Đalovića Pećina

Djalovica Cave - Vražiji Virovi - Dzhalovicha Cave - Žičara Đalovića pećina - Pećina nad Vražjim firovima

Useful Information

Location:	Near Djalovica village, 45 km from Bijelo Polje. (43.0761572, 19.9233724)
Open:	No restrictions. [2023]
Fee:	free. [2023]
Classification:	Karst Cave
Light:	bring torch
Dimension:	L=10,550 m, VR=120 m.
Guided tours:	D=4 h, L=2,500 m.
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Đalovića Pećina, Mreža NVO8, 84000 Bijelo Polje, Montenegro, Tel: +382-67-362327, Tel: +382-69-432701. E-mail: Montenegro Turistički Centar (Montenegro Tourist Center): Tel: +382-1333.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1979-1987	explored by the Speleological Section of the Mountaineering Association Belgrade.
2006-2009	explored by Czech cavers.

Description

Đalovića Pećina or Djalovica cave was first explored in 1987 by the Speleological Section of the Mountaineering Association Belgrade. During two years they explored and mapped more than 10 km of cave system. 20 years later, Czech speleologists explored additional 3.5 km during four years of research. This included the dive through an 80 m long and 20 m deep syphon. The current length is 14 km [2009], and the cave still has a great potential. Newest publications tell about a length of 17.5 km, but we were not able to verify this.

The cave is located in the Ђаловића клисура, Đalovića klisura (Djalovica gorge), about fifteen kilometers east of Bijelo Polje. It is named Đalovića Pećina after the gorge, and there are numerous transcriptions like Djalovica cave or Dzhalovicha Cave. It is also known as Pećina nad Vražjim firovima (Cave above the Devil's Firs) or simply Vražiji Virovi (Devil's Firs). Bistrička Pećina (Bistrica Cave) is also sometimes used, after Bistrička river which flows through the gorge. The main level of the cave is the river cave, the epiphreatic level, but there are also fossil levels above. Originally all cave entrances were named differently while the extension of the system was unknown, but with ongoing exploration the caves were connected and form now a huge system with different names for different entrances. This cave has become the longest cave of Montenegro, although there seem to be some confusion about the length. Journalists tend to write spectacular estimates instead of dull surveyed length, so numbers include 11 to 17 km of length, while the surveyed length is actually 10,550 m.

The cave may be visited on cave trekking tours organised by the mountaineering and caving company Akovo from Bijelo Polje. After you met your guides at Bijelo Polje, there is a 45 km drive on a partially unpaved road to Djalovici village. Here the road ends and a one-hour walk along the riverbed of Bistrica River to the cave entrance follows. The main passage, which is visited, is a through-cave, the dry riverbed of a tributary of Bistrica River. That's the reason why tours are offered only during summer and autumn. From the other end of the 800 m long through cave a trail leads up the canyon walls and back to the village from the other side. This walk takes about two hours because of the ascent along the canyon walls. The operators offer mule rides for the way back.

The tours may have different durations, they are offered for small groups only and may be varied depending on the wishes of the participants and their abilities. The typical long tour takes four hours underground and includes the Slavija, a huge chamber with enormous stalagmites.

This is probably the cave in Montenegro where the most nonsense is published. We already mentioned the confusion about the name and the length. There are also listings which show a show cave with modern elevated paths and electric light. This is not the case, there is no development at all, and while the visited part is not really difficult, this is definitely not a cave you should visit on your own. If you want to see it book a cave trekking tour which is organized by the Tourist Office and guided by speleologists.