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Connect in Croatia at Plitvice National Park

Published by Kristin Cowles, Editor-in-Chief

Country: Croatia

The Experience

As the crisp scent of dawn gives way to the break of day, quiet solitude can be found along the waterfall lined trails of Plitvice Lakes National Park. While the morning dew subsides, a winding plank walkway unfolds, lacing together an exquisite collection of waterfalls. Comprised of 16 interconnected lakes, Plitvice Park is divided into the Upper Lakes, Gornja Jezera, and the Lower Lakes, Donja Jezera. The azure waters and distinctive cascades are derived from the location of the basin, which lies on a large deposit of karstic rock. Spanning over 8km, the terraced Plitvice Lakes are sprinkled amongst a lush forest backdrop home to deer, wolves, bears, wildcats and some 160 rare species of birds. The Big Waterfall also known as Veliki Slap, is located on the lower portion of the Lakes series, due to this and the exceptional head on views of mother nature, the preferred route for hiking is bottom to top. Not far from the Big Waterfall lies another popular element of Plitvice Lakes Park, the Supljara Cave, one of many that can be found along your hike. The soft spills of water from one lake to another is a scarce pleasure that Plitvice Lakes promises to provide.

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When to Go to Plitvice Lake

The best time to visit Plitvice Lakes National Park is in September, temperatures are warm and the tourist crowds have died down from the summer. June through August is also good, but expect hotter temperatures and heavier tourist traffic.

Odds n' Ends

Plitvice Park is always open with no specific hours of operation, though the boat and bus shuttle only operates from dawn to dusk. Entry to the Park costs $7 during winter and $14 during summer, but is good for your entire stay.

Want a Guide?

Croatia Highlights - GAPAdventures.com
Explore the diversity that Croatia has to offer. Starting in Dubrovnik, follow the dramatic coastline past historical treasures such as Split, Trogir and Sibenik, each village, practically bursting with UNESCO-classified heritage sites. Continue inland with a visit to Plitvice Lakes, renowned for its outstanding natural beauty, before taking in the Northwestern region of Istria, once part of Italy, now a source of Croatian pride with its medieval hilltop villages and unique cuisine.

More Experiences Nearby

Camp Out at Awe-some Lake Bled
Stepping off the train, a cool breeze welcomed us to Lake Bled. This glacial lake located in the Julian Alps harbors Slovenia's only island, a quaint and charming pastoral haven. We had originally planned to set up camp by the water, but as we peered into the distance under the dim moonlight, we learned that the lakeside near us was smothered in cement. The mountain it was, we decided. Setting out, the hike was easy. The path was wide and the moon shined down on us with a welcoming glow. Within 20 minutes we had wound our way fairly far ...123 miles away.

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Books and DVDs

Croatia Travel Guide -LonelyPlanet.com
Croatia is going gangbusters, blowing the gasket on glamour. The Adriatic coast has a loungey Italian vibe, while Rovinj has a cobblestoned charm. There are impressive Roman ruins to explore, and at the end of it, the restored city of Dubrovnik will be ready with the drinks.
A Taste of Croatia: Savoring the Food, People and Traditions of Croatia's Adriatic Coast
Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips (Hardcover)
No one knows the world like National Geographic—and in this lavish volume, we reveal our picks for the world's most fabulous journeys, along with helpful information for readers who want to try them out.

Elsewhere on the Web

Plitvice National Park Website
In the Plitvice Lakes National Park, barriers between the lakes over which are falling magnificent waterfalls and the small falls, have been created in a special, natural way.
Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes - TransitionsAbroad.com
Croatia is known for its idyllic coastline. But within the interior is the lesser-known, captivating Plitvice Lakes region, the country’s first and most important national park. To visit Plitvice is to indulge in one of Europe’s best back-to-nature experiences.
Plitvice Lakes National Park - Wikipedia.org
The Plitvice Lakes national park is heavily forested, mainly with beech, spruce, and fir trees, and features a mixture of Alpine and Mediterranean vegetation.
Plitvice Lakes National Park - UNESCO.org
The waters flowing over the limestone and chalk have, over thousands of years, deposited travertine barriers, creating natural dams which in turn have created a series of beautiful lakes, caves and waterfalls.
Travel Report Croatia - Voyages.gc.ca
WARNINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Media References

Yugoslavia's Land of 16 Lakes - NYTimes.com (newspaper)
It isn't the large rock formations that impress most. No, mile after charnel-white mile, knuckle-size, fist-size, knee-size, stone - as if all Yugoslavia had once been paved in concrete and were now breaking up.

Language Guides

Italian is one of the languages spoken in Croatia. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

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