Behold Porto Montenegro
In 2007, Canadian businessman Peter Munk, founder of Barrick Gold, the world’s largest mining company, along with a group of investors, put money into a defunct, rusting Serbian naval base on the coast to Tivat, with plans of transforming it into a traveler’s dream destination. A port fit for a king, nestled among a tiny coastal town in Southeastern Europe. Behold Porto Montenegro.
A port fit for a king, nestled among a tiny coastal town in Southeastern Europe.
It takes a true genius to see potential in dilapidation, but since construction began in 2010 the site has grown from a rundown shipyard to one of the world’s premier vacation resorts and marinas. Eighty-five berths were built in that first year. Today, Porto Montenegro has 400, and by the beginning of this summer it will have 60 more, with an additional 120 specifically for superyachts.
Nestled between Croatia, Kosovo and Serbia, Montenegro is filled with unspoiled beauty: shockingly clear blue waters and rocky hills that burst with greens and greys. The country’s 295km coastline is decorated with countless uninhabited islands, secret coves and lush harbors.
Equally magnificent is Montenegro’s mountainous interior with its monasteries, river canyons, wildlife reserves, glacial lakes and the Durmitor National Park, which was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1980.
While the resort is now the undeniable crowning point of Montenegro, its early conception wasn’t always smooth sailing. At first mention of the naval shipyard’s new owners and their plans of tearing it down and building anew, Montenegrins protested in the streets by the thousands.
The proximity to the water guarantees raucous activities like sailing, scuba diving and white-water rafting. Adventure, in other words.
Suspicions of natural resources being abused for the gain of outsiders ran rampant. But, once the locals realized the wealth of new jobs and potential for growth available, they were converted to Munk’s vision. It was boon for both parties.
Now, 80% of the staff at Porto Montenegro are locals. Well-educated and with extensive knowledge of customer service and sailing, most of them can speak upwards of three languages, including English, Italian and Russian.
Sitting on the patio of the Regent Porto Montenegro hotel facing out to the seemingly endless turquoise water of Boka Bay, one has the sense of the final scene in a James Bond film—not surprising, really, since Montenegro did serve as a setting for parts of Casino Royale (though no scenes were actually filmed there). Perhaps it’s because it mixes rustic and exotic so seamlessly.
A pastel-coloured palace sits against a brilliantly blue sky behind you with every amenity one could need, powerful top-of-the-line boats are a few sandal-clad-feet away and gorgeous women in designer labels lounge about, tan and vibrant.
At no point will you ever be far from a stunning view.
