Divjakë-Karavasta National Park

Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is situated along the central Albanian coastline. It encompasses a diverse range of ecosystems, including wetlands, lagoons, dunes, and forests. The park is renowned for its rich biodiversity, particularly its avian population. The park is a haven for birdwatchers, attracting a wide array of waterfowl including Dalmatian pelican. An ideal destination for a day trip from Durrës, Berat or Tirana.

The Karavasta Lagoon is a significant feature of the national park. It is the largest lagoon in Albania and provides a crucial breeding ground for fish and a variety of bird species. It is separated from the Adriatic Sea by a sandbar, creating a unique ecosystem with a mix of salt and freshwater habitats.

Apart from the wetlands, Divjakë-Karavasta National Park is characterized by coastal pine forests and dunes. These diverse habitats support a range of plant and animal life, contributing to the overall ecological significance of the area.

The park attracts visitors interested in nature, birdwatching, and outdoor activities. There are opportunities for hiking and exploring the natural landscapes. The proximity to the Adriatic Sea also provides the chance for beach activities, making it an appealing destination for eco-tourism.

Several birdwatching towers have been built in the park. In winter, the Dalmatian pelican, whose European population now numbers only the last 1,500 birds, nests here. You can see two tame pelicans running outside the park’s visitor centre. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a Great egret or the endangered Greater spotted eagle.

The Visitor Centre of the park with a 35-metre high lookout tower (entrance 100 lek) is located about four kilometres west of the village of Divjakë and about 60 kilometres south of Durrës, with a decent asphalt road leading to it. If you take public transport, the best way is to get on any southbound bus from Durrës and get dropped off at the motorway roundabout just outside Rogozhinë. Here, until about noon, taxis usually wait to take you directly to the park.

Several spots in the park are especially worth visiting: One of them is a smaller lagoon called Godulla e Pishës, just a few hundred metres from the Visitor’s Centre, the other is Divjaka Island with a nice sandy beach, which is connected to the mainland by a small wooden bridge. There is also a lookout tower in Karavasta Lagoon, which can be reached on a dirt road from the Visitor’s Centre (5 km, the final stretch is better to reach by foot). All these landmarks can be included in one hike which also leads along the long Divjaka Beach.

TIP: Take a boat ride on the Karavasta Lagoon! It starts on a place where the road from Divjakë crosses one of the lateral channels, one kilometre east of the visitors centre. An around 30-minute-ride cost 1500 lek (for group of 1-5 persons) or 300 lek per person (for group of 6-10 people). You don’t have to book in advance.

You can also explore the park with a bicycle, which is an ideal means of transport in this flat landscape. It can be rented in the visitor’s centre.

There are plenty of hotels, good fish restaurants and camping along the road leading parallel to the shoreline, with hotel & restaurant Pelikan being the best option.

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