Manita Pec Paklenica

Manita Peć is the show cave of Paklenica National Park, set high on the slopes of the Velebit mountain above the Velika Paklenica canyon. It is a single, richly decorated limestone chamber, some ninety metres long, with stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones and columns, and it is the only cave in the park that is regularly open to visitors.

The cave has been known for centuries and has been a show cave since the mid-20th century, with a prepared path and electric lighting. The interior holds the usual calcite formations, several of them large and named, and the temperature stays steady and cool year-round. The cave is reached by a stiff hike up from the canyon floor, roughly an hour and a half of climbing.

Because of the climb, Manita Peć gets far fewer visitors than the coastal show caves, and the visit is a quiet one. Access is by guided tour at set times, and the cave is open only in the warmer part of the year. Check the current opening days before committing to the hike.

For photographers, the formations in the single chamber are the subject, and a tripod is usually the difference between a usable shot and a blur, though you should check whether one is permitted. Take a layer for the chill inside and real shoes for the climb.

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