Vrelo Cave Matka Sight Review
Recently, a dear friend of mine from the USA came to visit me in Skopje, Macedonia. Wanting to impress my guest as much as possible from the city, its culture, historic sights as well as natural wonders in the country, I had to make a must-see list of all the things to see and do in Skopje. Among the many places we visited around Skopje and Macedonia, Matka Canyon and Vrelo Cave Matka were one of the first destinations on our list.
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About Vrelo Cave
Cave Vrelo is the only cave out of ten caves open to the public in Canyon Matka, Macedonia. The cave is both an underwater and an aboveground cave. So far, it has been estimated that the depth of Vrelo is around 230 meters, making it the deepest underwater cave in the Balkans.
What to expect when visiting Vrelo Cave in Matka Canyon (step-by-step)
First, you can get to Matka Canyon from Skopje by bus or car. If you don’t want to use a taxi or a rental car, you can get from Skopje to Canyon Matka using bus route numbers 60 and 160. There is a 10-minute hike to the Matka Dam and the canyon from the parking lot by the Treska river. Get our free travel guide on Canyon Matka.
As you walk around and make your way around the dam, you will arrive at the tourist information center for the canyon. The kayaking rentals and boat tours offices are situated by the tourist information center in Matka Canyon, next to the church of St. Andreas.
How to get to Cave Vrelo
Vrelo Cave is situated across the canyon and around 3 km away from the Matka Dam. However, the cave is only accessible by a water path. To reach Vrelo, you can get to the cave by boat or kayak.
A boat ride is easier and cheaper than a kayak, especially during the summer season. The price of a boat trip to cave Vrelo is 400 denars per person for a boat tour duration of one hour, round trip, with a tour guide.
Self-guided kayaking trips along the Matka Canyon and to the Vrelo cave are much more expensive. Single kayak for 30 minutes and 60 minutes are 150 and 300 denars, respectively. For double kayaks for 30 and 60 minutes, the prices are 250 and 500 denars, respectively.
The tour guide stated it takes about an hour just to reach the cave if kayaking due to paddling against the current of the water. Also, docking the kayaks can be tricky, since there is no designated spot for them, the dock is only for the boats. So, if you don’t want the hassle I would recommend a boat tour of the cave.
The Boat Ride to Cave Vrelo
As stated before, the boat tour around the cave takes about an hour, round trip. Once the boat leaves from the tourist information center by St. Andreas, in about 20 minutes visitors will arrive at the dock below the entrance of the cave. From the dock, you hike for about 2 minutes and climb some stairs on a marked pathway in order to get to the entrance of cave Vrelo.
Then, prepare to be amazed by nature!
Inside Vrelo Cave
Your first steps inside the Vrelo Cave are mysterious and insecure. You enter a wet and dark place, inside the heart of the Canyon’s mysterious cavities. Inside is dark, except for the parts that are lighted with reflectors. There are stairs and the tour guide will slowly lead you to the center part, explaining things along the way.
There are numerous stalagmites and stalactites inside the cave, with one famous stalagmite is known as the “Pinecone” due to its cone shape. You will be given enough time to take photos of all the amazing stalactite formations, with the Pine Cone being the most popular one.
The cave is also a home to a local bat species in Macedonia. You will get to see the hundreds of bats sleeping at the top of the cave as well as their feces on the ground beneath them. There is a nearby cave Krshtalna (not open to the public) that actually is the home to four different species of bats: Rhinolophus Ferrumequinum, Rhinolophus Hipposideros, Myotis capaccinil, and the Miniopterus schreibersi.
In cave Vrelo, there are two green-emerald lakes – Big and Small Lake – and a beach at the Big lake known as the “Russian beach.” The beach was named “Russian beach” because one of the first people exploring the cave and swimming in the lakes were mainly Russian pilots hired by the Macedonia aviation.
Entering the two lakes is, naturally, forbidden. However, there are still ongoing diving explorations to figure out the true depth of cave Vrelo.
Leaving Cave Vrelo
Due to the small size of the cave available to tourists, the visit is relatively short but memorable.
Then, you’ll get a few minutes outside the cave to relax and prepare for the return ride towards the Matka Dam.
General info
Where is it?
Vrelo Cave is around 3 km away from the Matka Dam, at the Matka Canyon in northern Macedonia. The canyon is nearby the City of Skopje, the Capital of Macedonia.
What is it?
Vrelo Cave is known as one of the world’s deepest underwater caves. Aside from that, it is home to different bat species and many stalactites. Currently, visitors can enter only one small portion of the Vrelo Cave, look at the stalactites and take photos of the magnificent views inside.
Ticket price?
As far as we noticed, the entrance at Vrelo Cave was free. However, in order to get inside you must wait for a guide to open the door as visitors aren’t allowed to wander inside by themselves.
Those that want a guided tour (which I recommend) can rent a boat ride for 400 MKD per person (at the time of my visit); the boat takes them from the Dam to the Cave and back, plus includes the guided tour. The guide speaks English and provides interesting information regarding the Cave.
Tips for a smooth visit:
- Bring comfortable shoes as on the inside of the Cave is slippery
- Bring a sweater because inside can be a bit chilly
- Prepare for a boat ride of around 20 mins one way
- Prepare for a short hike and a climb of stairs from the spot where the boat stops at the entrance of the cave
- Bring a hat, sunglasses, water and even snacks
- Bring your camera – photographing is allowed in cave Vrelo
- During high season visit during working days as during weekends, it’s crowded
Personal Opinion on Vrelo Cave Matka
Well, I am ashamed to admit that this was my first visit to this amazing spot. I’ve heard about it, I’ve read about it, but I’ve never actually paid a visit to Vrelo Cave Matka before.
I believe that this cave is a wonder of nature that everyone should visit, especially because it’s not too expensive to see it, plus you also get to explore the popular and breath-taking Matka Canyon.
Therefore, everyone that loves nature, every cave-enthusiast and anyone enjoying natural wonders definitely should reserve a day to visit the Matka Canyon and the Vrelo Cave in Macedonia.
