Lastavica Island, also named Mamula, is one of our top swimming locations in Montenegro.
The distance around the island is around 970m and we go to swim around this historical place. After swimming two loops, we usually walk and explore the island. It was used as a concentration camp in WWII and before that as a fortress.
Daily visitors usually come by local boats from Tivat, Kotor and Herceg Novi in order to explore this incredible spot. Many locals call it the Montenegrin Alcatraz and combine trips there with a visit to Zanjice beach or Blue cave.
Swiss and Montenegro newspapers have recently reported that it will be rented for 49 years so as to be developed. Orascom Development of the Egyptian entrepreneur Samih Sawiris runs many high end developments in Montenegro and this will be another. The project should create 200 jobs and is expected to happen within 18 months of getting planning permission. In other words, Montenegro tourism is getting new landmarks to become one of the prime touristic destinations in the coming years.
What will now happen to our lovely swimming around the island?
We do not have an answer today, but without a doubt it will not be free and so accessible. In other words, we may have the final year to enjoy this place as it is.
Therefore, we kindly invite all of you to join our Montenegro swimming trips this year if you want to experience the real and undeveloped Mamula island and fort before the big machines set up a new era for this historical place.
In January 2016 world news have reported that Mamula island got a green light from the Montenegrin government to start the resort development:
