Eye of the Earth, Croatia refers to the Cetina River Spring or Izvor Cetine and is located in Southern Croatia at the base of the Dinara Mountain Range. How did the river come to be known as the Eye of the Earth?
The beautiful and exotic river resembles a two-toned dragon’s eye. Therefore, the blue and green river has come to be known by another name, the “Eye Dragon, Croatia.” The eye-catching river remains one of the most rarest, beautiful, and must-see gems in the Dalmatia location.
Introducing the Eye of the Earth
The Cetina River Eye of the Earth encompasses a span of 101 km with its basin covering an area of 1,463 sq km. From its source, the river descends from a height of 385 m or 1263.12 ft above sea level before flowing into the Adriatic Sea. This makes it one of the most water-rich rivers in the Dalmatian region.
Moreover, the uniqueness of the Cetina Spring has piqued the interest of both tourists and locals who visit it to admire its beauty up close. As a result of the increased tourist activity, it led Croatia to recognise it as a national monument in 1971.
Anyone with plans to visit Eye of the Earth should do their part to preserve its allure by not throwing litter into the river.
You can swim in the river but be wary of the temperatures.
Cetina Spring Temperature
People have described the temperatures of Cetina Spring as icy cold but that has not stopped them from swimming in the river. The river’s temperature is between 4C and 8C (46F). It’s practically an ice bath, indeed! The source of this very cold water is the karst spring.
Cetina River Source
A karst spring is the Cetina River source that supplies striking blue-green clear cold water into the Eye of the Earth. It is said to resemble Mexico’s cenotes and the Yucatan Peninsula’s Sac Actun underwater cave system.
Part of a hydrological system, a karst spring includes sinkholes and caves. The source digs deep under the ground to release cold water into the Cetina River Eye of the Earth. The water comes from the depths of the earth.
Divers and explorers, including the Croatian Nature Institute, have ventured into the river to measure its depth. The Eye of the Earth in Croatia depth measures 155 m or 508.5 ft.
To see the blue-green waters and feel the chilly water on your skin, you can take a detour to visit the magnificent Cetina River Eye.
How to Get to Cetina River Spring?
The blue hole of Croatia is located in the town of Cetina, which is reachable by car via the local Highway 1. Next to the Eye of the World Lake is the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Ascension of the Lord. The recommended transportation mode to Eye of the Earth is by car, as there is no public transport to reach Cetina River Eye. Renting a car in Croatia is affordable with the option to rent a car from either the airport in Split or Dubrovnik.
You can also reach the Cetina Spring by booking a cycling tour.
Split to Eye of the Earth, Croatia
If you’re coming from Split, it will take around 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach your destination. You will also not encounter any border controls.
When you get back to Split, here is an idea of what you could do while still in the country. From Split, book a day trip to visit the Island of Vis. Explore the nearby stunning Blue Cave, the Green Cave, as well as the town of Komiza, whilst still in Croatia.
Dubrovnik to Eye of the Earth, Croatia
If you’re coming from Dubrovnik, it will take around 3 hours and 30 minutes to reach your destination. Your drive will take you through the border controls with Bosnia and Herzegovina. Be prepared to pay a small fee for the tolls if travelling to Cetina from Dubrovnik. Have all your documents on hand to speed through the border crossing.
Once you’re at the Eye of the Earth, you’ll find many ways to make your time there memorable and enjoyable.
If you are staying in Dubrovnik, you can take another trip, it involves another border crossing, this time to Montenegro. From Dubrovnik, it takes roughly an hour and 30 minutes to two hours to reach Kotor Bay in Montenegro.
Having Fun at the Cetina River Eye of the Earth
You can explore the Cetina River on a bike. You can book a cycling tour, which begins at the Hotel Alkar located in the city of Sinj. With the tour group, you will head to the Panj Village and then go on an epic adventure to discover the beauty of the Eye of the Earth.
Next, you will head towards the Macadam Rd and go through the well-maintained areas of the Peruca Lake. You will also cross the captivating hills of the Dinara Mountain and end the tour at the 9th-century church of historical significance – Church of Holy Salvation, Cetina. In Croatian it’s called Crkva Sv Spasa.
From there, you can also go to the Cetina River. Just take a right and keep riding for about 500 m to reach the Cetina River Spring. Once you have reached your point of interest — the Eye of the Earth — and after you have explored the river, eat your lunch, take lots of pictures, and then take the same route to return to the hotel.
If you’re in the mood for something extreme, a canyon tour that involves walking, climbing, jumping, and swimming will be more up your alley.
Cetina River Tours: Canyon Tours
Numerous canyon tours leave Split every day. A canyon tour is an adrenaline-fueled activity that lets you experience the impressive Cetina River in a whole new way.
The immersive outdoor excursion can be customised to the group’s skills but still requires a certain level of mobility and fitness. Here are a few popular tours of the Cetina River with all leaving from Split:
Guided Cetina River Rafting Tour #1
The Cetina River Rafting with Cliff Jumping Tour involves rafting the rapids down Cetina River, exploring a cave, and swimming in the crystal-clear water. Your tour guide will provide you with the proper gear and safety instructions.
You can be picked up from Split if you select that option. The activity can take up to 5 hours.
Guided Canyon Tour of the Cetina River #2
The guided tour of the Cetina River will include subterranean tunnels, waterfalls, and the popular Gubavica waterfall. Your licensed tour guide will teach you various techniques to cross the rapids and rivers. You will also get to relax in the natural pools and dive into the water from the rocks.
