What you probably didn’t know about Croatia is, that hidden beneath the surface of the picturesque countryside village of Rakovica is about 150 caves formed by limestone over millions of years – including Barać Caves.
The best part? You can visit it!
Whether you’re seeking adventure or a deeper understanding of the Earth’s natural wonders, I promise, the complex formations of stalactites and stalagmites decorating the large interiors of the Barać Caves will amaze you.
In this post I’ll tell you all you need to know on why and how to visit the Barać Caves. Let’s dig in.
History of the Barać Caves
There are about 150 caves in Rakovica, Croatia – but most of them are still being explored by geologists and cave divers. Many of the caves are under water or too dangerous to visit without proper gear, hence only a few of the caves are open to the public. Though the only one I’ll cover here is the Barać Caves. It’s called “caves” in plural as there’s four caves of Barać: Donja (Lower Cave), Gornja (Upper Cave), Nova (New Cave) and the spring of Baraćevac, which is also a cave. The only cave open to tourists is the Upper Cave.
Did you know? That limestone stalactites form extremely slowly – usually 1cm takes 100 years to grow! So entering the Barać Cave, means exploring millions of years of formations.
Why you should visit
Rakovica is located near the Plitvice Lakes, which attracts millions of tourists each year, but the infrastructure for visitors to Rakovica and the Barać Caves is very underdeveloped and thereby loosing a lot of profit and attention. In 2022 a visitor center dedicated to the Barać Caves – Speleon Museum – opened to help bring growth to Rakovica and its many hidden gems.
I promise there’s more to do here than visit Plitvice Lakes (which you of course shouldn’t miss).
For example:
Ogi Adrenaline Park
Here you can try a state-of-the-art roping range and a giant swing. You can test your skills at archery, tomahawk axe throwing, air rifle shooting and even paintball. They also have go-kart track and many other adrenaline filled activities. There’s no time to be bored.
Opening hours
Every day: 10am to 6pm
Find pricing for all the different activities HERE
Zipline Pazi Medo
Imagine being 40 feet above the ground and flying at a speed of 120 km/h through the Croatian countryside!?
The total length of the steel rope of Pazi Medo in Rakovica is 1,700 m, which makes it one of the longest single-piece ziplines in the world. The ending platform of this zipline is not just a landing site, it’s also a beautiful viewpoint with a view of three valleys in the area where you even can have a drink.
Opening hours:
Off-season: saturday and sunday from 10am to 5pm
From June 1st to September 1st: tuesday to sunday from 10am to 6pm
Find pricing for the zipline adventure HERE
Ranches near Barać Caves
Rakovica has not one but four ranches where you can go horseback riding in the Croatian countryside – which is a MUST when visiting Rakovica. I recommend stopping by Wild Spring Ranch where Petra and Noã will guide you through the amazing landscape around Plitvice.
Find prices and book HERE
Speleon Museum
The Speleon Museum opened in 2022 and is located just 1km from the Barać Caves.
A tour of the museum last from 45 minutes to 1 hour and takes you through the the natural and cultural heritage of the area in four themes – speleology, geology, archeology and paleontology. You’ll be presented with short movies, interactive installations and hyper realistic specimens will take you back tens of thousands of years.
In the museum are the artifacts and remains found in the Barać Caves on display, including bones from extinct animals and human made pottery from the bronze age. You’ll also be introduced to vintage as well as modern cave diving gear, and most importantly, you can see the stone knife believed to have been made by neanderthals – proving that at some point these extinct humans lived in Croatia.
In the Speleon museum is also a Coffee shop and Children’s playroom.
Opening hours
Every day 10am to 6pm
July + august: every day 9am to 7pm
OBS: When buying a ticket for one location, you get a discount of €3 off on the ticket price for another location. The discount is available upon presentation of the purchased ticket, and can be used within three days from the date of sale.
Getting to Barać Caves
The Barać Caves are located near the village of Nova Kršlja in the north west area of Croatia, about 1.5-2 hours by car from Zagreb (Croatias Capital). The easiest way to reach here is by car, but it’s also possible to go by bus – check the bus schedule and prices HERE (DON’T just search on Omio.com as the price will suddenly skyrocket – go through Rio2Rome first).
Parking is free within the Speleon visitor centre facility and protected area of the Barać Caves.
Where to start
I highly recommend starting your tour of the Barać Caves in the Speleon Museum. This will make you understand and appreciate the cave more.
As there’s no pre-set starting times of the tours for either the Speleon Museum or Barać Caves – just show up and enjoy it.
After the guided tour of the Speleon Visitor Centre have a drink at the Museum Café or head straight down to the beginning of the Barać Caves (15 min. walk).
Note: getting to the upper cave requires walking about 200m up along a trail of steps.
FAQ
Can you bring pets to the cave?
Pets are not allowed to enter the cave. However, if you have brought your pet with you to Barać Caves, there’s a special place (dog house) where you can safely leave your pet under surveillance while you’re visiting the cave.
Can you take photos and videos inside the cave?
Photos without flash is allowed inside the cave, but taking videos of the cave is not permitted.
Do you need to book a visit to the cave in advance?
No, tours are organised upon arrival and will start when there’s minimum 2 participants. Waiting time usually ranges between 15 and 40 minutes. There’s a snack bar on site where you can have a drink and food while waiting.
Can you enter the cave on your own?
No! Tours of the cave are exclusively with professional guidance and last between 45-60 minutes.
Are there any safety concerns regarding visiting the cave?
When entering the cave all visitors must to wear a safety helmet (hairnets and helmets are provided). If you suffer from claustrophobia, you might want to reconsider visiting the cave, as it’s dark and narrow.
The constant temperature of the cave is 9° Celsius (48.2 Fahrenheit) – so make sure to bring a jacket and prepare accordingly.
Are there toilets on site?
Yes, there’s free toilets both inside the visitor centre and near the ticket office to the caves.
What are the operating hours of the cave?
What does it cost to visit the Barać Cave?
Remember: When buying a ticket for one location, you get a discount of €3 off on the ticket price for another location. The discount is available upon presentation of the purchased ticket, and can be used within three days from the date of sale.
Hiking in the area
There are three circular marked hiking trails starting and ending at the Barać Caves picnic area. They are named after the protected large animals that inhabit the area of Protected landscape – the wolf trail (1,2 km), the lynx trail (3,1 km) and the bear trail (7,5 km).
Important info before walking the trails:
- There’s no signal in some parts of the forest. you can download a map of the area to keep on your phone in case here.
- Be aware of the wild animals inhabiting the forest and be respectful to their home. That means: don’t litter, don’t try to touch the animals and don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you.
- Bring adequate footwear and clothing, such as long hiking pants, to avoid injuries.
