Hutovo Blato Nature Park

Hutovo Blato is a nature and bird reserve in Bosnia and Herzegovina, made up mainly of marshlands created by the underground aquifer system of the Krupa River. It is fed from the limestone massif of Ostrvo, which divides Deransko Lake and Svitavsko Lake. The reserve is on the list of BirdLife International's Important Bird Areas and is the largest reserve of its kind in the region, in both size and diversity. Many migratory birds visit and others live permanently in the sub-Mediterranean wetlands around Deransko Lake, and in the migration season tens of thousands of birds fill the lake and its surroundings.

Visiting Hutovo Blato

The wetland is best seen from the water. Boat safaris run daily from April to November and at weekends from December to March, booked through the visitor centre at Karaotok, the main entry point. March to May and September to October are the best months, and early morning or late afternoon the best hours. Between 163 and 240 bird species have been recorded. Take a train or bus to Čapljina and then a taxi, or rent a car, and check the entry fee (up to about 5 euros). The old town of Počitelj is nearby.