August the 24th, 2026 – Baćina Lakes are Croatia’s freshwater phenomenon, with water warmer than that in the sea and the ability to swim year-round.
If you’ve ever driven from Makarska down toward Dubrovnik, you’ll have passed by them. You probably glanced left for a second, spotted a blue patch amid the greenery, and continued on toward the sea. Yet there, just a few kilometres from Ploče, lies something no other Croatian town has: seven lakes within the boundaries of a single town. They are called the Baćina Lakes and bear names that sound like a list from an old book: Oćuša, Crniševo, Podgora, Sladinac, Šipak, Plitko Lake, and Vrbnik.
Putni kofer writes that six of them are interconnected by narrow passages, so you can paddle or boat from one into another, while Vrbnik, which is also the smallest, is completely separate from the rest. Together they cover about 138 hectares.
they’re warmer than the sea
The Baćina Lakes form a cryptodepression, meaning their surface is only slightly above sea level, while their bottoms lie deep below it. Although they are just a step from the sea and surrounded by permeable limestone, the lakes are freshwater. Some springs are nevertheless directly connected to the sea, so salt water appears in the deeper layers. In the Klokun area near Plitko Lake there is a spring that supplies drinking water to the town of Ploče and the surrounding area.
During the scorching summer, the water in the lakes is noticeably warmer than the sea, with tourist sources citing a difference of roughly three degrees. Because of this, the swimming season here starts earlier and ends later than on the coast. The best-known bathing spots are those near the Mindel spring, and the hidden coves and small beaches are reached by kayak, paddleboard, or traditional Neretva boat.
links with queen teuta
Legend has it that the Illyrian Queen Teuta adored this area, and the lakes are still called Teuta’s pearls. Historians, however, have their own evidence and explanations. Near Sladinac Lake the remains of the Roman settlement of Praetoria have been found, along with the remains of an early Christian basilica from the 6th century and a necropolis of stećci tombstones.
Around the lakes a walking and cycling path about 15 kilometres long has been arranged, with benches, springs, and information boards. In 2020 the Public Institution for Protected Natural Areas of Dubrovnik-Neretva County installed 19 educational boards about dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles, and birds. Near the Oćuša spring there is a bird-watching hide, and the lakes also contain three small islets, one of which is named the Island of Love. The entire area forms part of the Natura 2000 ecological network, within two zones of the Neretva Delta, as a habitat for strictly protected and endemic species.
a worthwhile stop off on a long drive south…
A visit to the Baćina Lakes is truly an experience you will remember for a lifetime. Walking the paths that wind right beside the lakes will reveal scenes covered in water lilies, the reflection of clouds mirrored on the still water, and the song of rare birds that creates an almost meditative atmosphere.
Here you can also swim in crystal-clear water that provides refreshment during the great heat, and a special experience comes when the sun sets and the whole landscape is immersed in golden and pink tones. Then the lakes take on an almost fairy-tale appearance. It is a perfect moment for a photograph, but also for simply enjoying the silence of nature.
In the heart of the summer season, a parking space at the viewpoint along the main road is almost impossible to find. Down by the lakes themselves, however, there are usually no crowds. Most travellers photograph the view and drive on, while those who go down to the water, sit in a boat, or cycle a loop are completely enchanted and, like us, probably think: “How is this place not far better known?”
