ABOUT THIS ADVENTURE
Weather – it’s one of traveling’s biggest X factors. Something that can make or break an experience or trip. As someone who loves exploring national parks, I keep my fingers crossed that the birds will be chirping and sun shining, but that’s not always the case. Take the morning of my day trip to Krka waterfalls – 100% chance of rain. Faced with the question of delaying my trip or going, I chose to go! Sure, I wouldn’t get my pristine, turquoise colored photos like Plitvice Lakes, but I shifted my perspective to make the most of experiencing the park in a completely different way. Sidenote: I actually love being outside during a downpour… so I didn’t let “bad” weather stop me from visiting Krka waterfalls.
TRAVELING THERE
Krka National Park can easily be reached from Zadar and Split as half- or full-day trips via bus or car. Unlike Plitvice Lakes, a half-day trip is plenty of time to explore Krka waterfalls. If you’re looking to stay by the park, the closest and most popular home base is a town called Sibenik. Traveling from Zadar myself, I booked my transportation through Bus Croatia. Ticket prices and operating hours for the park vary depending on the time of year so check here for the most up-to-date info.
There are actually five entrances to Krka waterfalls. The two most popular starting points are Skradin and Lozovac on the southern end. I took a direct bus to the Skradin entrance from Zadar. At Skradin I purchased my ticket, boarded a boat and made my way to the main portion of the park called Skradinski Buk.
WHAT I DID
Krka National Park is made up of dozens of waterfalls and when people talk about the Krka waterfalls they most likely are referring to Skradinski Buk. A trip to Krka would be incomplete without stopping here! Skradinski Buk offers a series of beautiful waterfalls cascading down the Krka River and actually has a swimming area. This entire section of Krka waterfalls also has a 60-minute walkable boardwalk loop. With my poncho and umbrella, I spent nearly two hours slowly making my way around the park while taking in the waterfalls and embracing the rain.
After the loop, it was time to get (fully) wet! Unlike Plitvice Lakes, I absolutely loved that I was able to swim in the water near a 46m waterfall. Traveling solo, I stripped off my clothes, fired up my GoPro and dove right in. The water was warmer than the cold air and the pouring rain was rejuvenating. Standing in there alone, being poured on by the rain was a truly unique Krka waterfalls experience. How many people can say they had the water all to themselves during a downpour? Not many!
When I exited the water to change at the nearby restaurant I ran into two girls, Emily and Hannah, who I had befriended the day before at Plitvice Lakes. They laughed at me as I shivered in my bathing suit. When I asked them if they had gone in yet I should have known the answer was no as they huddled in their warm clothes – challenge accepted! Just like me, they had traveled thousands of miles to experience Krka waterfalls and I wasn’t going to let a little rain stop them. After some convincing, a few minutes later the three of us were splashing around the water under the pouring rain. No regrets… ladies, you’re welcome!
WHERE I STAYED
I used Krka National Park as a pitstop on my way from Zadar to Split. While in Zadar I stayed at the trendy, clean and hip Boutique Hostel Forum which I recommend. While in Split, I stayed in a few blocks outside the city center at Hostel Hotspot run by Croatian-born siblings. Hotspot felt more like staying at a friend’s apartment, which is exactly what it is, a family apartment turned hostel. The siblings offered great tips, were fun and made Hotspot feel like a home.