Cetina River Canyon Guided Tour #3
The Cetina River guided tour will begin with a short brief on canyoning on the Eye of the Earth. A shuttle bus will take you to the Zadvarje Village located on the Cetina River. From there, your enthralling canyoning adventure begins. You will find yourself among waterfalls and rapids of a canyon that’s 200 m deep.
Besides canyoning on the Cetina River, you can also book a white-water rafting tour that crosses Class II and Class III rapids. If those two activities are too extreme for you and/or you don’t want to get wet, you can go ziplining across the Cetina River Eye.
For those who don’t mind the water and desire a more intimate experience on the Cetina River, they can sign up for a dive tour.
Cetina River Spring Diving
Croatia is flooded with amazing diving sites. Although you’ll find several diving sites on the Adriatic Sea, you’ll not find a diving location like the Cetina River source.
When you dive in the Cetina River Spring, you’ll come face-to-face with scenic underwater views like the limestone walls and unusually shaped rocks and fascinating marine life such as the trout.
The diving site is located near the Glavas Caves. When you reach a depth of about 35 m, you will encounter two side tunnels and vertical walls. You can also see the shape of the Orthodox Church of the Ascension from under the water. Close to the Cetina izvor’s surface, you will spot peculiar vegetation.
For dives that take you to a depth of about 115 m, you can dive in the Glavas fortress. However, it’s only suitable for more experienced divers. In short, diving in the Cetina River will be an unforgettable feat, as you never know what you’ll encounter… maybe a whale!
Eye Of The Earth Croatia Whale: Fake or Real
So, the likelihood of seeing a whale swimming in the Cetina River is unlikely and you wouldn’t want to be caught blocking their path. What is the story behind the Cetina River whale? On Sep 5th, 2020, drone footage captured an enormous fin whale swimming alongside a fishing vessel in the Adriatic Sea in Croatia.
Captured by the Blue World Institute, the drone hovered over the Velebit Channel in the Dalmatia location. The researchers followed the fin whale, using the drone, for around 2 h. They started to monitor the fin whale’s movements from the Novsko Zdrilo’s entrance.
The creature swam up to the Maslenica Bridge and from there, it returned to the Velebit Channel and took the path to Vinjerac. Through the video, the researchers plan to analyse the health and size of the whale.
This wasn’t the first time they had filmed a whale entering Croatian waters though – a footage of a whale was also captured in the middle of August. Through the footage, they determined that it wasn’t the same whale they saw in August.
The second time they captured the whale, they took a small skin sample to perform a biopsy when it swam near the fishing vessel. This allowed them to identify the same whale swimming north of Novsko Zdrilo on Sep 6th, 2020.
While you may not be seeing a whale, you will find yourself in the town of Omis, which is the location where the Eye of the Earth meets the Adriatic Sea.
Omis
Omis is a town that acts as a port in Croatia’s Dalmatia region. It’s also a municipality in Split and Dalmatia County. Located about 25 km from Split, Croatia’s second-largest city, Omis is where you’ll come to discover the Cetina River.
Omis is worth getting to know before you depart from Croatia. The idyllic town’s name originates from two origins. In Illyric, it’s called Oneon and Onaion, which refers to a “Little Hill.” In Greek, it’s called Nestos, referring to the Cetina River, and from it, they derived the name Onaeum or Oneum.
Omis Town’s History
According to Omis town’s history, its Greek name was first mentioned in literary texts but by the early 7th century, that name was abandoned. As you can tell by its changing name, the city has served under the rule of many empires, starting with the Illyrians who inhabited the Adriatic coast to the east in the 1st millennium BC.
The Greeks claimed the city as theirs in the 4th century BC. In 34 BC, the Roman Empire laid claim over the land. The constant changing of hands has left remnants of the past behind in Omis.
The City Museum displays all the important objects that have played a central role in shaping the Omis city’s history. Out of all the precious artefacts, the most valued and admired are the stone remains with Roman inscriptions.
The writing on the stone indicates that it was etched during the rule of two Roman emperors, Tiberius from 14 AD to 37 AD and Claudius from 41 AD to 54 AD. At the same location, they found stone fragments, a marble portrait of the Roman Emperor Tiberius, and a large part of an altar honouring the Roman Emperor Augustus who ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD.
Their findings (Roman tombstones, graves, and sarcophagi) further proved that Omis was an important settlement during the reign of the Roman Empire. There are a couple of significant historical monuments you need to see while in Omis.
What to See in Omis
- Church of Saint Euphemia near the coast on Brzet (early 6th century)
- Mirabella Fortress (Peovica) (13th century)
- Starigrad Fortress (Fortica) (15th century)
- Renaissance Church of the Holy Spirit (15th century)
- Old Cemetery (16th century – 17th century)
- Parochial Church ( 17th century)
- Franciscan Monastery on Skalice (18th century)
- Church of Saint Peter (10th century AD)
When you’re taking in the gorgeousness of the Cetina River, it only makes sense to stay for at least two days to properly discover the ancient sites in the town of Omis.
Cetina River — See Croatia’s Eye of the Earth
The Eye of the Earth, Croatia is a feel-good destination that will compel you with its multicoloured waters.
Escape to the outdoors to observe the sound and rush of the waterfall and rapids. Climb, hike, and swim in a place that’s right out of a fairy tale. Travel to see the Eye of the Earth, Croatia today!
