Metajna
About this place
Metajna sits on Pag Bay on the island’s north-eastern side, wedged between the sea and bare karst that creates one of Pag’s most distinctive landscapes. The village is the gateway to Ručica Beach and the Life on Mars trail network, whose marked routes link Beriknica, Slana, Seline and Malin beaches with the Stogaj climbing crag. This is not the usual pine-fringed Adriatic setting: pale rock, intensely blue water and views towards Velebit produce an almost otherworldly scene. Ručica lies roughly one kilometre from the village and can be reached by road; from there, Beriknica is about a 20-minute walk through a rocky canyon or a short boat ride. Three boulders standing in Beriknica’s shallows have become its visual signature, while Stogaj rises immediately above the cove. Metajna itself remains compact, with apartments, a handful of places to eat and the village beach close together. Beyond swimming, its defining experience is an early-morning or evening walk across Pag’s exposed stone, when the heat and sun are less severe.
Metajna is a small settlement on Pag Bay administered as part of the Town of Novalja, although its landscape and mood feel markedly separate from the larger resort. Bare Pag karst begins almost immediately behind the houses, while Velebit fills the horizon across the water. This meeting of rock, sea and isolated coves underpins both the village’s identity and the Pag Outdoor programme. Daily holiday life stays close to the local waterfront; the adventurous side begins on the road to Ručica and continues onto the Life on Mars trails. Metajna therefore appeals more to swimmers, hikers and photographers than to visitors seeking large hotels or a major nightlife district.
Stays
No stays listed here yet
Things to see
The principal attraction is not a building but the sculpted coastline between Ručica and Beriknica. Beriknica is instantly recognisable by three large boulders set in shallow water, while the Stogaj sport-climbing crag rises directly above the beach. Marked Life on Mars routes connect these landmarks with the coves of Slana, Seline and Malin. A new ten-kilometre section between Žigljen and Metajna opened in 2024, adding a northern approach to the network. The seaside via ferrata is only for visitors with suitable equipment and skills; a walking bypass allows hikers to continue without attempting the protected climbing section.
Beaches
Ručica is a pebble beach about one kilometre from Metajna, accessible by road or boat and serving as the main trailhead for the wild coves beyond. It has no natural shade, making a parasol and ample water especially useful. Beriknica is also pebbly but has neither food outlets nor shade; from Ručica it is a little over 20 minutes on foot or roughly five minutes by taxi boat. Its three boulders in the shallows provide the signature view. Slana, Seline and Malin lie farther along the Life on Mars route and suit visitors prepared to hike over exposed karst or arrive by small boat.
Ručica
Beach · Metajna
Ručica is a sand-and-pebble beach near Metajna, beneath the bare rocky slopes of eastern Pag.
Bathing water quality nearby
- Uvala Ručica · 1.1 kmexcellent · season 2025
Source: European Environment Agency (EEA); data from Croatian authorities. · bathing water profile
Things to do
Set off from Metajna for Ručica Beach, about one kilometre away and reachable by car, boat or on foot through the canyon. From Ručica, follow the marked Life on Mars landscape to pebbly Beriknica, identified by three distinctive rocks in the shallows. Beriknica is around a 20-minute walk from Ručica through the canyon, and it has neither natural shade nor food and drink facilities. Stogaj rises above the beach with sport-climbing routes; the route to the via ferrata continues towards Slana Bay, two kilometres from Ručica. For the return, stay on the marked trail towards Ručica and Metajna.
Practical information
Practical information
The Novalja Tourist Board is the official source for local visitor information, publishing beach maps, the Life on Mars brochure and seasonal transport notices. Anyone heading towards Beriknica, Slana or Seline should carry water, sun protection and footwear suited to sharp rock, as these sections offer neither consistent shade nor reliable supplies. Mobile coverage and card payment should not replace preparation before leaving Metajna. The via ferrata requires a helmet, harness and ferrata set; inexperienced walkers should remain on the marked bypass. For urgent services and a wider choice of shops, Novalja is the practical service centre.
Parking
A sizeable unpaved parking area stands by Ručica, from where visitors continue on foot towards Beriknica and the Life on Mars route. Beriknica, Slana and Seline have no road access or dedicated car parks, so vehicles must remain in Metajna or at Ručica. Space inside the village is constrained by narrow streets and apartment entrances, making it sensible to arrange parking with the accommodation provider in advance. No official 2026 tariff for Ručica’s parking area was found, so no fee is quoted here. Cars should not be taken onto unsigned rocky tracks leading towards the remote coves.
Getting there and around
Drivers can reach Pag via the Pag Bridge from the south or Jadrolinija’s Prizna–Žigljen ferry from the north. The crossing takes about 15 minutes and route 335 operates year-round; the 2026 timetable is divided into off-season, shoulder-season and high-season periods. From Žigljen, the road continues through the Novalja area towards Metajna. A Novalja–Metajna bus also appears in the published 2026 winter timetable under Autotrans and Sito Novalja, but departures should be checked for the exact travel date. Ručica is accessible from the village by road, while the more remote coves require a walk or a small boat.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the walk from Ručica to Beriknica?
The walk from Ručica to Beriknica takes a little over 20 minutes through a rocky canyon; a taxi boat takes about five minutes.
Does Beriknica have natural shade?
No. The official beach description states that pebbly Beriknica has neither natural shade nor food outlets.
Can you drive to Beriknica?
Not directly. Leave the car at Ručica or in Metajna and complete the final section on foot or by boat.
How long is the Prizna–Žigljen ferry crossing?
Jadrolinija lists an approximate crossing time of 15 minutes on year-round route 335.
Nearby
Zubovići, Novalja
Village · Pag
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Photo credits
- Metajna — Mich973 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Zubovići, Novalja, Pag — Palauenc05 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Kolan — Marijan · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
- Cesarica — Klapi · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
