Hvar is a place that both moves you and changes you. Its scenery does not just decorate a postcard but breathes something steady into you. That pulse of nature isn’t a background for us, either. It’s the very heart of what we do. Because when you love a place so deeply, you begin to feel its needs as your own.
Planting hope in uncertain times
We had the idea to give back to our island in 2020 when the world went quiet and we were reminded of what truly endures. While everything slowed, nature continued in her gentle way. And in that quiet, we found direction.
So we began planting trees as an act of gratitude. For every booking, a tree found its roots on Hvar. We think of it as a simple exchange: the joy of travel given back to the land that makes it possible.
Our first grove stood proudly on the Kabal peninsula, until fire took it. While watching those young trees disappear was heartbreaking, it taught us something essential: sustainability isn’t about perfection; it’s about persistence. Like the island itself, scarred and beautiful, we began again.
“I’ve grown used to life not going according to my plans; experience has taught me that obstacles exist so we can leap over them — they keep us in shape. In fact, because I have quite a determined and competitive mindset, obstacles are both a challenge and a source of motivation for me. Otherwise, life would be very monotonous.
It was the same with the fire that destroyed all the trees in the first year of planting — just another obstacle to overcome. I told myself: Alright, a challenge it is then, a test — fine. You burn, and I’ll keep planting,” says Majda.
Seasons measured in saplings
Since then, tree planting has become part of our seasons. Our hands meet the soil again each year, planting for the guests who come, for the trees that once stood and for the island we will always owe more than we can repay.
Each tree is a family’s summer memory, a couple’s morning coffee on the promenade and a promise that what we take in beauty, we return in life. From pines and cypresses to oaks that will stand for centuries, every root we plant deepens our bond with Hvar.
Because knowing that our presence can heal as much as it delights is also a luxury.
Perhaps Hvar doesn’t need more admiration. But it needs allies. And every guest who stays with us becomes one. Their experience with Villas Hvar turns into something tangible that will outlast their footprints in the soil.
"Walking through the landscapes of Hvar, I imagined the young tree taking root, nourished by the same sun and soil that make this island so vibrant. Every time I think of it, I feel a part of something larger - a shared responsibility for this land, a contribution to its beauty and sustainability. It’s a reminder that even small actions can have meaningful impact, and that travel can be both enriching for the soul and gentle on the planet. Knowing that my visit supports growth and renewal makes me proud, joyful, and deeply connected to Hvar in a way that goes far beyond the memories of a beautiful holiday,” says Rebecca Williams.
Growing toward tomorrow
This December, we’ll return to the soil again to plant, nurture and give thanks. The groundwork is already laid: the ideal locations have been carefully studied and chosen for the trees’ best chance to flourish. These trees will grow in places where the island breathes most freely. They’ll stand as living proof that care is not a single act but a continual devotion.
We may never sit in the full shade of the trees we plant, but that’s the whole point. These trees are a gesture toward a future we’ll never own. A future where Hvar still dazzles strangers who arrive with wonder in their eyes.
That’s the meaning of mindful travel. It’s about giving, not only taking, and leaving behind something that keeps growing. Because sustainability is similar to a love story. And love, just like a tree, begins quietly before it reaches for the sky.
