A picture is worth a thousand words, but sometimes a well-taken photo of a beautiful natural place can leave you speechless. It was the above picture of Plitvice Lakes National Park that first drew me towards Croatia and filled me with a sense of wonder towards this unique Balkan country.

Further research revealed that visiting Plitvice Lakes is the thing to do in Croatia, so I knew before embarking on my journey that it was essential to visit this particular wild place. Not only was I curious about the natural phenomenon of terraced lakes, but the surrounding forest and limestone canyons promised to add to the entire experience. And the waterfalls. Let’s not forget those amazing waterfalls!

I have compiled a list of tips and tricks that is a combination of my own research prior to visiting Plitvice as well as my personal experience at this beautiful park.

Tip #1: Go Early (or Late)

It goes without saying that a national park as spectacular as this would be busy. So many people want to see the gorgeous waterfalls and walk along the perfectly-placed boardwalks to encounter the natural spaces within the park. I visited at 8 am, when the park officially opens, but it’s possible to arrive even earlier and be one of the first visitors to enter. By the time noon rolled around, Plitvice had become a busy mess of people. Luckily, I had seen everything at this point, and was ready to head out.

Note: If you go during the off-season (September – May), it’s not as critical to go early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Tip #2: Make Good Use of the Trams and Ferries

Part of your ticket into Plitvice includes free tram rides and one free ride on the ferry. It was helpful in navigating the park, avoiding back-tracking, and adjusting for an arduous up-hill walk in a boring part of the park. Yes, it’s possible to walk through everything, but the trams/ferries will be a fun alternative that allow you to see and do more.

Tip #3: Be Mindful of Yourself and Others

Most of the trails through Plitvice are on boardwalks surrounded by water. These boardwalks are maybe 3-4 feet wide, which can make it tricky when there’s two-way traffic and slow walkers. Some visitors didn’t seem to have much self-awareness, which sometimes made it a little frustrating to squeeze past a party stopped in the middle of the trail. Want to take a picture? Talk with your group? Great, scoot to the edge and be sure not to fall in! Experiencing Plitvice is much more fun when there’s not a backlog of people on the boardwalk detracting from the overall nature rendezvous.

Tip #4: Take Care of the Park

Leave no trace: don’t litter, respect the boundaries, and encourage others to do the same. Nuff said.

Tip #5: Be Present and Enjoy the Moment

Plitvice has so many beautiful sites, that it’s tempting to have your camera in-hand for the entire time. At the beginning I was click-happy until I realized it was affecting my brain-space and detracting from my enjoyment of the park. Take pictures, yes, but also recognize that it’s ok to put down the iPhone and be fully present with nature. In true Park Pilgrim fashion, I eased up on the pictures as the day went on. This means I have less photos to share with friends (and you), but that I appreciated the moment so much more.

Hopefully these little nuggets were helpful and will allow you to have an awesome time in Plitvice. (But first, you actually have to go!)