We have been adventure guides on Baćina lakes for 8 seasons in a row and we know all there is to know about this beautiful place. More closely, we have been kayaking guides on the lakes , because Baćina lakes aren’t meant for big adrenaline adventures you can find somewhere else in Croatia. These lakes are places of easygoing adventures that make your mind slower and put you in a state of happiness and mental ease. That’s what kayaking (or any other activity) on the Baćina lakes looks like.
Although we are no longer guides on the lakes, we still often visit them and use this article as our way to present them to you so you can enjoy their nature as much as we do. As professional photographers, we had a lot of photography projects right here on the lakes and we believe that the photos attached in this article will make you want to visit the place yourself.
So let’s dive deep down into the serene landscape of Baćina lakes.
A Short Introduction to Baćina Lakes Baćina Lakes is a group consisting of seven lakes – Oćuša, Crniševo, Podgora, Sladinac, Vranjak, Vitanj, and Plitko Jezero. Six of those are connected by passages and canals and if you are kayaking or doing any other water-based activity on them, you can easily go from one lake to another. They are easily accessible since they are basically located underneath the regional road. A few minutes of diversion and you’re already in a totally different landscape and state of mind.
Located just a few kilometers from Ploče , a city in southern Croatia , these lakes are an inevitable landmark for everyone traveling on the main road between the more famous cities of Split and Dubrovnik . Still widely untouched by human interventions, they represent a small jungle with flourishing wildlife and lush vegetation — a perfect getaway for everyone seeking moments of peace deep in the heart of nature .
Our Top Pick Of Tours in the Bacina Lakes Area Featured Tour – Stand Up Paddling on Bacina Lakes
Tours in the Nearby Area
Unique Features of Baćina Lakes Let us also tell you a bit more specific facts about Baćina Lakes that make them different from similar lakes in Croatia. However, now if we think, there are not so many similar places in Croatia. Yes, there is Plitvice Lakes National Park with all its waterfalls and magnificence, there are lakes in Mljet National Park (which are connected to the sea but still called lakes) which are also out of this world.
But when it comes to ‘regular lakes’ there’s not a single one that comes close to the beauty of Baćina Lakes. While most of the others can also be beautiful, they usually lack the features that Baćina Lakes have, being 7 connected and yet different lakes for example.
Let’s see what other things make Baćina lakes different from other lakes in Croatia.
Natural Wonders
Cryptodepression: This means that the surfaces of the lakes are above sea level, while their depths are below. This can be observed in a smaller tunnel dug in the early 20th century. You can clearly see how the sea level is lower than the lake levelBiodiversity: The lakes support both freshwater and saltwater fish species due to underground connections to the sea. It’s all karst around here so a lot of holes and canals deep underground. Thousands of seagulls can frequently be seen on the lakes too, especially on the larger lakes that are closer to the main road that passes just above.
Historical Significance
Queen Teuta’s Pearls: It’s believed that Illyrian queen Teuta had her palace right here on Baćina lakes, earning the lakes this poetic nickname.Roman Legacy: The remnants of Praetoria, an old Roman settlement, remain visible to this day (although touristically unvalored) and this village was once historically connected to the nearby Narona, the second-largest Roman city on this side of the Adriatic. Today’s Split was the largest one.20th-Century Tunnels: These peculiar works of old engineering were dug to manage excess water from nearby Jezero Valley (more about it later in the text), with one tunnel diverting water from the lakes to the sea and another channeling it from this flooded nearby valley. The largest of these tunnels is called Maričevac and we have explored it through our Dalmatia Urban Speleology Tour .
Why Visit Baćina Lakes? Baćina Lakes were much more popular and crowded in the past few decades than they are today. In times like these, a less crowded place is a very positive thing. With massive tourism flourishing all along the Croatian coast (crowded beaches of Makarska Riviera are just 10 kilometers away), there are not so many places where you can find peace and enjoy undisturbed natural beauty while listening only to cricket symphonies and wind breeze finding its way through leaves of high trees of the lakes. In fact, we can’t think of any place on the Croatian coast as quiet as Baćina lakes during the summer season.
During the other seasons, Baćina Lakes are even quieter. Take autumn for example, the most vibrant and colorful of all the seasons on the lakes. We’ll just attach a few photos so you can see how they like. Another fun phenomenon that can be observed from higher grounds is the different colors that each lake has and this can especially be seen during the warmest summer months.
Daily Rhythms of the Lakes in the Summer
Morning: Summer mornings at the lakes are the calmest and most reflective times of the day, with few fishermen’s boats cutting through still waters as nature awakens and the lake surface is as reflective as a mirrorNoon: Crickets intensify their symphonies, and the breeze starts to blow making the heat more bearable.Afternoon: Winds usually become stronger, providing a refreshment, but also disturbing the usual peace of the lakes.Evening & Night: Wind slows down and calm nights with minimal light pollution offer spectacular options for stargazing in Croatia , including views of the Milky Way and most visible stars. Make sure you bring binoculars or a telescope if you want to fully immerse in this opportunity.Seasonal Changes:
Autumn: The most vibrant of all seasons. Probably our favorite too.
Spring: Awakening of nature and returning birds.
Winter: Most of the trees lose their foliage and the water level of the lakes is higher because of the excess water that comes from the previously mentioned tunnel.
