Vela spila

Vela Spila (Big Cave) is located on a hill east above Vela Luka on the island of Korčula. When I first saw photos of it about ten years ago, my first reaction was disbelief that such a place existed in Croatia!

Croatia is exceptionally rich in caves, pits, and various rock formations. Speleological objects like the JSC (Crnopac Cave System), over 60 km long, or Lukina Jama, over 1400 m deep, are little known to the general public. Few people know that the 500-meter vertical drop of the Red Lake (Crveno Jezero) is the second-highest in the world for such structures. We’ve seen many caves and rock crevices, but even though there are caves with openings in the ceiling, even multiple ones, Vela Spila is special. In terms of attractiveness, it is at the very top, not only in Croatia but much further afield!

Beyond its spectacular appearance, Vela Spila is also a significant archaeological site. A small exhibition and presentation display is set up inside. There is an entrance fee, so it is always a good idea to check the cave’s opening hours.

Archaeological excavations are still ongoing in part of the cave, so it’s interesting to see the cross-section of earth layers reaching deep into the past.

Radiocarbon dating has confirmed human activity in the cave dating back 20,000 years. A large amount of pottery, stone tools, and weapons has been found inside, along with hearths and many animal bones. Several human burials were also discovered. Most of the archaeological finds are exhibited at the Culture Center in Vela Luka.

The cave can be reached from several directions. If you are arriving by car, we recommend the northern approach. Enter these coordinates into your navigation: 42.96970365111226, 16.713415003604833. You can set it as a waypoint, but once you pass it, you can’t get lost as there are signs along the road. The road is quite narrow but paved all the way, passing through a beautiful landscape of olive groves and dry-stone walls.

The views of the sea, and below the cave of Vela Luka itself, are among the most beautiful on Korčula!

There is also a walking trail to Vela Spila from the south in Vela Luka, 550 m long with a 60 m elevation gain. It starts here: 42.964789932153465, 16.71844249257275. A vehicle access point also exists from the southeast, though it was still a macadam road during our visit.

In front of the cave, there is a small parking area for cars and bicycles, as well as a bicycle service station.