Šupljara Cave at Plitvice Lakes

Šupljara Cave sits at the edge of the Lower Lakes canyon near Veliki Slap — easy to miss if you are following the main boardwalk, but rewarding to find. A natural cave formed by thousands of years of limestone erosion, it offers a brief, cool contrast to the open canyon environment, and can be walked through as part of the route to one of the park’s finest hidden viewpoints.

What Is Šupljara Cave?

Šupljara Cave is one of several caves in the Lower Lakes canyon formed by the action of water on the park’s limestone bedrock. Unlike the travertine formations that create the lake barriers and waterfalls, Šupljara is a conventional solution cave — carved by slightly acidic groundwater dissolving the limestone over millennia. Its name refers to its hollow, cave-like character (šuplja = hollow in Croatian).

Inside, stalactites hang from the ceiling and stalagmites rise from the floor, formed by calcium carbonate deposited over thousands of years by dripping water. The cave is cool and damp year-round — a natural contrast to the open park environment. Archaeological excavations have found evidence of prehistoric human use, making it one of the few sites in the national park with demonstrable human history.

How to Find It

Šupljara Cave is located near the base of Veliki Slap in the Lower Lakes section. From the main boardwalk near Kaluđerovac Lake, follow the boardwalk toward Veliki Slap. After viewing the waterfall, a signed path leads left and upward from the boardwalk. This path ascends via steep stone steps beside the waterfall, entering the cave partway up. Continuing through the cave and following the path above leads to the cliff-top area and, after approximately 150 metres, to the hidden viewpoint above the Lower Lakes — one of the park’s finest and most overlooked viewpoints.

This detour from the main route adds approximately 20–30 minutes. It involves a steep climb up stone steps that can be slippery when wet — use the handrail where provided and wear appropriate footwear.

The Cave as a Passageway

One of Šupljara’s distinctive characteristics is that it functions as a passageway rather than a dead-end destination. Entering from the bottom (near the Veliki Slap path) and exiting at the top, then continuing along the cliff path, takes you through a route that is invisible from the main boardwalk below and gives you elevated views over the Lower Lakes that most visitors never see. This makes the cave more interesting to explore than a simple cave inspection — it is a functional part of an alternative routing through the lower section of the park.

What You See Inside

The interior is compact and navigable in a few minutes. Stalactites and stalagmites in various stages of formation are visible throughout. Some sections are narrow — not suitable for visitors with claustrophobia. The cave is not artificially lit, so visibility depends on daylight from the openings at each end. A phone torch is useful in the darkest interior sections.

Bats inhabit the cave and may occasionally be seen near the ceiling. They are harmless and protected — observe without approaching.