☀️ ADRIATIC COAST · Central Dalmatia · Drvenik (Makarska Rivijera)
Gornja Vala
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BEACH GUIDE & OVERVIEW · LOCATION & ESSENTIALS
About Gornja Vala, Drvenik
Beach Gornja Vala is located in Drvenik (Central Dalmatia). Official IZOR water quality: Excellent.
Gornja Vala · Drvenik
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198° · S (Ostro)
The cove faces open sea at an angle of 198°, direction S (Ostro); wind shelter is calculated relative to this orientation.
Pebble
Seabed slope: Moderate slope (15–25°); natural shade: Trees only; access: Paved asphalt road.
Excellent
Latest official water test (2026-09-28 08:15:00): rating "Excellent", sea temperature 20.9 °C.
12 amenities recorded
Recorded amenities on location: Restaurant, Water sports, Hotel nearby, Beach bar / Café, Changing cabins, Waste bins / Trash cans, Boat mooring, Showers, Promenade benches, Parking available, Swimmer safety barrier, prelj.
📋 Field Characteristics & Accessibility
Field data🌬️ Geomorphological Wind Shelter Matrix (198° Bearing)
4-Wind Analysis| Adriatic Wind | Cove Shelter Status | Recommendation & Backup Cove |
|---|---|---|
|
Bora / Bura (NE, 45°)
Gusty katabatic wind from the mainland
|
🟢 Sheltered (Calm) | Calm swimming directly in this cove |
|
Jugo / Sirocco (SE, 135°)
Warm SE wind bringing long sea swells
|
🔴 Exposed (Waves) | Seek opposite leeward shore in strong gusts |
|
Maestral (NW, 315°)
Refreshing afternoon summer thermal breeze
|
🟢 Sheltered (Calm) | Calm swimming directly in this cove |
|
Lebić / Garbin (SW, 225°)
Southwesterly swell and coastal surf
|
🔴 Exposed (Waves) | Seek opposite leeward shore in strong gusts |
Gornja Vala is a coastal beach and bay situated in Drvenik (Central Dalmatia). According to official microbiological monitoring by the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IZOR), the sea water quality here is rated as Excellent.
The cove faces open sea at an angle of 198°, direction S (Ostro); wind shelter is calculated relative to this orientation. Recorded amenities on location: Restaurant, Water sports, Hotel nearby, Beach bar / Café, Changing cabins, Waste bins / Trash cans, Boat mooring, Showers, Promenade benches, Parking available, Swimmer safety barrier, prelj.
Latest official water test (2026-09-28 08:15:00): rating "Excellent", sea temperature 20.9 °C.
METEO & MARINE GUIDE · OPEN-METEO MARINE & DHMZ
Sea conditions, wind and wind shelter
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Multi-day wind shelter forecast at 14:00 for Gornja Vala
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IZOR FIELD PROFILE · INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY AND FISHERIES
Beach profile and seabed characteristics
Verified field data from the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (Split).
Beach terrain type
Predominantly Pebble.
Natural shade
Trees only
Water entry & depth
Seabed slope: Moderate slope (15–25°).
Access, parking & crowds
Access: Paved asphalt road · Parking: Paid parking · Crowd: High crowd
OFFICIAL PHOTO DOCUMENTATION · UNFILTERED
Authentic field photos of the bay
Showing 4 official field photos taken by IZOR inspectors.
📷 Main panorama
Photo 2
Photo 3
Photo 4MICROBIOLOGICAL WATER QUALITY · EU DIRECTIVE 2006/7/EC & REGULATION NN 73/08
Laboratory water quality monitoring
Recorded seasonal laboratory tests (10 cycles) — Rating: Excellent.
BAY AMENITIES · INFRASTRUCTURE & FACILITIES
Amenities and facilities on site
Amenities recorded in official beach profile.
Exact count of recorded items on site:
Accommodation near Gornja Vala
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Boat tours and activities at Gornja Vala
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Rental cars for Drvenik & access to Gornja Vala
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gornja Vala
Key facts about sea water quality, seabed terrain, wind shelter, and access for Gornja Vala (Drvenik).
What is the sea water quality rating at Gornja Vala beach in Drvenik? ▾
According to official microbiological monitoring by the Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (IZOR, sampling station #2020), the bathing water quality at Gornja Vala is rated "Excellent" based on 40 seasonal water samples under EU Bathing Water Directive 2006/7/EC. During the latest official field test (2026-09-28 08:15:00), the measured sea temperature was 20.9 °C.
Which winds is Gornja Vala bay sheltered from (Bora, Sirocco, Maestral)? ▾
Gornja Vala faces the open sea at a bearing of 198° (S (Ostro)). Based on its coastal relief and backing terrain, the cove provides natural wind shelter from Bora (NE) and Maestral (NW), while winds blowing directly from S (Ostro) can create onshore waves.
What is the beach surface, water entry, and natural shade like at Gornja Vala? ▾
According to the verified IZOR field profile, the shore and seabed surface at Gornja Vala consists of: Pebble. The seabed entry slope is Moderate slope (15–25°), and natural shade / coastal vegetation is recorded as: Trees only.
What facilities, amenities, and parking are available at Gornja Vala? ▾
Recorded facilities on site include: Restaurant, Water sports, Hotel nearby, Beach bar / Café, Changing cabins, Waste bins / Trash cans, Boat mooring, Showers, Promenade benches, Parking available, Swimmer safety barrier, prelj. Coastal access: Paved asphalt road; parking availability: Paid parking.
Where is Gornja Vala located and what beaches are nearby? ▾
Gornja Vala is located in Drvenik, Central Dalmatia, Croatia at GPS coordinates 43.15166° N, 17.25815° E. The closest officially monitored beaches nearby include: D. Vala - Kod trajekta (1.0 km), Zaostrog - Plaža (2.4 km), Viskovića vala (4.3 km).
NEIGHBORING COVES · OFFICIAL IZOR MONITORING
Nearby Beaches
Other officially monitored beaches and coves near Gornja Vala. Distances are straight-line measurements.