Before you arrive
Getting here
Getting to a small island takes a couple of hops, but it’s straightforward once you know the shape of it: fly to Split, then take a ferry across the water to Jelsa.
The route, in short
Fly into Split, then catch a passenger ferry across to the island — figure roughly one to two hours on the water. Head for Jelsa (where you’re staying) or Stari Grad; the school recommends both. Hvar Town is technically possible but a real hassle with luggage — a pricier crossing, plus a ~30-minute, ~€60 shuttle and a luggage haul on the far end — so only worth it for a specific reason.
The school wrote up the door-to-door details here: Split airport → Jelsa, on fieldschoolhvar.org ↗
Booking the ferry
Every ferry line only shows part of the picture, so the single best schedule source parents found is putovnica.net — one parent said it’s the only place that lists all the ferries, including the ones that never showed up online and were known only to the ladies at the counter at Split port. The lines to look for are Krilo, Jadrolinija and TP Line.
Miss a sailing? Email Jadrolinija — they’re reportedly good about refunds, even after you’ve bought a second set of tickets.
Going private
If you’d rather skip the schedule and go door-to-door, there’s a private speedboat option — pricier, but fast and far easier with tired kids and bags.
The operator to ask about is Pharos, run by Carolyn’s husband (Carolyn runs the Field School), so it’s a known, trusted quantity.
Arriving in Jelsa? Don’t follow Google Maps to Fontana. Its default route sends you up a brutal flight of stairs the locals call the “Stairway to Heaven” — miserable with bags in the heat. Instead, walk along the waterfront path. There are still a few stairs near reception, but it’s far more manageable.
Once you’re on the island, there’s no Uber or ride-share on Hvar — it’s the local taxi, the bus, or your own two feet. How to actually get around (the bus timetable, rentals, day trips) is on the Getting around page.