Apartments Kate Sipan, Croatia: a Chemcial-Free Magical Retreat!
Apartments Kate Sipan, Croatia: a Chemcial-Free Magical Retreat!
Croatia is one of the most beautiful places on this planet and one of my favorite places to reconnect with nature and relax! Brina and Miho Goravica have provided the most relaxing and healthy peaceful location for truly enjoying the best of life on a small peaceful Croatian island.
They offer seven completely equipped apartments at Apartments Kate which are peacefully set in the small fishing village of Sudarad on the beautiful island of Šipan, Croatia. The property dates from several centuries ago with thoughtful reconstruction in 2005 using traditional materials and applying the old manual technology of construction on rocks and stone blocks.
The interior of the apartments provides a natural home-like atmosphere. Indoor and outdoor furniture is crafted from natural materials and natural fabrics such as cotton and linen, are used to create healthy and comfortable surroundings.
From the large well-equipped balcony, you can comfortable relax and enjoy the quiet natural atmosphere of island life.
The island of Šipan, Croatia
Šipan is the largest island of the Elafiti archipelago group at 16.5 sq km, located off the coast of Croatia near Dubrovnik. A regular and inexpensive car ferry and passenger ferry service connects Dubrovnik with Sudarad and also provides transportation for day trips to nearby Koločep or Lopud islands.
The island is situated in a deep bay surrounded by the mainland, the eastern portion of the Pelješac Peninsula, and the Elafiti islands. A small climb around Sudarad offers spectacular views of these surroundings and all the way to Dubrovnik.
There are two main villages on the island – Suđurađ in the east and Šipanska Luka in the west about 5km away. Approximately 400 people reside on the island. A bus runs regularly between the two towns or a pleasant bike ride or walk can be had on the connecting road as well. This will take you through the fertile interior of the island where fields are rich in vegetables, grape wines, figs, pomegranates, carob trees, and olive groves. The island boasts the highest number of olive trees per capita world wide, with production of high quality olive oil. The island offers lush subtropical vegetation, singing birds, and a mild climate.
The surroundings of Sudarad offer many beautiful hikes! In the spring, it is especially lovely to walk through olive gardens, wild flowers, and herbs accompanied by butterflies. Over 600 types of herbs can be found on the island, many of which offer medicinal properties like fennel, thyme, rosemary, bay leafs, artemisia, and oregano.
Šipan is well-known for very good wines and olive oils. For example, one local producer within the Apartments Kate community network for local production is the Daničić family, who produce excellent red wine such as Merlot and olive oil. Similarly, Mato Goravica produces delicious Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and white wines, as well as Plavac Mali, a local type of red wine and rose.
There are many small churches and chapels to visit on hikes around the island, many of which offer spectacular viewpoints to take in the island vistas and surroundings. 
There are two lovely pebble beaches on each end of Sudarad, providing a peaceful spot to swim in the refreshing Adriatic sea. The sea is also perfect for kayaking or SUPing around the coast for a different perspective.
Apartments Kate: A chemical-free sustainable property
What truly sets Apartments Kate apart and makes this an ideal place of refuge and relaxation for anyone looking to protect their health and especially for those with allergies and chemical sensitivities is that the property is chemical-free! Brina and Miho believe in the future of sustainable tourism and have enacted changes to their apartments and to business processes to make sure they decrease their environmental impact and provide the healthiest stay possible. Since 2020, they have partnered with the Dalmatia Green project to continue to further improve their processes and services in accordance with their high certification standards for eco-friendly accommodation in Dalmatia, Croatia.
Cleaning
I am truly impressed and so grateful that Apartments Kate has enacted eco- and health-friendly cleaning practices to replace conventional chemical based cleaners. They use eco-friendly cleaners that contain no dangerous chemicals and are based on essential oils and fruit acids. These maintain a healthy indoor environment and are efficient in removing dirt and bacteria. For someone with chemical-sensitivities and a desire to live as natural and cleanly as possible, this is a very unique and needed offering.
Recycling & Compost
They also respect the earth in a way that is often neglected on holiday, by providing in-apartment recycling and composting bins. They have developed and operate their own composting process and collect glass and plastic bottles to bring them to the recycling centers on the mainland.
A Supported and Nourishing Community Surrounding Apartments Kate
Within their fantastic concept of sustainable tourism, Brina and Miho embrace the idea that
“a system can only thrive when the individual “players” behave as contributors as opposed to competitors.” They partner with some of the best local producers and service providers to offer their guests a full range of healthy opportunities for a balanced and health-enhancing holiday. From pointing you toward the best local restaurants that offer fresh local food made with local ingredients to introducing you to the reviving and calming high quality eco cosmetics like the beautiful naturally-crafted soap provided in your apartment from a talented local producer, Apartments Kate really helps guests feel connected to the natural and human resources of the island.
Brina and Miho’s family has a long-standing tradition of producing incredible quality olive oil which is available for purchase. It is a beautiful aromatic extra virgin oil with rich antioxidants and health benefits.
A very special offer that Apartments Kate provides is the chance to purchase an Eco Veggies Basket delivered to your apartment kitchen! The basket was packed with beautifully fresh, nutritious and delicious organically-grown vegetables from the local family of Mato and Marija Goravica. All contents of the Eco Veggies Basket are grown, produced, and processed on Šipan island, and have not been subjected to any kind of spraying of chemicals or pesticides.
This is such a thoughtful offering, allowing you to eat in accordance with what is seasonally and locally available for the health of your body and the planet!
Another unique and tasty product of the island that you can taste and purchase while in Šipan is high quality carob powder. Carob is produced from the dried, roasted carob tree pods that grow on the island. In the past carob was used in cooking instead of sugar and has been studied in medicine for treating acid reflux in infants and reducing colonic inflammation due to their richness of bioactive compounds such as dietary fiber, polyphenols, and cyclitols.
Brina and Miho have truly created the most thoughtful and peaceful eco-minded business and accommodations on the magical island of Šipan! I cannot recommend a visit to this wonderful place more. From their kindness and care to the chemical-free accommodations to the delicious nourishing ecologically-grown vegetables to the swimming and hiking in the beautiful natural surroundings, Apartments Kate provides a healing refuge from daily life and the chance for reconnecting with yourself and nature!
For more about some of the most beautiful ways to enjoy nature in Croatia:
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