Volunteering in Croatia

It all began when I made the decision to take a break from my routine and embark on a solo trip to Croatia. I thought it would be the ideal chance to immerse myself in a new culture and meet some new people. When I learned that a hostel on the island of Hvar was searching for volunteers to assist with welcoming backpackers and leading bar crawls I jumped at the opportunity.

The owner, a welcoming Croatian woman, welcomed me when I arrived at the hostel and introduced me to the other volunteers, Emma from Australia, Olivia from Canada, and Ollie from Scotland. We grew close over our shared passion for exploration and travel, and I immediately realised that this was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

We started each day by getting ready for the pub crawls. At the hostel bar, we’d have pre-drinks with the guests, play drinking games, and get to know everyone. We assembled everyone at about 10:00 p.m. and take them on a tour of the top bars and clubs on the island. It was our responsibility to make sure everyone received their complimentary beverages, and we would party with the visitors to ensure that they were having a fantastic time. It was sick time!

Afterwards, we’d take the visitors to the beach for a late-night dip after a night of partying. After a night of drinking and dancing, this was usually one of the night’s highlights and a terrific way to unwind.

And that was what I did day in, day out whilst I was there.

In terms of the hostel itself, it had a great view of the sea and the adjacent mountains and was situated in a lovely area of Hvar. Backpackers and tourists made up the majority of the visitors, who were all searching for a relaxed and pleasant environment. 

A huge benefit was that the hostel fed us complimentary lunch and dinner each day, prepared by a sweet Baka (grandma in Croatian). We always felt like a big family eating there since the food was so good.

All in all, I felt like I had met some wonderful friends and had an excellent experience after three weeks of volunteering at the hostel. Things, however, quickly deteriorated when the owner and I, along with the other volunteers, fell out over the fact that our efforts were not being recognised.

We made the decision to leave the accommodation and begin our journey as a group after becoming discouraged. We chose to make plans as we went because we had no prior plans. 

Split, a city in Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, was our next visit. Ancient Roman ruins in Split, such as the Palace of Diocletian, which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, were well-known. The beauty and history of this city astounded us. We took ferry rides to the adjacent islands, saw the old town, and went to the palace during our days there.

One of our greatest Split memories was a night spent drinking and dancing with a group of locals on the beach. We had a great time and made some wonderful friends who introduced us to the authentic Croatian party scene. Contrast this with our prior experience in Hvar, where we had to organise pub crawls for the visitors. We had the opportunity to truly explore and become a part of the local culture in Split.

We left Split after a week and travelled to Omis, a small hamlet on the Dalmatian coast. Omis was renowned for its breathtaking beaches and daring pursuits like rafting and canyoning. Here, we had a terrific time and participated in many novel activities. Even going rafting down the Cetina River with Emma, Olivia, and I was exciting. Together with that, we did a boat tour of the adjacent islands, stopping at several coves for swimming and relaxation.

We travelled to Mostar, Bosnia, after spending a week in Omis, loaded with adventures. Mostar, a lovely city, is well-known for its magnificent bridge in the Ottoman architecture that crosses the Neretva River. We spent our days seeing the ancient town and going to the bridge after being completely taken aback by the splendour of the city.

We had a typical Bosnian supper with a local family in Mostar, it gave us the chance to sample Bosnian cuisine while learning about their culture and way of life. This was a really unique opportunity to experience another culture.

Even though we had a terrific day exploring Mostar, we eventually had to part ways. Our journey together came to an end, and Emma, Olivia, and Ollie returned to their countries. Even though our time together was brief, I am thankful for the memories and experiences we made while travelling. We made relationships that will last a lifetime.

Although my time spent working at the hostel in Hvar was an emotional roller coaster, it taught me the value of being open to new experiences and developing relationships with individuals from other backgrounds. I will always treasure the experiences and the connections I gained since it was a wonderful opportunity to venture outside of my comfort zone and experience a different culture.

In conclusion, volunteering abroad is a wonderful way to travel, socialise, and experience new things. That is something that I wholeheartedly suggest to anyone seeking adventure. I am thankful for the friendships I made and the experiences I had because the chance to volunteer in Hvar opened up a world of opportunities for me. The possibilities are unlimited, whether it’s working as a volunteer in a hostel, supporting a nearby nonprofit, or teaching English abroad.