This past weekend marked the official opening of the new international pilgrimage and cultural-tourism route Camino Dubrovnik – Međugorje, connecting southern Croatia and Herzegovina and offering a unique spiritual and tourism experience for all lovers of pilgrimage, nature, and active recreation.

The Camino Dubrovnik project was officially presented on Friday in Dubrovnik, highlighting that the route is approximately 145 kilometers long and divided into seven sections. The route is designed as a seven-day pilgrimage—3.5 days of walking through Croatia and 3.5 days through Bosnia and Herzegovina—connecting Dubrovnik, the Dubrovnik Riviera, Ravno, Neum, Čapljina, and Čitluk. The presentation was attended by the Mayor of Neum, Mr. Dragan Jurković, and the Director of the Tourist Board of Neum, Mr. Nikola Prkačin.

The official start of the Camino took place on Saturday at the Church of St. James in Dubrovnik, where the first communal walk began following a blessing for the pilgrims. Approximately 300 participants—pilgrims, recreational walkers, and nature enthusiasts—symbolically opened this pilgrimage trail, which connects the Mediterranean coastal area with the karst landscapes of Herzegovina.

For the Neum area, a particularly significant part of the opening took place on Sunday, with a pilgrimage along the Zavala – Hutovo section, marking the inauguration of the route in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Over 100 pilgrims participated in this stage, which passes through the municipalities of Ravno and Neum and represents the first segment of the Camino in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The program began with an organized visit to the Vjetrenica Cave, after which pilgrims continued walking through Popovo Polje to Hutovo. At the end of the section, a Holy Mass was held for all participants, followed by a communal refreshment and lunch.

The new Camino Dubrovnik – Međugorje route is part of the European network of Ways of St. James and represents a major step forward in the development of pilgrimage and active tourism in the region. Passing through the Municipality of Neum, this route further enriches the local tourism offer and opens new opportunities for the development of sustainable tourism, promoting the natural and cultural values of the area.