As August draws to a close, many of us are soaking up the last moments of summer, which often means planning a holiday or some travel. If you’re new here or if I haven’t made it clear, travel is a part of my personality. While some of my blog posts focus on Earthub, recycling, or waste diversion, others reflect my passion for travel. After all, the inspiration behind Earthub was my desire to explore the world’s most beautiful places - and to ensure they remain beautiful for years to come.
Today we take a trip down memory lane to a fascinating crevice tucked away in Croatia that I visited eight years ago. The Modra špilja, also known as the Blue Cave, is a hidden gem where the stunning shades of blue captivate the eye. As someone with a quirky fascination with erosion, this adventure was a dream come true. Now keep in mind, we’re not just travelling back eight years, but also eight iPhone versions ago - so the camera quality is not the best!
Let’s Split
Croatia has to be one of my most favourite places I've been too. I've been fortunate enough to travel to a collection of different countries and it is not often that I say I would want to go back (not because I didn't like it there but because I still have so much more of the world to see!) but Croatia was different. I've always said I would go back there in a heartbeat and when I went in 2016, I didn't even see a quarter of the country!
I flew solo into Split, exploring the city before meeting up with friends the next day. At that time, I was in my mid-twenties, fearless, carefree, and incredibly spontaneous. Believe it or not, I let someone else handle the planning for our Blue Cave tour, so unfortunately, I don’t have many travel tips to share for this one. However, I do remember grabbing a boatload of beverages, hopping on a boat in Split with friends, and setting off for a day on the ocean.
Adriatic Blue Bliss
The Blue Cave is located on a small island called Biševo. Our speedboat ride from Split to Biševo was just under two hours. The journey was quite bumpy and noisy, so if I were to do it again, I’d definitely bring earplugs (okay, I do have a travel tip after all!). The rough ride settled down when we ran into some more friends out on the ocean!
Bottlenose dolphins swimming alongside our boat - August 29, 2016
Dolphins and whales are my favourite animals, so I was thrilled to encounter these bottlenose dolphins on our journey. According to Animal Experience International, the Adriatic Sea has seen a significant decline in the population of these beautiful marine mammals. It doesn’t take much research to identify that this decline is largely due to human activity.
Summer Blues
As our boat, along with many others, slowed down approaching the Mezoporat marina, we prepared to switch to another vessel. Only official boats operated by a tourism agency are permitted to enter the Blue Cave. While waiting in line for the next boat, you can take a bathroom break and stretch your legs. The official boats are limited to 12 passengers each, so our group of 14 had to split up, which was no problem.
The Blue Cave, known to locals since the 1800s, was originally accessible only by diving. In 1884, a manmade entrance was created with dynamite. Due to the cave’s small size, there are restrictions on the number of boats allowed inside and the duration of the cave tour.
It was our turn to approach the towering limestone cliffs, where the tiny entrance was almost unnoticed at first. We were advised that we would have 15 minutes inside the cave, swimming was not permitted, and we might need to duck upon entry.
Can you see the entrance to the Blue Cave?
As we ducked through the dark entrance, we were met with a scene beyond words or pictures. It’s one of those experiences you have to see with your own eyes if you get the chance. The silence said everything - it was calm and serene, and the view truly took our breath away. We were witnessing a masterpiece sculpted over thousands of years by erosion. Rays of light crept in from beneath the water, illuminating the ocean floor and creating reflections that left us speechless.
I can’t just blame my old iPhone 6 or GoPro for the poor photo quality; I was so captivated by the scene that I didn’t focus much on getting perfect shots (though, honestly, no photo could do it justice). In what felt like mere seconds, our 15 minutes were up. Whether it was the rush to capture the moment or the influence of a few alcoholic beverages, I notice today that many of my photos were quite blurry. But the ones I’ve included below are the best I can find! To give you a sense of the cave’s size, I’ve included some shots with another boat and the manmade entrance/exit for perspective.
The Blue Cave, Croatia - August 29, 2016
Green with Envy
There is another cave often included in this tour, though it seems less well-known: the Green Cave on Ravnik Island, just a short distance from the Blue Cave. Despite the proximity, the atmosphere felt like night and day. The Green Cave is larger, and the restrictions from the Blue Cave didn't apply, like official boats and no swimming rules. In fact, even before entering the cave, the scene felt like a lively party, with the area packed with boats. In my opinion, this was due to the vibrant vibe rather than just the time of day! While some visitors from other tours were swimming, our guide strongly advised against it due to safety concerns given the surrounding chaos.
Recent reviews suggest that boats may no longer be able to enter the cave, as there appears to be a rope blocking the entrance. Additionally, some reviews indicate that the cost to swim there has become quite high. It certainly seems like the experience has changed quite a bit over the past eight years!
The Green Cave, Croatia - August 29, 2016
Inside the Green Cave - August 29, 2016
Colour Clash
I still think the Blue Cave photos don't do justice to capture its true beauty, but even from images alone, it's clear which cave is the more popular attraction. A lot can happen in eight years and it seems that with growing popularity, the number of tourists has increased to hundreds of thousands resulting in long wait times for the boat transfer. It is paramount that conservation efforts are continued to preserve these natural gems for years to come.
The tour was a huge success, and the memory of the Blue Cave is one I'll cherish forever. In addition to the caves, our tour also included stops at the Blue Lagoon, Vis for lunch, and Hvar. I can't wait to explore more of Croatia one day!
Comments