Platamuni Nature Park is Montenegro’s first marine protected area, designated by the Government of Montenegro on 22 April 2021.
As an integrated coastal and marine protected area, it is classified as an IUCN Category IV Protected Area (Habitat/Species Management Area), established to conserve wild plant and animal species and their habitats through active management.

One of the Park’s primary conservation features is its extensive Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows. Endemic to the Mediterranean Sea, this species is often referred to as the “lungs of the Mediterranean” due to its exceptional oxygen production. Locally known as murava, Posidonia provides vital nursery and breeding grounds for numerous marine organisms, helps reduce coastal erosion, and serves as one of the most reliable indicators of clean and healthy marine waters.
The Platamuni coastline is characterised by dramatic cliffs rising several tens of metres above sea level and numerous picturesque coves, including Žukovac, Nerin and Velika Krekavica.
A particularly valuable feature of the Park is its 21 marine caves, with both above-water and underwater entrances, some of which are considered potential habitat for the Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus), one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals.
The Park provides habitat for 35 protected marine species, including the fan mussel (Pinna nobilis), the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa, the date mussel (Lithophaga lithophaga), the slipper lobster (Scyllarus arctus), and the long-spined sea urchin (Centrostephanus longispinus).
The relatively narrow terrestrial part of the Park is dominated by Mediterranean maquis, which has developed on the sites of former Holm oak (Quercus ilex) forests. Habitats of European conservation importance include Mediterranean rocky coasts with endemic Limonium species, thermo-Mediterranean scrub with tree spurge (Euphorbia dendroides), and vegetation of mobile coastal dunes.

Although the Park is primarily recognised for its outstanding natural values, it also preserves a rich cultural heritage, including archaeological sites, religious monuments and the traditional cultural landscape of the coastal settlements.
One of Platamuni’s most distinctive landmarks is the Church of St. Nicholas, perched on a 15-metre-high sea rock near the coast of Donji Grbalj, close to the village of Krimovica. According to local tradition, the small church dedicated to St. Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors and travellers, was built by a Greek seafarer in gratitude for surviving a shipwreck.
The underwater world of Platamuni conceals three underwater archaeological sites: Žukovac and Velika Krekavica within Zone II of protection, and Mala Krekavica within Zone III. Additional areas of archaeological significance include ancient shipwreck sites off Cape Platamuni and in Žukovac Cove. These sites provide unique opportunities for underwater archaeology and are particularly attractive to divers and history enthusiasts.

The Park’s outstanding natural features provide an excellent basis for the development of environmentally sustainable tourism.
Towering sea cliffs, secluded pebble beaches in Nerin and Velika Krekavica Coves, and spectacular marine caves with above-water and underwater entrances offer exceptional opportunities for diving, swimming, kayaking, wildlife observation and coastal recreation. Accessible sections of the coastline are also suitable for hiking and nature appreciation.

As Nature Park Platamuni is primarily a marine protected area, the easiest way to reach it is by boat. The nearest marina is located in Budva, while a small pier is available in the fishing village of Bigova, situated in Trašte Cove at the entrance to the Park.
By road, the Park can be accessed via the Adriatic Highway by turning off near Jaz Beach. The local road network is limited and consists mainly of two paved roads: one leading from Jaz to the former military complex and another providing access to Platamuni Beach.

Adresa
Javno preduzeće za upravlajnje morskim dobrom Crne Gore
Popa Jola Zeca bb
85310 Budva
Crna Gora

Telefon
+382 33 452 709

Web: www.morskodobro.com