Natalia and I spent 9 days in Croatia mid to late September and were duly impressed. The weather was about perfect and the rock was typically solid, quality limestone.
We flew directly into Venice and rented a peppy diesel Renault.
7.5 hrs. later (should have been 6 but we got lost in Italy...) we pulled into the seaside town of Starigrad. Our apartment was one of four similar units in a great house half a km away from the Adriatic, and in the other direction, about a km from Paklenica National Park. It's a nothing walk from the canyon entrance to where the climbing starts. Tunneled right there into the cliff is a shop with a bit of everything, including espresso and cold beer. Next to that is a first-rate washroom carved into the cliff as well. Then there are the dozens of single pitch routes along the canyon that you can reach within minutes of your car. Throw in the odd multi-pitch and you have enough to keep you entertained for weeks. The bigger routes start about a half-hour hike away.
We were never more than a few minutes from either the sea, superb hiking or rocks to climb. If there are non-climbers in your group this makes an especially great destination.
Accommodation, food, wine and beer are all top notch and inexpensive.
I'm talking 45 EUR a night for a spotless well appointed apt. that sleeps 4. Some pretty good beers go for 1 EUR. A litre! The excellent local wines are about 3 EUR a bottle and up.
We stuck to Croatian specialities like grilled seafood or roast lamb and were never disappointed. I'm working on duplicating a ubiquitous dish of potatoes, greens, olive oil and garlic.
If you're a cheese lover be sure to try their aged sheep cheese called Ovidur.
You have many options for rest days. For the truly beat, I'd recommend eating, drinking, and lounging in the Adriatic.
Strolling through Croatia's beautiful historic towns and cities, or visiting their travertine producing waterfalls are not to be missed either!
We also spent a couple of days (not nearly enough) on the island of Hvar visiting beaches and cragging.
Sorry for the butt shots...
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 Natalia testing the waters of Krk National Park. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Pokrvenik Cove where there are dozens of newly developed routes. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 The first pitch of Kamasutra at the north end of the Anika Kuk formation in Paklenica National Park. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Natalia leading the final pitch. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Some weird rock huh? Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 On the summit of Anika Kuk. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Looking down at Natalia back at the start of the amazing traverse pitch on Klin, another fine route on the Anika Kuk formation. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Natalia taking in the exposure on Klin after falling on the roof crack. We just made the summit by nightfall. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 The beautiful northwest face of Anika Kuk. Klin is a fairly direct route just left of centre. Mosoraski is right of centre. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 After that long day on Klin we headed to the island of Hvar to climb single pitch sport a stone's throw from beaches like this one in the village of Milna. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Being the civilized place that it is, Croatia actually encourages climbing! This excellent crag overlooks the village of Milna on the island of Hvar. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 The city of Split where you catch the ferry to Hvar. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Sunrise on the Adriatic. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Natalia leading the overhanging Kaurismakis Mistake pitch on Mosoraski (6a). This is the most popular route on the north-west face of Anika Kuk but we had it to ourselves. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Back in Paklenica NP for our last day I asked a German tourist to snap a shot of us at the entrance to the canyon. My broken German often came in handy. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 A typical pitch in the park canyon. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 The local wine is excellent. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Natalia was not so impressed with the potent fig liquor although the woman behind her found it orgasmic. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 Breakfast on our balcony about a mile from Paklenica NP. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 The place came with a resident tortoise. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 On our last evening in Croatia we ran up a super fun 5.7ish trad line on this 80m tower called Zub. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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 The harbour in the town of Hvar on the island of Hvar. Credit: 7SacredPools |
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