Near Budva and Bečići there is a nice place where you can go to pass the time and try to hide at least a little from the heat. It’s Ivanovići Cave. I went here from Bar, as I wanted to walk around and try out my new sneakers.
What’s the Ivanovići Cave?
We know very little, if anything, about the cave itself. Only brief mentions in the reviews of tourists exist, without any historical or geological references. And it is not well known among tourists either.
At the same time, going to it will not only diversify your beach vacation. As a cave, it is not very interesting, but the view from it is amazing. At your feet, Bečici will be spread out, and at the same time, you will be protected from the scorching sun.
My hike to Ivanovici Cave
In mid-May, the season in Montenegro had not yet started. Each year, there are fewer tourists here. The coastal road was clear, enabling a swift journey from Dobro Voda to Bečići.
At one of the traffic circles, I had to be careful. Locals rarely follow traffic rules. I turned right and forced my Golf to climb the narrow streets. I decided to go as far as the asphalt would allow. I was not mistaken; the road was excellent, albeit at a steep incline.
I left the car in a vacant lot and followed the navigator to find my way. In the first courtyard, you could enter and see the threshing floor for free. This is a round area where, in the past, locals held meetings and events. (See all the coordinates at the end of the article.)
When I reached the observation deck, I looked around. One of the paths led to an old olive tree. There are many such trees in Montenegro, but living in a neighboring yard of a similar place in Old Bar, I had never gone there. So, first, I went to the olive tree.
Unlike the bar’s landmark, admission here is free. Right under the tree, which is over 2,000 years old [1] there are benches where you can sit and enjoy the moment. But I recommend you do it on the way back when you return from your hike .
Returning to the fork, I headed down. Immediately, I came across a rather long yellow-bellied stripe, one of the snakes that live in these parts. I had encountered them many times on Khortytsya Island in my native Ukraine. Yet, it quickly disappeared into the neighboring fenced plot, hurrying away. It is understandable. It was lying in the sun, warming itself. Then, a big man came and started walking along the path.
The path further on becomes narrow and uncomfortable. There is no question of accessibility. A full-fledged observation cave, Lipskaya Cave, is nearby.
On the way, I kept having to remove the cobwebs from my body. The place was not popular, which was to my advantage. No one interfered or pushed me around like in popular locations.
In many places, streams are flowing underfoot, and puddles and bogs are forming. Tadpoles grow in these puddles. Take this into account, and if you go for a walk in spring or after the rain, take appropriate footwear.
While wading through these thickets, I came across a small waterfall. As I have a weakness for them, I immediately ran to photograph and touch the water.
It is worth noting that at first you descend into a hollow, and then you will have to make a small leap up the mountain. You will have to be careful here, and sometimes even help yourself with your hands to avoid slipping. The rocks on the Balkan Peninsula are very sharp, and any fall can be disastrous.
Five minutes climbing up to the entrance and finally there! First of all, I look around. Lots of greenery, the sea on the horizon, and the houses below. The view is beautiful. You can enjoy it right from here.
But that’s not why I came here. I wanted to get into one of Montenegro’s caves, which I did.
The interior surface’s texture holds chief attention. You can view the walls and ceiling for hours. Given the shallow depth (no more than 10 meters) and wide entrance, you don’t even need a good torch.
Still, it’s not the most interesting sight in Black Mountain Country. So after about 20 minutes, I headed back the same way. I leisurely returned to the car to drive back and write articles and reports for you, my favorites!
How to get to Ivanovici Cave
Take the seaside road E80 from either side to Bečići. As you follow the road through this town, you should turn into the mountains. The huge Splendid Conference & Spa Resort is a landmark. Here we turn and follow the street ‘Ive Lole Ribara’. Then go straight ahead. The final point you can put is the site where I parked my car for free (42.294026810018835, 18.87109451919676).
If you don’t have your own car, it is better to rent one, as it will be very difficult in Montenegro without it. Otherwise, you can take public transport to Bečići and walk up from the hotel. There are also local taxi services.
When you get there, continue along the same street, along the villa-hotel to the viewpoint. At the viewpoint, you will turn to an ancient olive tree on the right. A barely visible path leads down here as well. You can see the signpost in the photo. The coordinates of the fork are 42.29396114065123, 18.873628906403116.
The coordinates of the cave are 42.29246572026169, 18.87379818284653. Be careful; there are several locations on Google Maps with an entrance to this grotto. Use my coordinates and good navigation for hiking.
What else is there to see on the road?
Combine the hike to the cave with viewing the old olive tree (42.2947165518936, 18.874207890672896), the threshing floor (42.29373409313351, 18.872496057359577) and the ruined oil mill (42.29389411547161, 18.875586535973238). You’ll also see a small waterfall among the trees along the way (42.293100, 18.873600), although it can dry up completely in summer.
All these places are not worth dedicating time to, but they will be a great addition to your itinerary.
- Lazovic, Biljana & Adakalic, Mirjana & Perovic, Tatjana & Stoja, Ljutica. (2007). Olive growing improvement in Montenegro. Journal of Contemporary Agriculture. 56.[↩]
