Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ically from Galovac into Gradinsko. You'll hear the waterfalls, then you'll see them, and fi-
nallyyou'llfeelthem,asthespraypeltsyouwhileyoustrolltheboardwalks(careful—cover
yourcamera).Firstyou'llpassbythundering
Veliki (“Big”) Prštavac,
thenhookupatight-
and-steep uphill bend—literally walking in the middle of a waterfall—to the nearly as spec-
tacular
Mali (“Small”) Prštavac.
Then you'll stroll along a whole wall of other waterfalls.
Continuing up, you'll weave through another grand set of pools and falls, with views down
on the pond of
Galova
č
ki Buk.
Walk along here, enjoying more ponds and cascades. Even-
tually you'll emerge at a fork in the path. Here, you have two options:
1. Make your hike a loop by turning left (following signs for the boat icon,
P-2,
and
E,
H,
and
K
). This is the easiest and most enjoyable choice for most hikers. First, you'll walk
down a stepped boardwalk with gurgling water underfoot. Then you'll circle back around
thefar(south)sideofGradinskoLakeandthroughaforest.Finallyyou'llpassasmallpicnic
shelter, then walk down past one last set of falls to the P-2 boat dock, where you can take
the boat back over to the hotels (P-1 stop).
2. Turn right (following the icon for the shuttle bus and
C
) to continue hiking up to the
top of the Upper Lakes. I'd choose this option only if you have energy and time to burn.
This route leads you somewhat pointlessly along the top of the best waterfalls (heard, but
not seen), then loops you the long way around the Galovac Lake and eventually to the ST-3
bus stop. From here on up, the scenery is less stunning, and the waterfalls are fewer and
farther between. At the top, you'll finish at shuttle bus stop ST-3 (with food stalls and a
WC), where the bus zips you back to the entrances and hotels.
Nice work!
The most convenient way to sleep at Plitvice is to stay at the park's lodges, which are all
run by the same office (reservation tel. 053/751-015,
www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr
,
info@np-
plitvicka-jezera.hr
; reception numbers for each hotel listed below). Warning: Because of
high volume in peak season, the booking office sometimes doesn't respond to emails. In-
stead, tomakeareservation, usethepark'swebsite tobookyourroom(lookforthe“Online
booking” box). In a pinch, try calling the booking office or the hotel directly (they speak
English). Note that none of these hotels has air-conditioning (which is rarely needed in this
climate), and all of them include breakfast in their rates and have free Wi-Fi in the lobby.
$$$ Hotel Jezero
is big and modern, with all the comfort—and charm—of a Holiday
Inn. It's well-situated right at the park entrance and offers 200 rooms that feel newish, but
