An alternative route by TheWanderingCamel
An alternative to the Split-Stari Grad ferry to Hvar is the little shuttle ferry from Drvenik (on the mainland, south of Split) to Sucuraj (at the eastern tip of Hvar.) It does mean you'll have a 50km drive along a very narrow and winding road from Sucuraj to the other end of Hvar where most of the island's accommodation can be found, but the crossing itself is both shorter and, at 10KN and 70KN this summer for passengers and cars respectively, cheaper.Check the website here for sailing times.
If you are touring in Croatia, this crossing gives you the alternative of leaving the mainland at one place and returning to another. It wouldn't be a very convenient crossing without your own transport as Sucuraj, your point of arrival on Hvar, is a very small town and getting away from there could be quite difficult.
