The boat ride
To Vrelo Cave.
Kerem Sezen — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Robot8A — CC BY-SA 4.0 · ГП — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Делфина — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Elmie — CC0
Matka Canyon cuts through the mountains about 15 kilometres south-west of central Skopje, where the Treska River runs between walls of limestone. Covering roughly 5,000 hectares, it is the capital's favourite escape, and its lake, formed by a dam on the river, is the oldest artificial lake in North Macedonia. A path runs beside the water from the dam, past St Andrew's Monastery, founded around 1388 by Andrew, brother of Prince Marko. Boats leave from near the monastery for Vrelo Cave on the right bank, with its stalactites, including a large one known as «the Pine Cone», and two lakes at its far end whose full depth has never been established. The canyon has ten caves in all, and about a fifth of its plants grow nowhere else. Entry to the canyon is free. Tour listings put the boat ride to Vrelo Cave at about 500 denars a person, and kayaks can be hired. Come early on summer weekends, when Skopje's families fill the path and the lakeside cafés, and wear shoes with grip: the trail is narrow and close to the water in places.
To Vrelo Cave.
Between rock walls.
On calm water.
About 15 km south-west of central Skopje, at the Matka dam on the Treska River
Tour listings give about 500 denars a person for the boat to Vrelo Cave; entry to the canyon itself is free.