Dafina Bay on the Karaburun Peninsula, photographed by Altin Serani
Vlore360 / Coast & Bays / Vlorë

Dafina Bay

A cliff-walled cove with crystal water and a half-submerged grotto on the Karaburun Peninsula.

Practical information
LocationKaraburun Peninsula — Karaburun–Sazan National Marine Park
AccessBoat only — tours from Vlorë and Orikum, often together with Haxhi Ali Cave.
Best seasonMay–October, on calm days
FacilitiesNone — bring water, food and sun protection.
Photography tips
The story & photographs

Dafina Bay is one of those places that makes people on the boat reach for their phones and then forget to take a photo. A scooped cove on the Karaburun Peninsula, walled in by cliffs, with water so clear you can watch fish moving over the stones far below. There is no road and no village — just the bay, the rock and the sea.

Dafina Cave

On the shore of the bay is a small, partly submerged grotto. Travellers describe the colours inside as the most intense of the whole trip; it is easiest to explore at low tide and on a calm day.

A boat in the clear water of Dafina Bay, photographed by Altin Serani

Getting there

Dafina is reached only by sea. Speedboat and day tours from Vlorë and Orikum often pair it with Haxhi Ali Cave, about half an hour away, with time to swim and snorkel. Beaches on Karaburun are mostly pebble and rock, so water shoes are a good idea, and there are no facilities — bring water, food and sun protection, and take everything back with you. The bay lies inside the Karaburun–Sazan National Marine Park.

Shqip

Gjiri i Dafinës është një gji i fshehur në Gadishullin e Karaburunit, me ujë kristal dhe një shpellë të vogël pjesërisht nën ujë. Arrihet vetëm me varkë nga Vlora ose Orikumi, shpesh së bashku me Shpellën e Haxhi Aliut.