Plitvice Lake, Nacionali Park Plitvicka Jezera

Plitivice’s Lakes are divided into Upper Lakes (Gornja Jereza), Kozjak Lake and Lower Lakes (Donja Jereza).  There are two entrances: Entrance 1 (Ulaz 1) by the Lower Lakes and Entrance 2 (Ulaz 2) by the Upper Lakes where you find the 3 hotels that are in the National Park (Hotel Plitvice, Hotel Bellevue, Hotel Jezero). There is no town of Plitvice.  Stay one or two nights and spend the day hiking. We spent one night, were in the park as it opened, hiked all day and drove to Split in the late-afternoon. Buy a detailed map as you enter the park-there is a small map on the back of your ticket.  The terraced lakes and waterfalls of Plitvice Lakes are a tremendous attraction so daytrippers come from Zagreb and Split---it can be crowded. In September we avoided the crowds by doing the following: entered the park at entry 2; walked down to boat stop 1; took the first boat to boat stop 2; walked the LOWER HALF (most scenic part) of the Upper Lakes in a circle back to boat stop 2; took the boat across Lake Kozjak to boat stop 3 where we had lunch; walked Lower Lakes visiting Supljara Cave and Big Waterfall (Veliki Slap); climbed the steep path to entrance 1 and took the shuttle bus back to entrance 2 and our hotel.  In the busier summer months I suggest you reverse our plan starting walking at entrance 1—thus keeping the crowds behind you.