the anchorage. The fee includes taking your dry rubbish off the boat. (From the operator, )
On the buoys at Rukavac, Budikovac and Ravnik: no music from the boat, no swimming or diving inside the field, no anchoring between the buoys, and 5 knots at most. In bad weather someone must stay on board. (From the operator, )
So ask the staff where you may swim, or take the dinghy to the beach on Veli Budikovac. A small restaurant stands by the beach on Budikovac. (Third-party source, )
Shallow, with protected seagrass. In the passage between the islets the bottom is stony gravel over fine sand, down to about 4 m. Protected seagrass, Cymodocea nodosa, grows there at 1 to 2 m. (Official source, )
The lagoon is inside the Natura 2000 site for the south-east coast of Vis (HR3000096). Posidonia meadows grow at 4 to 16 m outside the passage, and the study asks sailors not to anchor on the seagrass. (Official source, )
Between the coast of Vis and the chain of islets from Ravnik through Budikovac to Greben, many shoals and reefs make the passage difficult. The Pokrivena shoal, between Veli Budikovac and Paržan Veli, has a pole with a north cardinal topmark. (Official source, )
The Green Cave is a sea cave on Ravnik with two large openings. Sunlight comes in through a hole in its high roof and lights the seabed like a spotlight. (From the operator, ) In Croatian it is Zelena špilja. Gradina Vis d.o.o. holds the concession for the cave: it runs and looks after the visits. (From the operator, )
€60 a day on a buoy, 2026
(From the operator, )
€15 an adult in season, 2026
(From the operator, )
€60 a day on a buoy, 2026
(From the operator, )
€60 a day on the town quay, 12 m boat
(Official source, )
About 4 NM west to the mouth of Stiniva cove
(Measured by us, )Not for navigationOff the lagoon between Veli and Mali Budikovac. A field of numbered buoys off the Budikovac islets, run by Gradina Vis d.o.o. under a concession, for boats up to 12 m. (From the operator, )
Open to the south, the county's study says. (Official source, )
€60a day on a buoy, 2026 (From the operator, )
The cave, and buoys on the north side
The Ravnik buoy field is on the north side of the islet, away from the cave. (Official source, ) Visiting the cave
€40a day on a buoy, 2026 (From the operator, )
A fishing village with two buoy fields, 1.3 NM (Measured by us, ) west of Budikovac. Two fields of numbered buoys in the bay, run by Gradina Vis d.o.o. under a concession, for boats up to 12 m. (From the operator, )
Rukavac is sheltered from every wind except south to south-easterlies. Our cautious answer: leave Rukavac if a jugo is forecast, and mind the shallows in the west part. Our skipper reviewer hasn't checked this yet. (Third-party source, )
€60a day on a buoy, 2026 (From the operator, )
The island's main harbour and town quay, 7 NM round the east end of Vis (Measured by us, ).
Vis harbour is open to the bura and the jugo, and every wind blows hard here, the bura and the jugo most of all. Our cautious answer: in a bura or a jugo expect a rough night on the town quay, and strong gusts in any other wind. Our skipper reviewer hasn't checked this yet. The Kut side is open to northerly and north-westerly winds. (Third-party source, ) Our cautious answer: in a strong maestral expect Kut to be the more exposed side. Our skipper reviewer hasn't checked this yet. (Third-party source, )
€60a day on the town quay, 12 m boat (Official source, )
Budikovac is open to southerly, south-easterly and south-westerly winds, which bring bigger waves, and a storm jugo sends a surge in; the 2024 plan expects a rougher sea in a bura. The 2019 study calls it sheltered from the maestral. (Official source, )
Tidal currents run at up to 0.6 knots, and a storm jugo can push them to 2 knots. (Official source, )
Like other caves on the south sides of the outer islands, it was cut by the waves of the open sea. Inside, the water is 3 to 5 m deep. (Official source, ) Its entrance is on the south-west shore of Ravnik, facing the open sea. (Measured by us, )
If a storm threatens, boats must double their lines, and leave or move into the lee if the staff tell them to. (From the operator, ) Our guide to the winds explains the jugo and the maestral.
Plan B. In a jugo, or with a swell from the south, skip the lagoon and the cave that day. Our day 3 plan has the other choices.
Along day 3 of our week, Vis town to Komiža round the south coast, past Budikovac and Ravnik.
Model forecast from Open-Meteo.Not an official forecast. Not for navigation.
Official forecast: DHMZ marine forecast (Official source, )
Each part of the day shows its strongest hourly wind and gust, and its highest wave, in Croatian time. The words follow the Beaufort scale, and the model can't tell a real bura from any other northeast wind. How to read a model forecast
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com, CC BY 4.0. Grouped into parts of the day by OlaSail.
Stopping at both Budikovac and the Green Cave adds less than 1 NM to day 3 of our week. (Measured by us, )
Every swim and lunch stop on the weekTimes at 6 knots, or your own speed if you set one on the route page.
Sailed here this season? Tell us what you found. We check it with the source before anything changes.
Other ways to help50 facts from 21 sources, last checked .
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