Pakoštane, Near Zadar

Pakoštane, between Zadar and Šibenik, is another village we’ve been keeping an eye on but it’s not quite there yet as an upcoming seaside resort. The beach is good but facilities are underdeveloped and still somewhat geared to the low budget traveller of old. For the moment, the main attraction of the area is Lake Vrana (Vransko Jezero), Croatia’s biggest natural lake.

Declared a National Park in 1999, the park covers 57 square kilometres and the lake itself 30 square kilometres.  It’s a special ornithological reserve and a haven for several endangered species as well as providing the habitat for a vast number of different species. Apart from the diversity of flora and fauna, the area has a rich history, and there are some great cycling tracks. You can find out more about the park on  http://vransko-jezero.hr/cms/en/homepage, though unfortunately not all pages have been translated into English yet. Cyclists wanting more information on the routes click here or get a map from any of the tourist boards in the area.

For news on nearby Sv Filip i Jakov, have a look at this posting on the Croatia Cruising Companion website.