Activities at Baćina Lakes As we already mentioned, Baćina lakes are perfect for slow and easygoing adventures such as kayaking, Stand – Up Paddling, or traditional boat rides. There is also a trail that goes all around the lakes so cycling is also a great way to explore lakes from a different perspective.
Water Adventures
Kayaking & Canoeing:our guided kayaking tours on the lakes , there are no more similar tours, but you can still rent a kayak in a local beach bar and enjoy the lakes yourself.Stand-Up Paddleboarding: Another great way to explore the lakes at your own pace. There are guided tours as well as the option to rent a SUP board.Traditional Boat Safari: Very popular tour that starts from both beach bars.
Land-Based Activities
Cycling Trails: There is a gravel path going all around the lakes and it’s great for cycling.Walking & Picnicking: same as for cycling, use the same trail to walk around, enjoy, and find the best spot for a picnic.
Swimming The great thing about the lakes is the fact that they are warmer than the sea by approximately 3°C, making them perfect for swimming even in cooler weather, for example in May while the sea is not as warm as it will be in a month or two. Many swimming spots are scattered around the lakes and these can easily be found. Beach bars on the lakes are another famous swimming spot and they are located near each other if you use the Baćina entrance. It’s best to find them on Google Maps.
Urban Speleology During summer, a 2-kilometer tunnel offers a unique underground exploration opportunity for adventurous visitors. We’ll talk more about this tunnel just below.
Maričevac Tunnel – urban speleology opportunity Maričevac tunnel is a 2 2-kilometer tunnel that was dug at the beginning of the 20th century and we have a separate article about it if you want to dive into the topic more. The tunnel is located near Peračko Blato beach. This village is another entrance to the lakes and has a nice beach great for swimming or as a starting point for your adventure.
Maričevac tunnel was dug because the Jezero Valley (also known as Vrgorac Valley) was flooding to the extent that it became a huge lake (Jezero means lake in Croatian) and locals were unable to grow anything in its otherwise fertile soil. So to deal with this problem, a tunnel was dug and that tunnel slowly started to take away the water from the flooded lake straight into the Baćina lakes while another small tunnel took it further into the Adriatic Sea.
During the summer months, this tunnel is dry and it’s possible to walk through it and explore it which we suggest as one of the great activities on the lakes if you are interested in stuff like this as much as we are.
Tips for Visiting Baćina Lakes Combine Your Visit Baćina Lakes is a perfect escape from a crowded world right into the embrace of nature. At least for a while. Visiting them won’t take much time—just a few hours—and we suggest combining the visit with some local attractions that can be found nearby. A lot of people stumbling to Baćina Lakes just happen to travel between 2 more famous Croatian locations – Split and Dubrovnik .
We suggest you book a night somewhere near the Baćina lakes and spend 2 days exploring all the area has to offer.
What to Visit in the Vicinity Neretva River Delta Located just 10 kilometers away, the Neretva River Delta is a must-visit if you are near Baćina lakes. This wetland is perfect for:
Birdwatching: Spot rare and migratory bird species you’ll likely see nowhere else in Croatia.Traditional Boat Tours: Local Cuisine: Neretva Delta is famous for its local specialties such as eels and frogsKiteboarding: Neretva river delta is one of the most popular places for kiteboarding in Croatia .
Narona Archaeological Site A bit further from Baćina lakes but still worth the visit. Located at the edge of Neretva Valley is the town of Vid, known as Narona in the past and it’s great to visit because of:
Archaeological Museum Narona: Built over the remains of a Roman temple.Historical Significance: Explore the history of one of the largest Roman settlements on the Adriatic coast.
Ploče The City of Ploče was our base for a long time and the place where we grew up. It’s usually not known as a common traveler in Croatia but we like to call it the ‘adventure capital of Croatia’ because of all the natural locations that can be found near it. It’s also a perfect hub for exploring places such as Makarska Riviera , Dubrovnik, Split, Mostar, and so on. What it also offers:
Cool architecture: Ploče is an industrial town and the second-largest seaport in Croatia and you can find some cool architectural pieces in it dating back to the times of socialism.Abandoned military locations :Ferry to Peljesac Peninsula Trpanj on Pelješac.Rogotin Wind Organ
Vrgorac and Jezero Valley (Vrgorsko polje) Vrgorac and Jezero Valley are just 20 minutes of driving away from Baćina lakes and if you should visit them for:
Fortresses: Discover medieval fortifications with panoramic views.Local Wine: Taste authentic Croatian wines in many local family-run wineries.Cycling : Jezero Valley (Vrgorsko polje) is great for cycling with a labyrinth of trails suitable for anyone. We even organized our Dalmatia cycling tour in this stunning valley.Kayaking
Makarska Riviera A lot can be said about Makarska Riviera and our blog has many articles with topics from this beautiful part of Croatia. Let’s focus on the southern part closest to Baćina lakes for now and this is great because of:
Before you venture to Baćina Lakes Baćina Lakes provides a serene retreat into nature and history. Whether kayaking through the calm waters, exploring ancient ruins, or enjoying a picnic by the shore, these lakes offer something special for every traveler. Their proximity to other regional attractions makes them an essential stop on any journey through Croatia. remember these lines and images we put in this article and think about putting the visit to Baćina lakes and nearby locations into your itinerary for visiting Croatia.
