A family holiday can be filled with pools, water slides and endless activities for children – and still leave a lighter footprint on the environment.
That is the idea behind Valamar Amicor Resort in Stari Grad on Hvar. Surrounded by Mediterranean greenery and close to the island’s historic centre, the resort combines family-friendly fun with eco-conscious design, locally sourced food and activities that introduce younger guests to nature in a playful way.
For families who want their holiday to feel good in more ways than one, this is a very different kind of Adriatic escape.
A green family oasis on Hvar
The first thing you notice at Valamar Amicor Resort is how naturally it fits into its surroundings.
Eco villas and family suites sit among pine trees and Mediterranean vegetation, with terraces designed for spending as much time outdoors as possible. Some villas even come with private pools, giving families their own little corner of Hvar to enjoy.
The resort is located close to Stari Grad, one of the island’s most atmospheric historic towns, so a day can easily move between family time at the resort and an evening stroll along the waterfront.
The accommodation itself follows the same nature-inspired philosophy. Local and recycled materials play an important role in the design, while the colours and textures reflect Hvar’s Mediterranean landscape.
It feels relaxed rather than overly polished – exactly what you want when the main purpose of the holiday is spending time together.
Water fun for every age
Sustainability may be at the heart of the resort, but nobody has forgotten the most important part of a family holiday: fun.
Aquamar water park brings together pools, water slides and attractions designed for different ages. Families can spend the morning racing down slides, splashing in the pools or simply finding a sun lounger and letting the children decide what happens next.
There are also pebbly beaches nearby for days when you want to swap the pool for the Adriatic.
That balance works particularly well with children. One day might revolve around the water park, while the next can be spent swimming in the sea or exploring Hvar.
And when everyone has had enough water for one day, there is still plenty more to do.
Where play meets nature
One of the most interesting parts of the family concept is the way sustainability becomes something children can actually experience.
The resort includes Maro Eco playrooms, Maro Smart Play, an outdoor playground, a Game Lounge and an Eco Garden where younger guests can explore plants and learn more about the natural world around them.
The idea is simple: learning about nature does not have to feel like a lesson.
Children can discover how plants grow, spend time outdoors and take part in activities inspired by the environment. The original resort concept also included workshops centred around recycling, separating waste and looking after plants – small experiences that help make sustainability understandable through play.
And because the activities are designed for different ages, the resort gives families enough variety to keep everyone interested.
Plenty of ways to stay active
If your family prefers holidays with a little more movement, there are plenty of options beyond the pool.
The resort offers a multifunctional sports playground, tennis and Stay Fit programmes, while outdoor activities make the most of Hvar’s mild Mediterranean setting.
Children can move between organised activities and free play, while parents can join in or enjoy some time of their own.
There is even the option to slow things right down with the resort’s outdoor spa.
Because family holidays may be about spending time together, but a quiet hour occasionally does wonders for everyone.
Mediterranean flavours with a local focus
The green philosophy continues at the table.
Current dining at the resort centres around Mediterranean cuisine and fresh local produce, with buffet breakfast and dinner included in the half-board offer. Valamar states that 77% of the food ingredients used are locally sourced.
That makes perfect sense on Hvar.
The island has a long tradition of olive growing, winemaking, herbs and Mediterranean agriculture, so using local ingredients does more than reduce the distance food travels – it also gives families an opportunity to taste the destination itself.
The original Amicor concept also included produce from an organic garden, along with local olive oils, wines and honey from the resort’s own apiary.
For parents, the biggest advantage may simply be having straightforward family dining without turning every meal into another piece of holiday planning.
Green beyond the trees
The sustainability story goes much deeper than surrounding the villas with greenery.
Valamar Amicor Resort has been designed around a series of environmental measures, from recycled and locally sourced construction materials to on-site solar energy generation. The resort uses 100% electricity from renewable sources and features energy-saving LED lighting across much of the property.
The villas themselves have also been designed with energy efficiency and indoor air quality in mind.
Valamar Amicor Resort holds DGNB certification, an international certification system assessing the environmental, economic and social aspects of sustainable construction. Valamar has received gold certification for several villa types, with certification continuing across the resort.
These are details guests may not always notice during their stay – and perhaps that is the point.
The sustainable technology works quietly in the background while families concentrate on enjoying their holiday.
Discover Stari Grad beyond the resort
As tempting as it may be to stay beside the pool all day, one of the resort’s biggest advantages is its location.
Stari Grad is close enough for an easy visit and offers a completely different side of the holiday. Stone streets, quiet squares, traditional houses and a harbour filled with small boats create an atmosphere that feels wonderfully Mediterranean.
Walk along the waterfront in the evening, stop for an ice cream or explore the old streets without any particular plan.
Families can also venture into the surrounding countryside, where vineyards, olive groves and the UNESCO-listed Stari Grad Plain reveal how closely life on Hvar has always been connected with nature.
It is the perfect complement to the resort’s own green philosophy.
A family holiday that thinks a little further ahead
What makes Valamar Amicor Resort interesting is not simply that it offers family facilities or that it follows sustainable principles.
It is the way those two ideas come together.
Children get pools, slides, playgrounds and activities. Parents get comfortable accommodation, local food and spaces to relax. And nature is not treated as something outside the resort – it becomes part of the experience itself.
A family holiday will always be about the memories you take home.
At Valamar Amicor Resort, the idea is that those memories can come with a little more respect for the place you leave behind.
